River Ridge Announces Board Leadership
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe River Ridge Development Authority has named board officers for 2015. They include Mark Robinson, who has been elected board president for a tenth year. January 29, 2015
News Release
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (January 28, 2015) – The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) Board of Directors has elected its newest officers for the 2015 fiscal year. Under consistent and dedicated leadership, River Ridge Commerce Center (RRCC) continues to evolve and has experienced exceptional growth in a few short years. Each of the board’s three elected officers has served a minimum of ten consecutive years on the board. Significant developments recently secured under their tenure include facilities for Amazon.com, Inc., Tenneco, America Place, Autoneum, Catamaran, and many more.
J. Mark Robinson, who is appointed by the Clark County Commissioners, has been named president for the tenth consecutive year. He has been a member of the board since 2002. David W. Evanczyk, who is appointed by the Indiana Port Commission, has been named secretary/treasurer for the sixth year. He has been a member of the board since 2005. Norman E. “Ned” Pfau, Jr., who is appointed by the City of Jeffersonville, has been named vice president for the tenth year. Pfau has served on the board since its inception in 1998. Additional RRDA board members include David Flowe, appointed by the City of Charlestown; Kim Matthews, appointed by the Town of Utica; and David Lewis, general counsel to RRDA.
“Mark, David, and Ned have led our team in securing some of the nation's most desirable development opportunities,” said Jerry Acy, RRDA executive director. “Their leadership and guidance will continue to anchor us as soon our region will enter a new era of logistics and transportation, which will serve our clients well.”
The board of directors governs River Ridge Commerce Center's overall policies and procedures. Five participating jurisdictions appoint one person each to the board of directors, which in turn elects its own officers. The jurisdictions include the Indiana Port Commission, Town of Utica, City of Charlestown, City of Jeffersonville, and Clark County Commissioners. The roles and responsibilities of these participating jurisdictions were defined by an agreement adopted in 1999 and affirmed by the Indiana Attorney General.
“It is an honor for me to continue to serve as vice president alongside Mark Robinson as president,” said Pfau. “I look forward to the future challenges that lie ahead of us as we focus on what is in the best interest of this incredible economic development project moving forward.”
“It is the unprecedented continuity of this board of directors that has helped River Ridge Commerce Center thrive in the way it has,” said Jack Coffman, president of the Clark County Commissioners. “I want to express thanks to Mark Robinson for his ten years of tireless service as board president, as well as to each member of the board and staff. River Ridge has become an economic development jewel for this region.”
Regular RRDA board meetings are held on the third Monday of each month. All regular board meetings take place at 4:00 p.m. and are open to the public.
Bios for Robinson, Evanczyk, and Pfau are featured below:
J. Mark Robinson is the managing attorney of the New Albany office of Indiana Legal Services, Inc. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 1969, a law degree from the University Of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law in 1973, and a Master of Divinity from the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1974. He was admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1973, the State of Indiana in 1974, and the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Indiana and the Western District of Kentucky. Robinson has served as in-house counsel to Chemetron Corporation, a staff attorney for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has spent the past 36 years with Indiana Legal Services. His professional memberships include the Clark and Floyd County Bar Associations, as well as the Indiana, Kentucky, and American Bar Associations. Robinson is the past president of both the Clark County Bar Association and Clark County Board of Public Defenders, and has served Clark County in the Indiana State Bar Association House of Delegates for fourteen years. He is also past president of the Indiana Bar Foundation and Life Master Fellow. He is also a Life Master Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation. As a Presbyterian minister, Robinson has served small rural parishes in southeastern Indiana for 32 years. He has been appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to serve on the Indiana Pro Bono Commission, Disciplinary Commission, and Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
David W. Evanczyk is the founder and owner, along with his family, of Marine Builders, Inc., Marine Industries Corporation, Marine Bridge and Iron Co., MBI Air Inc., Star of Louisville, Inc., Voyager Yachts, and Rubaiyat Boat Harbor, all of which are located in Utica or Jeffersonville, Indiana. Prior to starting his own business, Evanczyk worked for 17 years with Carmen Industries. While at Carmen Industries, he began his career as a research and development technician. Later, Evanczyk became president of the company from 1970-1978. At the start of his career, Evanczyk was a Layout Development Fabrication lead man at McDowell Welman in Martins Ferry, Ohio. In addition to running the family businesses, he is a commercial, multi-engine instrument pilot with 6000 hours and a Captain with the U.S. Coast Guard. Evanczyk’s current civic board activities include the Lincoln Heritage Council Boy Scouts of America Board Investment Committee where he has been a Trustee since 1991. He was appointed to the River Ridge Development Authority board of directors by the Governor of Indiana in 2005. Evanczyk’s other civic activities include the Clark County Indiana Welfare Board (1975 to 1983) where he served as President (1980-1981); George Rogers Clark Area Boy Scout Council (1977 to 1991) where he was Board President (1989-1990); Commerce American Banking Company Citizens Bank & Trust Bank Board (1980-1987); the International Boy Scout Committee, and the World Scout Jamboree in Australia (1988).
Norman E. “Ned” Pfau, Jr. is President and CEO of Geo. Pfau’s Sons Co., the 1965 international manufacturer of specialty fats and oils. Mr. Pfau is a native Hoosier and a graduate of the Indiana University School of Business where he earned a B.S. in Finance. Pfau’s current directorships include Indiana Manufacturers Association (past Chairman); Southern Indiana Economic Development Council (past chairman and treasurer); Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association (vice president); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis-Louisville Branch (past chairman); Indiana University Foundation; Paul Ogle Foundation; Regional Leadership Coalition. Past directorships include 27 years at Bank One Kentucky; 20 years with the Indiana Port Commission; Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, Ivy Tech State College; Clark County Metro United Way (past chairman and president); and Bridgepoint Goodwill & Easter Seals, Inc., (past president). Pfau served as President of the Board of Directors of River Ridge Development Authority in 2004.
About River Ridge Commerce Center
The River Ridge Development Authority owns and manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, located on approximately 6,000 acres along the Ohio River in Clark County, Indiana. The River Ridge Development Authority was created by the Commissioners of Clark County on February 17, 1998 for the purpose of redeveloping the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. It is the mission of the River Ridge Development Authority as mandated by Indiana statutes to plan, rehabilitate, redevelop, and prepare the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant for private enterprise and development for the benefit of the economy, p