After an extensive search that engaged a wide diversity of Boulder Chamber stakeholders and Boulder Economic Council (BEC) leadership, the Boulder Chamber is pleased to announce Scott Sternberg, former president of Vaisala Inc., as the next Executive Director of the Boulder Economic Council and Associate Vice President for Economic Vitality.

Sternberg comes to this new role with significant leadership experience in international business, entrepreneurial startup ventures, and research technology development. He most recently served as President of Vaisala Inc., a manufacturer of professional weather and industrial environmental sensors, systems and solutions. Prior to his initial employment and escalating roles within Vaisala, Sternberg worked to position the venture capital backed Photometrics for sale to Roper Technologies, where he then worked for a number of years to build their portfolio of digital imaging companies.

Aside from his direct business experience, Sternberg has been actively engaged throughout his career in service to economic development, technology transfer and environmental sustainability goals. He was Chair of the Board of Directors for CO-LABS, helping to position the organization as both a strong advocate for federal research investment and a true partner in the conversion of scientific findings into business enterprise. Sternberg also served on the Board of Trustees for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and currently sits on the External Advisory Board for the School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University.

"I am thrilled to join the Boulder Chamber team and to help advance the Boulder Economic Council’s mission,” said Sternberg. “Boulder's culture, vitality and resilience present unique opportunities, even in these challenging times. I look forward to working with the people, companies and institutions located here to create a more vibrant Boulder economic ecosystem that uplifts the full community."

The announcement concludes the search to fill the BEC’s top leadership position, which began after previous executive director Clif Harald announced his resignation. Acknowledging the legacy of Harald’s contributions to the Boulder economy and community in the BEC Executive Director role, BEC Executive Committee Chair and Boulder Medical Center CEO Patrick Menzies said, “Scott brings both excellent credentials and personal leadership skills that will build on the solid foundation of our BEC’s success in driving Boulder’s economic vitality during a critical rebuilding period.”

Boulder Chamber President and CEO John Tayer offered his congratulations to Scott on his appointment following a competitive national search and highly involved stakeholder interview process. “We had many excellent candidates for the BEC Executive Director role, but Scott stood out as the clear choice when weighing his breadth of business insight, his leadership experience, and his appreciation for the unique characteristics of Boulder’s balance between economic vitality and community values. Scott comes prepared for the challenge of revitalizing Boulder’s economy in the face of recent COVID-19 impacts and building the platform for an even stronger – more resilient and equitable - future.”

More information about the Boulder Economic Council is available at bouldereconomiccouncil.org/about-the-bec/.