MEDC President announces retirement
McKINNEY, TEXAS (Dec. 15, 2011) – McKinney Economic Development Corporation President Jim Young has announced plans to retire from the corporation, effective Jan. 31, 2012. Young, 66, served as business development director prior to his appointment as president in May 2011. Before joining MEDC in 2003, Young served as director of marketing and redevelopment for the Plano Economic Development Board for five years.
During his tenure with MEDC, Young has been instrumental in the recruitment of
headquarter companies to McKinney including Torchmark, Traxxas, Blue Mountain, Watson & Chalin, Veneerstone, StatLab, Biscotti and Vector Systems. Young has played a major role in expansions at companies like Emerson, Encore Wire, Raytheon, Manner Plastics and Tong Yang Group. He has negotiated numerous office and healthcare related projects as well as projects in McKinney’s historic downtown and at Collin County Regional Airport.
“Jim is an understated gentleman, but when you take a few moments to reflect, he has amassed a great body of work for McKinney over the years. He has been an asset to the community, and his work will carry over for decades to come. As a McKinney native, he brought a unique hometown perspective and has been a firm hand in helping guide McKinney through phenomenal growth while retaining its charm. We wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement,” said MEDC Chairman Keith Clifton.
Upon retirement, Young will serve in a consulting role to assist in the transition of his role as well overall operations of MEDC.
Young graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and earned his Master’s in public administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. He earned his certification in economic development in 2004 from International Economic Development Council.
