Councils | Investor Center | EDC of Florida's Space Coast

EDC volunteers play a critical role in assisting us in our mission to advance the Space Coast economy. The EDC’s Councils work closely with staff by providing resources such as time and expertise in areas such as industry insight, policy development, and public relations.

Our Councils are very active and offer an excellent forum for influencing positive change and developing professional contacts in our community. We are constantly seeking fresh ideas and new faces to join our community coalition. We invite you to review our current Councils below. If you are interested in becoming a Council member, please contact the corresponding staff member designated to your Council of interest. We look forward to working with you.

Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Council
Chairperson:	Mr. Kevin M. Gholston CVG Strategy, LLC
EDC Staff:	Elizabeth A. Huy, Manager, Business Attraction
EMail:	ehuy@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	To assist the Brevard County Commission in the processing of AVT applications by reviewing submissions and recommending level of tax abatement. Work with the Commission as an advisory body for AVT program related issues including program modifications. *A maximum of 20 EDC Investors are needed for this council - All seats are currently filled.

Council Members

Competitive Advantages Council
Chairperson:	Mr. Josh Field SCB Marketing
EDC Staff:	Jennifer Sugarman, Communications Specialist
EMail:	jsugarman@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	A community team committed to showcasing the competitive advantages of the Space Coast to both Brevard County residents and external audiences. Council members will initiate strategies to educate the community of key advantages and generate memorable factoids to promote these strengths. *Council open to representatives of local/regional/state organizations, i.e., area chambers of commerce, philanthropic groups, industry advocacy groups, municipalities, EDC Investors and other strategic partners

Council Members

Development Council
Chairperson:	Mr. Ken Welsh Welsh Companies
EDC Staff:	Patrick O'Neill, Government & Community Affairs Manager
EMail:	poneill@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Representing the development, engineering, architectural, building and contracting fields, members will collaborate to identify and mitigate potential impediments to the structural growth of Brevard County. *Limited to development focused industry representatives

Council Members

Finance Council
Chairperson:	Ms. Debra Pavlakos TD Bank
EDC Staff:	Trudy M. McCarthy, Senior Director of Operations
EMail:	tmccarthy@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Council monitors the integrity and soundness of EDC financial strategies to ensure organizational transparency. Focus on long range sustainability planning, investor cash flow, policies and procedures, budget alignment and practicable audit preparation. Also evaluates current financial standing against stated goals.

Council Members

Governance Council
Chairperson:	Mr. R. Mason Blake Dean Mead
EDC Staff:	Trudy M. McCarthy, Senior Director of Operations
EMail:	tmccarthy@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Council shall observe the management of the EDC from the point of view of compliance with the established Bylaws and Policies. Members are charged with reviewing and modifying the EDC’s Bylaws as needed as the organization grows and evolves. The council also makes recommendations for changes, which are then reviewed for approval by the Executive Committee.

Council Members

Government Relations Council
Chairperson:	Mr. Milo M. Zonka, CFP® Waste Management, Inc.
EDC Staff:	Patrick O'Neill, Government & Community Affairs Manager
EMail:	poneill@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	An experienced group of public affairs and government relations professionals tasked with identifying legislative opportunities and challenges, while also working to promote the EDC and its investors through interfacing with elected officials and candidates for political office. Council members identify possible policy enhancements (and advocate for these enhancements), assisting the Space Coast to be more competitive in the business community. *The Council is open to public affairs and government relations practitioners and public sector representatives.

Council Members

Industrial Revenue Bond Council
Chairperson:	Mr. Kevin M. Gholston CVG Strategy, LLC
EDC Staff:	Julie Roslin, Manager, Business Retention & Expansion
EMail:	jroslin@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Council serves as an oversight committee for Brevard County in reviewing Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) applications. Industrial Revenue Bonds are used to facilitate tax exempt bonds for organizations or businesses looking to finance a product, service, or program that performs a public purpose. *A maximum of 3 to 5 EDC Investors are needed for this council

Council Members

Industry Council
Chairperson:	Ms. Carol Craig Craig Technologies
EDC Staff:	Elizabeth A. Huy, Manager, Business Attraction
EMail:	ehuy@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Drawing on private sector knowledge, this group is tasked with developing and deepening the EDC’s understanding of pertinent issues impacting the manufacturing and high tech community. High level focus on identifying obstacles preventing industry growth, analyzing health of supply chain, examination of cutting edge technologies and discovering opportunities to gain new business from emerging clusters. *Limited to manufacturing and high tech industry related representatives, with emphasis on 4 of the 5 EDC identified industry clusters (Advanced Security, Communications, Electronics and Emerging Technologies)

Council Members

Resource Development Council
Chairperson:	Ms. Julie K. Song Florida MEP
EDC Staff:	Lynda Weatherman, President & CEO
EMail:	President@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Identify and define those issues that are relevant to the EDC’s long-term financial sustainability. Establish meaningful organizational long-term goals and short-term sustainability objectives related to key areas of focus. Provide the EDC’s Executive Committee with meaningful recommendations and guidance on how to meet these objectives. Aids in the establishment of new company guidelines, policies or processes to aid in future planning.

Council Members

Space/Aerospace Council
Chairperson:	Ms. Jessica Rye United Launch Alliance
EDC Staff:	Robert E. Salonen, CEcD, Director Business Development
EMail:	rsalonen@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Council comprised of aerospace executives endeavoring to stimulate, promote, and assist in the development of space related business opportunities and policy enhancements for the Space Coast at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Council supports the EDC’s business development department by monitoring emerging trends and advancements in technology. *Limited to aerospace executives

Council Members

Space Coast Defense Alliance Council
Chairperson:	Mr. Ron Cobb DRS Soneticom
EDC Staff:	Patrick O'Neill, Government & Community Affairs Manager
EMail:	poneill@SpaceCoastEDC.org
Mission:	Council comprised of EDC Investors and members of the military community. The mission of the council is to address issues that face defense operations throughout the Space Coast and help to secure Brevard County’s military operations. The council works on State of Florida Defense & Infrastructure Grants and addresses additional specific strategic and tactical goals that the EDC has identified as critical in supporting our defense industry.

Council Members