Board elects new leadership and talented professionals assume key positions
Jeffersonville, IN (January 22, 2024) – The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) is positioned to have yet another successful year in 2024 with its team of talented professionals.
At the January board meeting, Dr. Treva Hodges, Mayor of Charlestown, was unanimously voted in as the new President of the Board of Directors. That position had been previously held by J. Mark Robinson since 2006. Mayor Hodges has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2020.
“It is an honor to have been chosen to serve as President of the Board of Directors for the River Ridge Development Authority. Southern Indiana has an amazing future, and the success of the River Ridge Commerce Center is key to realizing our region’s potential. I look forward to supporting the opportunities 2024 brings,” said Mayor Hodges.
Additionally, Edward “Ed” Meyer was elected as Vice President, and Phillip W. McCauley was voted in as Secretary/Treasurer.
Since 2008, the professional staff at River Ridge has been led by Executive Director, Jerry Acy, CEcD, and he is setting the foundation for the future with the positioning of two new executive team members.
Marc Hildenbrand, P.E. is the organization’s Chief Director, Engineering and Operations.
Marc worked for the RRDA for nine years before joining HWC Engineering in 2018. His return in June of 2022 brings valuable experience overseeing commercial and industrial site development, design, and construction. In this role, Hildenbrand manages the day-to-day oversight for the River Ridge water system, and engineering, construction, and maintenance projects.
Wendy Dant Chesser, CEcD is the Chief Director, Corporate Strategy and External Affairs, a newly created position at RRDA. Prior to joining RRDA in late October 2023, Wendy served as the President and CEO of One Southern Indiana (1si) for nearly 11 years. In her new role at RRDA, Wendy is responsible for developing and implementing both short- and long-term strategies for sustainability of the RRDA and continuing to build external partnerships.
Mr. Acy enthusiastically noted, “We are excited about the economic opportunities on the horizon at River Ridge, and positioning this talented duo with our existing team gives us added capacity to maximize the growth we see ahead for our businesses and communities.”
About River Ridge Development Authority
The River Ridge Development Authority manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, a 6,000-acre business and office park established in 1998 to replace lost economic activity from the closure of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. The Authority has invested more than $175 million to redevelop about 45 percent of the Center. River Ridge is home to more than 70 companies, such as Amazon, Bose, Collins Aerospace, Medline, Optum and PharmaCord. Onsite employment totaled more than 11,800 in 2022, and the Center produced a total of over $2.7 billion in economic output and supported an additional 6,300 regional jobs. The investments and growth at River Ridge earned the RRDA the International Economic Development Council’s 2020 Gold Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse.
