New Hires at Chester County Economic Development Council Reflect Changing Business Needs of Region

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New additions to the Chester County Economic Development Council include Patrick Hayakawa - Vice President of Innovation and Emerging Technologies; Mary Kay Owen - Project Consultant for Health Care Connect; Jack London, Senior Manager, Business and Community Development; and Komeil Nasrollahi, Project Manager, Chester County China Initiative.

The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), a private, non-profit, economic development organization promoting smart growth, is announcing four new hires in areas that represent significant growth for the region.

“We are excited to welcome these new colleagues to the team, who will focus on enhancing our business services, including to tech and health care industries, as well as the Chester County China Initiative,” says CCEDC President and CEO Gary Smith. “The diversity and experience of each person will not only strengthen our services but allow us to create new and innovative opportunities for the organization.”

Patrick Hayakawa – Vice President, Innovation and Emerging Technologies

Patrick Hayakawa joins CCEDC as Vice President of Innovation and Emerging Technologies, where he will oversee all CCEDC technology initiatives, including programs that support the growth of startups and emerging companies as well as established companies across life sciences, IT, and other high-tech sectors.

Hayakawa comes to the CCEDC from the statewide trade association Life Sciences Pennsylvania, where he served as Director of Member Relations serving biotech, pharma, medical device companies, academic and research institutions as well as patient advocacy groups. Hayakawa focused on building relationships and facilitating strategic connections so that members from individual researchers to small startups to global companies have the resources they need to develop life-saving therapies in Pennsylvania.

A resident of Downingtown, PA, Hayakawa holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Arts from Ursinus College.

Jack London – Senior Manager, Business and Community Development

As Senior Manager of Business and Community Development for the CCEDC, Jack London draws on more than 23 years of financial, sales, and marketing experience as well as senior leadership positions at several Fortune 500 companies including General Electric and Siemens.

London began his career with New York Life, and after many years in the corporate world, he successfully launched two start-up companies in the financial industry: London Financial Group and Quick Fund Financial. In his new role for the CCEDC, London will spearhead interaction with local corporate decision makers, investors, civic and economic development partners to attract, retain and grow businesses in Chester County.   He will also leverage his extensive lending experience to identify business and bank partners that can benefit from CCEDC’s diverse portfolio of loan products.

A resident of Avon Grove, PA, London holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Temple University.

Komeil Nasrollahi – Project Manager, Chester County China Initiative

Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Farsi and English, Komeil Nasrollahi is taking on the role of Project Manager for the Chester County China Initiative as it expands the number of trade and joint ventures between businesses in Chester County and China. Nasrollahi will focus on bringing Chinese investment to Chester County as well as value-added jobs. He’ll also support and guide Chester County-area businesses looking to expand into the Chinese market.

As an entrepreneur and consultant who lived and worked in China from 2009 to 2016, Nasrollahi opened his own international trade company in China, and has since helped other businesses enter the biggest market in the world.

Prior to joining the CCEDC, Nasrollahi was a financial consultant for PNC Bank in Westtown-Goshen. He received his master’s degree from the prestigious Tsinghua University in China. Originally from Iran, and currently resides in Exton, PA.

Mary Kay Owen – Project Consultant, Health Care Connect

Mary Kay Owen is the Project Consultant leading the Health Care Connect industry partnership, where she is working collaboratively with representatives from health care, education and economic development to build strategies to grow the regional health care industry.

Previously Owen was Director of Marketing for Exton Square Mall (owned by PREIT and previously by The Rouse Company), where she designed and developed marketing campaigns that generated public awareness, ROI and community outreach for more than a decade. Prior to Chester County, Owen was a Sales Representative for The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia before her origin in shopping centers at The Gallery at Market East.

Integral to the launch of the Coatesville Grand Prix, which has become the city’s signature event, Owen managed public relations, media outreach and organizational strategies. A resident of Downingtown, Owen has volunteered for a variety of community initiatives including the Chester County Workforce Development Board and CCEDC’s Marketing Committee.

About the Chester County Economic Development Council

The Chester County Economic Development Council is a private, non-profit economic development organization promoting smart growth in Chester County and the surrounding region for more than 50 years. The CCEDC provides proven financing solutions, cultivates workforce talent, leverages business partnerships, and fosters entrepreneurial collaboration. With the support of the private and public sectors, CCEDC initiates, implements and innovates programs that improve the business community and enhance the quality of life in Chester County.

 

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