Bios - Committees

GWENDA L. THOMPSON
PRESIDENT/CEO
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF THE TREASURE COAST
DBA "Workforce Solutions"

Gwenda Thompson, a nationally Certified Workforce Development Professional, has been engaged in Treasure Coast workforce development programs and services on the Research Coast, both in the public and non-profit sectors, for more than 30 years. Her experience ranges from serving employer and job seeking customers on the front lines to the President/CEO of the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast, DBA Workforce Solutions. In this role, she represents a group of 43 volunteers, mostly from the private sector, who identify workforce issues and bring together community resources to develop and deliver workforce solutions.

Under Mrs. Thompson's leadership, the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast embraced strategic partnerships and planning with economic development and education to foster greater connectivity and better use of resources for the benefit of local employers and the workforce. Mrs. Thompson has been active with the Florida's Research Coast Economic Development Coalition since the late 1990s and currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Florida's Research Coast Economic Development Coalition.

HELENE CASELTINE, CEcD
DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Helene Caseltine is the Director of Economic Development for the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber serves as the county's primary agency for economic diversification on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.

She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Multinational Business from The Florida State University in 1987. Upon graduation, she began her economic development career with the Florida Department of Commerce (which is now a private/public organization known as Enterprise Florida, Inc).

Ms. Caseltine worked 8 ½ years with the Commerce Department, in the areas of Small Business Development, Community Development, and International Trade. From there, she went on to serve as the Economic Development Director for the St. Augustine/St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Director for the City of Eastpoint, GA, and as Economic Development Manager for Collier County government, until coming to Indian River County in 2003.

Ms. Caseltine earned her designation as a Certified Economic Developer in 2000 - the highest professional status within the field, and one of approximately 40 certified practitioners in the State of Florida. She is Immediate Past-Chair of Florida's Research Coast Economic Development Coalition.

RONALD B. BUNCH, CEcD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF MARTIN COUNTY

Ron Bunch is a certified economic developer with more than fifteen years of progressive experience leading local and regional economic development organizations. Currently, he serves as Executive Director for the Business Development Board of Martin County (FL). During his tenure with the BDBMC, eight Martin County companies have been recognized with Governor's Business Diversification awards honoring their innovation and economic impact. For two consecutive years, Martin County had more such award recipients than any other county in the state of Florida.

Bunch was appointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to serve on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council Board representing Enterprise Florida, the state's official economic development agency. He also serves on the Stakeholders Council for Enterprise Florida and just began his second term as Chairman of the Board of Florida's Research Coast Economic Development Coalition. Bunch was honored with the Business Advocate of the Year Award in 2009 from the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce and as the 2008-2009 Partner of the Year from Workforce Solutions.

Prior to joining the BDBMC, Bunch served as Economic Development Director for the City of Danville, Virginia. Under his leadership, the City announced twenty-eight economic development projects, which created more than 5,600 direct new jobs and represented capital investment in excess of $540 million. The City's efforts were recognized nationally in Site Selection magazine, Trade & Industry Development magazine, and Foreign Direct Investment magazine. Bunch was appointed by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to the Commonwealth's Economic Development Strategic Planning Committee.

Bunch graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a focus in General Engineering.

LARRY PELTON
PRESIDENT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY 

Larry Pelton, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, leads the EDC with a committed strategic vision to further recruit and develop science and technology clusters and help construct a new economy that supports multiple scientific and educational advancements. He is an industry leader with an acute understanding of partnerships that help our community thrive.

A veteran business leader with over 20 years of economic and business development experience in Florida, Mr. Pelton played a leadership role in the team that recruited Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Science, Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute-Florida and the Mann Research Center to St. Lucie County.

Pelton had been in private consulting-practice with developers and companies prior to being named president by the EDC. Pelton served as president of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County for 15 years, and was instrumental in helping attract the Scripps Research Institute to the region. During his term as head of Palm Beach County's Business Development Board, more than 350 companies announced relocations or expansions to Palm Beach County, creating approximately 32,550 primary and 25,400 secondary jobs. In addition to Scripps, Pelton was instrumental in recruiting such leading companies as W.R. Grace & Co. and Wackenhut Corp. Pelton began his career as manager of downtown development for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, and later was a recruitment and business development executive for ITT Land Corporation and for several leading banking organizations.

BRIAN CARTLAND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OKEECHOBEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
- A DIVISION OF OKEECHOBEE MAIN STREET

Brian Cartland joined the Okeechobee EDC in 2009 bringing a broad background of economic development experience. He has helped with expansions and relocations for clients ranging from major industrial development projects and Fortune 500 corporate headquarters to small technology firms employing as few as 10 people.

Brian has experience administering a wide variety of programs including business assistance, international trade development and tourism promotion programs. Over the past 17 years, he has served both public and private sector economic development organizations at the state, county and municipal levels. Brian also has direct experience in entrepreneurial development having started and operated his own successful small business.

In addition to serving on the Florida Research Coast Board of Directors, Brian also serves on the Board of Directors for both the Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast and Florida's Heartland REDI. Brian graduated with honors from Florida State University with a double major in economics and international affairs.