EDASC names new CEO

The Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce David Ballif as the organization’s new CEO.  

Ballif, who is currently the Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County (WA), will begin his tenure as EDASC’s CEO starting Jan. 12, 2027. 

"The Board and I have the utmost confidence that David will build upon the strong trajectory [current CEO] John Sternlicht has set out and bring EDASC into the next decade to further impact our business community for the better,” Board Chair Nikki Wegner said. 

Ballif moved to Skagit County as a child, going on to work at his family’s Grocery Outlet in Mount Vernon and receiving his associate of arts degree from Skagit Valley College. He continued his education earning a bachelor’s degree at Prairie College and a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of International Affairs at Tufts University. 

Ballif began his post at the Jefferson County EDC in 2025 and has successfully grown the organization in that time. Among his successes include securing an Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grant to provide seed capital for a $1.6 million expansion of a local high-tech manufacturing firm. Additionally, he co-led the Opportunity Zone 2.0 efforts in low-income areas of Jefferson and Clallam counties and oversaw the EDC’s support for Jefferson County’s local investment network, a national model that matches local investors with local businesses. 

Before his work in Jefferson County, Ballif was a career U.S. Diplomat with USAID, overseeing economic development programming in six countries across Central America. Prior to that, he worked in national security at the Pentagon and as an English teacher in South America and North Africa. Ballif is fluent in Spanish. 

“I have admired EDASC's work for many years,” Ballif said. “I first learned about the field of domestic economic development from EDASC and turned often to its website to learn about my own home county when I was living abroad and homesick for Skagit.” 

Current EDASC CEO John Sternlicht will stay on board with the organization for about a month to aid in Ballif’s transition. 

“Skagit is very fortunate to have had a leader of John Sternlicht’s caliber for the last 11 years, and he leaves some very big shoes to fill,” Ballif said. “I am incredibly honored to return home to Skagit and lead EDASC into the next phase.”