Press Release
U.S. Commerce Department's EDA Taps Public-Private Sector Leader to Head Operations and Program Implementation
September 6, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced today that Matthew S. Erskine will be joining the agency as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer. In this position, he will join U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez in overseeing the entire EDA operation, including review and development of EDA programs and implementation of policy priorities in support of President Obama's efforts to create jobs and boost business growth. The agency makes investments to enhance U.S. competitiveness, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic prosperity.
"Matt brings a wealth of experience to the U.S. Economic Development Administration," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. "As the agency's COO, he will help to strengthen our internal operations, organizational processes and infrastructure, while enhancing our capacity to create jobs in America's regions."
Prior to joining EDA, Erskine was Senior Vice President at the Greater Washington Board of Trade and Executive Director of the Greater Washington Initiative, a public-private regional economic development organization that works to strengthen and enhance the economic competitiveness of the Greater Washington region, which includes the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland. Erskine was previously the president of PLAY, a management consulting firm based in Richmond, Va. that specializes in advising the senior management of Fortune 500 and mid-cap companies in areas of business strategy and organizational development. In addition to his career in the private sector, Erskine has extensive experience in the public sector - serving as the Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade from 2002 to 2005 under Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and as a member of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's Commerce and Trade transition advisory committee from 2005 to 2006.
Erskine has served as a fellow with the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, the Greater Washington Board of Trade's Executive Networks program, and the European Union Visitors Programme, and recently completed a five-year term membership with the Council on Foreign Relations. He received his B.A. from the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration:
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.