ELKHART — The woman, credited by many for putting the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart Countyon the path to success, has announced she will be moving on.
Dorinda Heiden-Guss, current president and CEO of the EDC, officially tendered her resignation to the Board of Directors Tuesday after a little more than eight years in the position. June 30 will be her final day with the EDC; she said she will be relocating out of state to follow a career opportunity for her husband.
"The entire journey has been a blessing," Heiden-Guss said Wednesday expressing her gratitude for the community.
And although board members said they understand and support Heiden-Guss leaving, it's still very sad to see her go. Because a great deal of what the Elkhart County EDC has become and achieved is thanks to her, said David Daugherty, EDC board member and president and CEO of the Goshen Chamber of Commerce.
When Heiden-Guss was hired, Daugherty said, they needed someone who was going take the next step and really define what the corporation was going to be. And she didn't let the board down.
"There will be some big shoes to fill," Daugherty said. "It's going to take someone who is really qualified to take over for Dorinda and to continue to move the organization forward."
Just this year the Elkhart/ Goshen metro area placed third in the country in Site Selection magazine's annual Governors Cub Rankings. The recognition is for new and expanded corporate facilities in places with a population less than 200,000.