EDAWN CEO Chuck Alvey is resigning

Chuck Alvey, the CEO and president of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, is resigning after more than 12 years on the job, according to a statement sent Tuesday morning.

In the statement, Alvey said he wanted to pursue other professional interests, but will stay in the position until a new CEO is hired.

Meanwhile, the Legislature is considering a major overhaul of the state's economic development system and Alvey said a new CEO would be able to implement those changes from the get-go.

"My intentions, given my personal plans, had been to remain at EDAWN at least through 2012," Alvey said. "However, given the significant changes at the state level with the governor's and legislative leadership's proposed recommendations for economic development, and efforts underway to combine efforts with the chambers, it makes sense for me to accelerate my time line and allow the organization to quickly recruit a new leader who can be on board and actively involved in all of these exciting changes."

EDAWN Chairman Russ Romine said the organization's board of trustees asked Alvey to stay on with the organization in his current role until a new CEO is hired, and to maintain momentum with existing business development projects.

Terms of the search were not disclosed. The board's goal is to hire a search firm within two weeks, and have a new CEO in place by the end of summer.

"The EDAWN board takes its responsibility seriously in finding the ideal person to lead economic development in northern Nevada going forward," Romine said. "It's a new day for economic development in Nevada and the new leader needs to have demonstrated economic development experience and results, be skilled in collaboration and 'regionalization', and have an eye toward innovation."

Over the past decade, 312 companies were assisted in relocating and expanding in the area, creating 12,035 jobs, 16.2 million square feet of new or leased industrial or office space, and $2 billion in economic impact within an eight-country region including Carson, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey and Washoe Counties.

EDAWN is a private, non-profit corporation founded in 1982 and works to recruit and expand companies to the region.