Matthew Tuerk, LVEDC Vice President of Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion, is departing from the organization.

Matthew Tuerk, who has been part of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) team for the last seven years, is departing the organization this week.

Tuerk, who joined LVEDC in 2013 and holds the position of Vice President of Business Attraction, Retention, and Expansion, announced he will be leaving to pursue a different leadership opportunity in the Lehigh Valley.

“I’ve had an amazing ride at LVEDC,” Tuerk said. “We’ve done so much as an organization and it gives me huge pleasure to have been a part of building something this strong. It’s been a privilege working at LVEDC, and I’ve learned a lot from everybody in this organization.”

Tuerk joined the organization in early 2013 as its first Director of Research and Innovation, a new operation started by President & CEO Don Cunningham after assuming leadership of LVEDC in July 2012.

“Matt has been by my side in various roles for the last seven years,” Cunningham said. “He’s been a big part of our organization’s success and the economic growth of the Lehigh Valley. We will miss him.”

Tuerk’s last day will be Friday, Oct. 2.

Karianne Gelinas, LVEDC Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Research, will take over his management duties and become interim Vice President of Business, Attraction, Retention and Expansion. She can be reached at kgelinas@lehighvalley.org.

Tuerk has held a variety of positions and worked in an assortment of areas during his time at LVEDC, including research, entrepreneurial startup support, administration, investor relations, marketing, communications, and economic development. He was named Vice President of Economic Development & Marketing in 2015, a position he held for four years before becoming Vice President of Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion.

“I know Matt will soon announce what’s next in his career,” Cunningham said. “We thank him for his work with us and wish he and his family the best in their next chapter.”

Prior to joining LVEDC, Tuerk spent five years as assistant director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), where he worked with Executive Director R. Scott Unger, a current LVEDC board member, in founding a coworking and hackerspace focused on improving business retention and incubation.

Tuerk holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in international economic development from The Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

Since 2017, he’s served on Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, the governing body of the Lehigh Valley International Airport, most recently as chairman.