UPDATED 12:30 p.m. | The CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council has resigned to take another position.
Kyle Ham actually submitted his resignation letter a week ago, but the EDC board says it delayed releasing the news to avoid detracting from the annual One Voice lobbying trip to Washington. Ham had spent three years at the council.
Ham's last day will be April 29. He's becoming a vice president of client services for Core Construction.
“Working to put a spotlight on this amazing community always brought me a great deal of joy and satisfaction,” Ham said in a statement. "I was very fortunate to be surrounded by a great group of professionals at the EDC and supported by committed business, government, and community leaders. My family and I look forward to many years in the community, and I will remain a passionate advocate for economic development in McLean County.”
In a statement Friday, the EDC cited several accomplishments during Ham's tenure, including landing Rivian Automotive to take over the former Mitsubishi manufacturing plant, as well as establishing the Small Business Development Center at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Elected leaders in the Town of Normal, City of Bloomington, and McLean County had criticized the EDC in recent months for a lack of transparency and communication. That resulted in a memorandum of understanding to improve reporting to the bodies that help fund the EDC.
Ham said he's leaving on his own terms. He said he just renewed his contract with the EDC at the end of 2017, for another year.
"This was a professional opportunity for me, and I'm happy where I've left the organization. I'll continue to work with the (EDC) board through transition over the next couple of months. And hopefully I can help the EDC on the other side of the table from the private sector," Ham told GLT.
The EDC board will decide on a replacement search process and interim leadership choice.
“I know I speak for the entire EDC when I congratulate Kyle on his new position, and at the same time, I know we now have big shoes to fill,” said Jared Hall, chair of the EDC board. “During his more than three years at the EDC, Kyle and his team achieved numerous successes for the community, and we are grateful for his exemplary service.”
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