Skillman to head up economic efforts after tenure as lt. gov.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman will be heading up a regional economic development cooperative after she leaves state office.

Radius Indiana, an eight-county economic development cooperative in south-central Indiana, announced Tuesday that Skillman will become its new president and CEO as of Feb. 1.

"There has never been a more exciting time to build a globally competitive economy in the region," she said. "The I-69 expansion brings great potential for growth, as do the diverse assets in the eight counties.”

The group represents Lawrence, Martin, Orange, Washington, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois and Greene counties.

As lieutenant governor, Skillman managed five state agencies administering more than $1 billion in programs and worked diligently to expand economic development opportunities in rural Indiana.

"With Lt. Gov. Skillman's in-depth experience in energy, commercial defense, tourism, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and other key issues affecting the eight-county region of Radius Indiana, coupled with her experience in leading international trade missions, this appointment represents nothing short of a superb match between opportunity and experience," said Ken Sendelweck, Merrill Lynch and chair of the Radius Indiana board of directors.

Skillman’s second term as lieutenant governor will end Jan. 13. At Radius she will replace R.J. Reynolds, who died unexpectedly in November.