Darren Rose has been selected as the executive director of the Madera County Economic Development Corp. Photo via rosestrategiccommunications.com

The Madera County Economic Development Corp. has selected its new executive director, replacing a 20-year veteran.

The EDC Board approved a contract with Darren Rose to lead the organization. Rose runs his own public relations firm, Rose Strategic Communications. He has an extensive background in the world of politics, something outgoing director Bobby Kahn says will come in handy.

Rose worked 12 years for former Rep. George Radanovich, a Republican who represented portions of Fresno from 1995 to 2011.

Rose said in his time with Radanovich, he worked on issues from transportation to tourism to water, saying the background knowledge of the area and its economic makeup is incredibly important.

“The other side is knowing all the players in the region, having an understanding of the agrarian economy and water and its challenges,” Rose said.   

Rose also served as a strategic advisor on the California High-Speed Rail Authority, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is a graduate of Fresno State with a Master of Arts in international relations and a Bachelor of Science in criminology.

“I think Darren hits the ground running because of his background with the political arena because he knows who the players are,” Kahn said. “He’s a smart young guy. He can step in.”

Rose replaces Kahn, who took the position of executive director in 2002.

Most recently, Kahn was instrumental in courting Auto Zone’s distribution center in Chowchilla. The company broke ground in August on the 540,000 square-foot building that seeks to bring 300 full-time jobs to the area. The $150 million project should be operational by the end of the 2023.

Rose said he is letting his team handle the day-to-day at Rose Strategic Communications.

Now, he is meeting stakeholders in the area and tackling existing projects to make sure the transition is seamless.

One undertaking is the Built 4 Scale effort coordinated between the EDCs of Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties. They are creating workforce training programs and business services in the construction, manufacturing and transportation industries.

Rose said he looks at the changing economy as an opportunity.

“We’re in a challenging time economically with the incoming SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act) mandates,” Rose said. “I think that’s going to cause some shifts, but that’s also going to create opportunities for employers and current students. It’s no secret we need to be looking for opportunities to diversify our economy.”

Rose said he’s always been interested in economic development.

“We’ve got agriculture, tourism, light manufacturing. It’s a great area and I believe it’s the future of our Valley,” Rose said.