Ethan Brown appointed as interim Executive Director of Sonoma County Economic Development Board

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today appointed Ethan Brown, a nine-year veteran official of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, to serve as interim Executive Director of the EDB beginning Dec. 28. 

Brown most recently served as Director of Business Development and has held a variety of roles in the organization since 2012, including as Business Retention and Expansion Program Manager, Business Assistance Officer, and Project Coordinator. Prior to working for Sonoma County Economic Development Board, Brown was a Sonoma County small business owner.   

“Ethan is a collaborative team member who is well trusted by colleagues and clients and has demonstrated the leadership skills required to be successful in this all-important interim role,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors. 

“I look forward to working with staff, the Board of Supervisors and community on departmental goals and to create a strategy for the EDB that sets the stage for success once a permanent Executive Director is chosen,” said Brown.   

Brown’s record of accomplishments in support of economic development in Sonoma County includes facilitating $1.5 million in state tax incentives for local businesses; forming a countywide alliance of economic development professionals in response to COVID-19 and executing funding of $2.5 million in COVID-19 relief grants to local businesses.

Brown’s appointment to the interim role follows an endorsement and letter of recommendation to the Board of Supervisors from outgoing Executive Director, Sheba Person-Whitley, who recently accepted a position with the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

For more information regarding the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, please visit http://sonomaedb.org/, call (707) 565-7170 or email edb@sonoma-county.org.