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MARIETTA - The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority Board of Directors named Eric Wade as president and CEO in a release on Thursday. Wade began the role on Oct. 26, and the Board formally welcomed him during its Oct. 28 meeting.
Wade was the Senior Planner for the Buckeye Hills Regional Council for three years prior to him joining the SeOPA. In that role, he administered more than 20 transportation projects and secured multiple federal and state grants, according to the release.
Wade holds a bachelor's degree in energy management and production engineering and a master of business administration. He is completing a doctorate of business, with a dissertation on the impact of public investment on economic development in Appalachian Ohio.
"Eric brings deep regional relationships and hands-on experience moving projects from idea to funding to completion. The board is confident he is the right leader to build on SeOPA's progress," said Matt Edgell, chair of the SeOPA Board of Directors in the release.
According to the release, Wade will lead SeOPA's portfolio of redevelopment projects as president and CEO. These include; the Muskingum River Industrial Park and the former AEP power plant site near Beverly and Waterford, where the authority received a $1 million Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program grant in May to remediate coal ash and prepare industrial building pads.
SeOPA also partners with Washington County on a planned river-to-rail multimodal hub at the former AMP-Ohio Gorsuch site, and on the state-funded brownfield redevelopment of 900 Greene Street in Marietta, according to the release.
In the release, Wade said, "I'm grateful to the board for the opportunity to serve the community I've worked alongside for years. Washington County has real assets: river access, rail, power, and people ready to work. My priorities are simple - finish the projects already underway, bring good jobs to the region, and make sure residents can see how the Port Authority does its work."