Hicks to head Rockland Economic Development Corp. By LYNN WOODS

Hicks to head Rockland Economic Development Corp.
By LYNN WOODS

Ronald Hicks has been appointed president and CEO of the Rockland Economic Development Corp. (REDC). Hicks, who was most recently director of economic development for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will start with the agency in early June. He replaces Holly Freeman, who left REDC to accept a position as a director of the National Executive Service Corp.

Although he has been overseeing economic development in a booming tourism center that superficially, at least, would seem quite different from upstate New York, Hicks, who grew up in Hyde Park, is in fact very familiar with the region’s economic development issues. Under former Gov. George Pataki, he worked first as a Hudson Valley regional representative for the Empire State Development Corp., overseeing a host of issues, including business, and then as a regional director for the ESDC’s office, focusing exclusively on business.

In 2005, Hicks moved to Fort Lauderdale, where he established an economic development and real estate office for the city, developed a business improvement district along the beach and collaborated with the city’s planning director and private developers on projects totaling more than $1 billion.

“I am very pleased to bring a person of Ron’s caliber on board as president and CEO,” said William Helmer, chairman of REDC’s board of directors, in a statement. “His successful background in economic development and his commitment to business growth in Rockland County will be an invaluable addition to REDC.”

Hicks will lead the organization in developing a strategy to lure regional, national and international businesses to the county, as well as encourage companies already based here to remain and grow. “What’s critical is the retention of local business and industry,” Hicks said. “Wherever you are in this country, there’s a threat it’ll move elsewhere.”

To combat the threat, businesses need to be flexible and adapt to change, a task with which the REDC can assist them, he added. Keeping companies in the county means helping them “diversity and strengthen. You have to help them change to accommodate the future.”

Established in 1987, REDC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit contract agency of the county and is governed by a 33-member board of directors. Funding is provided by the county, the U.S. Department of Defense, corporate and foundation grants and contributions from the private sector.

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