Kim Young Brings Depth to SOREDI as New Business Development Manager

Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) is pleased to announce that Kim Young has joined the Business Development team at SOREDI, effective February 4, 2020.

Young recently relocated to the region from La Grande, where she was the Executive Director of Greater Oregon (GO) STEM at Eastern Oregon University.  She has additional experience as a commercial credit analyst with US Bank and a strong background of engagement with public and private partners. Kim holds a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Boise State University.

As a member of SOREDI’s Business Development team, Kim will provide primary support to technology sector businesses and drive regional growth around innovation and entrepreneurship. She will be assisting with SOREDI’s annual Tech Tour on April 10, InventOR – a statewide invention competition among college students at Rogue Community College on June 25-26, and the Oregon Telecommunications Conference in Ashland, on October 22-23.

Her skills in data analysis, grant writing, and communication will add depth to SOREDI’s recently updated and published 5-year One Rogue Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Executive Director, Colleen Padilla, states: “Kim is a perfect match for our team as we pivot to add strength in our new direction as an agency. We are fortunate to have crossed paths with her at a recent SOREDI event, facilitated by the Lemelson Foundation, where we gathered input to build out the ecosystem of partners and agencies serving the Southern Oregon innovation community.”

As a recent transplant to Southern Oregon, Kim enjoys outdoor activities and regional exploration with her husband, daughter, and giant dogs. She is also a former board member of the Grand Ronde Symphony Orchestra and Idaho Environmental Education Association.

About SOREDI: SOREDI is a private, membership-based, non-profit organization, governed by a 28-member board of directors. Its staff is charged with local business expansion and new business recruitment efforts, financial assistance to start-up companies through its business loan fund, and management of Enterprise Zones in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The agency was formed as a regional economic development agency in 1987.