Choose DuPage CEO Leadership Exchanges Hands

Economic development agency Choose DuPage is experiencing a shift in leadership.

Mike Skarr stepped down as the group's CEO last week.

Gregory M. Bedalov, who was chosen as the agency's president in March, has been named Skarr's replacement, according to a report from the Naperville Sun.

“As Mike retires, we hope that in the future we may still call upon him to help Choose DuPage continue to retain existing business and attract new business within DuPage County,” Bedalov said in a release from the group.

During his time with Choose DuPage, Skarr assisted in relocating several companies to DuPage County, including Peerless Industries Inc. in Aurora, SunCoke Energy (now in Woodridge) and Navistar, Inc. He also served as its founding president.

Prior to his positions Choose DuPage, Skarr served as president and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, where he helped the chamber double its membership. He received national recognition through serving on the U.S. Chamber of Commerceʼs Association Committee of 100, and joined the board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Before working with the chamber, Skarr worked for Nicor Inc., a Fortune 500 energy holding company located in Naperville, Ill.

Bedalov is a former president of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation, and as a director for Pulsafeeder, Inc.