The Board of Directors of EDC (Economic Development Council) Business and Community Partners has selected Scott J. Drachnik to serve as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective January 6, 2020.
The EDC engaged a national recruiting firm to perform a nationwide search to identify candidates who met the criteria for the position and shared a passion for the EDC’s mission. The search was led by board member Jim Curran, Executive Vice President of Electrical Connection and included St. Charles County business leaders who worked closely with the recruiting firm and key candidates throughout the selection process. After a thorough review process, EDC Business and Community Partners has selected and approved the appointment of Scott Drachnik.
Scott has more than 25 years of experience in economic, workforce and community development in metro St. Louis and overseas. Since 2015, he has served in the dual positions as the director of the St. Charles County Department of Workforce & Business Development and executive director of the Missouri Job Center of St. Charles County. He had previously spent more than 11 years as senior vice president of business development and marketing at the Economic Development Center (EDC) of St. Charles County.
“Scott Drachnik is a proven leader in St. Charles County, in the Greater St. Louis Region, and beyond,” said Board Chair Dennis Maher. “He has dedicated his career to growing the region, partnering with employers, developing our workforce, and serving as an advocate for initiatives that will drive us into the future. This passion and experience led to our unified decision to select Scott as our president and CEO.”
In addition to his work with St. Charles County, Scott is very active in the community, serving with passion and a focus on developing collaborative efforts. He is the current president of TEAM (Training and Employment Administrators of Missouri), is the immediate past president of the Greater St. Louis Workforce Development Directors Association, and the director of local and international outreach at 2Rivers Church in Dardenne Prairie.
“I’ve been privileged to work with amazing organizations and governmental entities and talented individuals over the course of my 25 year career, and am excited to return to the EDC to lend my experience to shaping the future of the organization,” Drachnik said, adding, “As the EDC prepares to celebrate its 30-year anniversary in 2020, we are looking forward to building on past successes and pursuing new opportunities in alignment with St. Charles County’s role as a growth leader in metro St. Louis.”
The EDC has achieved national recognition for its programs, including graduating over 250 companies from its business incubator. The EDC’s 504 loan program was recognized as the best in the nation by the president in 2009. Since that time the program has grown well beyond $110 million, allowing for continued significant investment in the region’s small business community.
Craig Frahm, who has served as interim CEO, will resume his role at the EDC as chief financial officer.