Pittsburgh Marketing VP Named to Concord Eco Development Position

CONCORD, NH — The long, extensive, national search for an economic development director that city officials hope will be able to expand the tax base in Concord has ended, according to Deputy City Manager Carlos Baia. Suzanne “Suzi” Pegg has been appointed to the position and will start on May 1, according to a press statement.

Pegg is currently vice president of Global Business Development and Marketing for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, a subsidiary of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, a nonprofit, private sector organization working to increase job creation and quality of life in 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties since the 1940s.

Baia stated that Pegg has been responsible for “the development and execution of an aggressive foreign direct investment marketing plan to promote that region’s competitive position” while noting that the PRA’s plan was recognized by FDI Magazine as the best foreign direct investment strategy for a large city.

During the last few years, the region has seen significant growth – close to $3 billion in investments and 10,000 jobs – in the advance manufacturing sector, according to PRA reports.

Before working for PRA, Pegg was an executive director with the British American Business Council of the Pittsburgh Region, a board member for the International Business Center at the University of Pittsburgh, is presently serving as chairwoman of the International Economic Development Council’s International Advisory Steering Committee, and is a past Pittsburgh “40 under 40” awardee, Baia noted.

The Sheffield, England, native, moved to Pittsburgh in 2000 after working overseas as a brand manager for a food manufacturer as well as other projects for the government and universities, according to her personal biography.

The city of Concord hired a private consultant to perform the search and had a local selection team vet the candidates.

“Ms. Pegg was very impressive and I fully expect her to hit the ground running to grow our business community,” noted Tim Sink, the president of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. Stephen Heavener, the executive director of the Capital Regional Development Council, who was also on the search committee, said Pegg brought a wealth of economic development experience to the job.

“I am looking forward to working with her to grow Concord’s tax base,” he stated.

While there have been a number of private sector building projects and new stores and restaurants opening – or expected to open – on Main Street and Loudon Road, as well as a multi-million public investment to improve the downtown – and tens of millions more committed to the maintenance of the project, economic growth in Concord has been flat for a number of years, according to the city’s data. Officials hope the creation of the position – and the hiring of Pegg – will improve the city’s tax base.

Pegg’s salary, Baia noted, will be $99,456.60.