EDASC welcomes new economic development manager

The Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) has hired Shaun Gibbs to serve as its new Economic Development Manager for Business Recruitment, Retention & Expansion. 

Gibbs most recently served as the executive director for the South Coast Development Council, Inc., in Coos Bay, Oregon. He joined the organization in 2015 as an economic development specialist and was promoted to the executive director role in 2019.

In his role at EDASC, Gibbs will be responsible for business recruitment, retention and expansion, mainstays of economic development work. In that capacity, he will work with existing Skagit businesses to help clear obstacles to success, and field or develop leads for appropriate enterprises to locate in Skagit County. He will work in conjunction with Aaron Weinberg, Economic Development Manager for Strategic Projects, and Jorge Estefan, who manages EDASC’s Equitable Economic Development program.

"We are delighted Shaun Gibbs has joined our amazing team,” said EDASC CEO John Sternlicht. "Shaun’s experience in Oregon in rural economic development will benefit EDASC as he gets to know Skagit County, its people, businesses and organizations.”

Gibbs obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from San Jose State University in California. He graduated from the International Economic Development Council’s basic economic development course in 2016 and has received the Oregon Certified Economic Developer certificate. In 2021, Gibbs was recognized as one of 40 under 40 by Development Counsellors International for work on business retention, expansion and recruitment projects on the southern Oregon coast. 

“My wife and I are excited to relocate to Skagit County and look forward to raising our young family and exploring the amazing natural amenities on the Sound, in the Valley, and throughout the Cascades while making a positive economic impact in our communities,” Gibbs said.