Fred Welch Departs Conroe EDC; Danielle Scheiner Named Interim Director

Fred Welch, who served as executive director for the Greater Conroe Economic Development Council (GCEDC) and Conroe Industrial Development Corporation (CIDC), resigned his position effective October 13 to take a position closer to his family and home in Galveston County. Welch came to Conroe in October of 2014.

During his three years with the city, the GCEDC developed enhanced programs to market the City of Conroe to targeted industries in life sciences, energy, advanced manufacturing, and business and professional services. The GCEDC has aggressively worked with existing and prospective businesses to aid in their investment decision to come to Conroe and remain here.

Since 2015 assistance has been provided to 10 companies entering or expanding in Conroe, representing nearly $135.4 million dollars in new investment and the addition or retention of nearly 454 jobs. Additional assistance to 20 other businesses in the city has contributed to steady growth in high skill, higher paying jobs into the Conroe community.

Danielle Scheiner, who served as Deputy Director for GCEDC, has been appointed Interim Director by the City and CIDC. Scheiner will lead an organization that has plenty of momentum.

“Our GCEDC staff will miss Fred, yet we are grateful to him for his leadership and focus on professional economic development,” said Scheiner. “He helped establish a stronger organization by developing a strategic plan and a marketing focus to attract exciting new industries like life sciences.

“It will be business as usual here at the Conroe Economic Development Council, which is good news for both attracting and retaining prospective businesses and jobs in Conroe,” Scheiner added.

Growth in Conroe continues to shine with the city being highlighted this summer as the fastest growing city in the U.S. by the U.S. Department of Census. Additionally, Conroe was recently named as recipient of the Community Economic Development Award by the Texas Economic Development Council. TEDC is the statewide organization for economic development professionals with a membership of over 800 practitioners.

“The credit for our success goes to the community and our staff,” said Welch. “The stewardship of our volunteer GCEDC Board and the governance of the CIDC board, coupled with a highly qualified professional staff, is the reason why Conroe has  moved as far along as we are today in economic growth.”

“We sincerely appreciate the time and efforts Mr. Welch has put into our city. We thank him for his leadership and for positioning Conroe for even greater economic development success. We certainly wish Fred well in his future endeavors,” said CIDC Board Chair George Waggoner.