FDLAAC And FCEDC Will Merge

The two chairmen for the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce and Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation believe a merger of the two organizations will benefit the community. Tom Schneider is the Chairman of the AC’s Board of Directors. He says he is excited about the recommendation the McCarthy/Blansett Group came up with to merge the organizations. He says a lot of investors have asked for it over the years. Jim Eden chairs the FCEDC Board of Directors he says at the end of the day the new organization will serve the community better, but there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before a new CEO can be hired and new name selected. He says there are a million questions including whether to sell the buildings. He says one of the first steps is to identify a transitional director to help. Schneider says while the transition is being made it will be business as usual for the two organizations.

The Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce and Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation will be merging into one organization. During a joint meeting Thursday a resolution was passed by the two boards to accept the recommendations of the McCarthy/Blansett group to merge. The new organization will have a single Board of Directors, CEO, and new name. A steering committee will be formed to oversee the reorganization process. The committee will hire a recruitment firm to begin the search for a CEO for the new organization. Recruitment is expected to be complete by spring. In the meantime, the steering committee will appoint a transitional director for the new organization to lead the work that needs to be completed prior to hiring of a full time CEO. Consideration will also be given to have the new organization be the future home to ongoing Envision Fond du Lac initiative work. Current AC and FCEDC staff and Boards of Directors will continue to focus on business as usual over the next number of months. The various programs from both organizations will continue and carry into the new organization.