Today Amherst Interim Town Manager M. David Ziomek has announced his appointment of Amherst native Geoffrey Kravitz to the position of Economic Development Director. Mr. Kravitz will begin his duties in Amherst on January 4, 2016 and will earn an annual salary of $80,435. I am delighted to have recruited someone with Geoff’s experience in community and economic development to join our team as Economic Development Director,” said Town Manager Ziomek. “Geoffrey’s leadership and communication skills coupled with his familiarity of economic development initiatives statewide will be a tremendous asset to the Town.”
A 1998 graduate of Amherst Regional High School, Kravitz is looking forward to returning to western Massachusetts. "I'm excited to bring my economic development skills and experience home to Amherst. As the town's first Economic Development Director, I look forward to working collaboratively with residents, business owners, developers, and our institutions of higher education to create and execute a responsible economic development strategy that leverages the community's strengths and respects Amherst’s unique heritage."
As Economic Development Director, Mr. Kravitz will work closely with the Town Manager to establish economic development programs and practices for potential development, and housing. Mr. Kravitz will support the efforts of the University-Town of Amherst Collaborative (UTAC) to create an “Anchor Strategy” that embraces the Town of Amherst and builds on the local innovation economy, creating more opportunities for local business.
Mr. Kravitz has over six years of state and local government management experience, including Deputy Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development and Deputy Director of Cabinet Affairs for Governor Patrick. He previously served as Government Affairs Director for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce in New York. Mr. Kravitz is a graduate of Colgate University and also holds a law degree from the University Of Maryland School Of Law.