Rick Weddle
Principal and Founder at Rick Weddle LLC
Rick Weddle is the Principal and Founder of Rick Weddle LLC. An accomplished economic development professional with more than 75,000 jobs and $6.9B in investment, Rick has hands-on experience in regional collaboration, recruitment, expansion, incentive negotiation, international business, research park development/management, technology incubation, film industry promotion, public policy advocacy and professional association management.
Rick joined the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) as President and CEO in March of 2011. In this role, he led the operations of a $5 million regional organization with a 26-person staff that represents Orange, Seminole, and Lake counties, and the City of Orlando.
Before joining the EDC, Weddle spent seven years as President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, owner and developer of The Research Triangle Park. Under his leadership, the Research Triangle Park generated successful development projects with a projected capital investment of over $800 million and the projected creation of over 6,300 new jobs.
Weddle’s extensive career in economic development also includes serving as President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) in Phoenix, Arizona. He has led economic development organizations in Toledo, Ohio, where he served as President and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP); in Stockton, California, as President and CEO of the San Joaquin Partnership & Business Council; and in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he was President and CEO of Winston-Salem Business Inc.
An active speaker and leader in numerous economic development and science park organizations, Mr. Weddle currently serves as the President of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) and was elected President of IASP-North American Division in December 2007. He has been active in the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) since its inception, serving as its first president in 2002, and is a recipient of their lifetime achievement award.