Bob Turk

Bob Turk is the most recent Vice President for Business Development for the Daytona Beach / Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Business Development Partnership, a public-private economic development partnership for the greater Halifax Area. He was responsible for recruiting new business to the region and assisting in the expansion and retention of existing businesses within the region.

Prior to the Business Development Partnership, Mr. Turk was the Project Manager and Associate Director for the Disney / SBA National Entrepreneur Center (NEC) in Orlando, Florida. He was responsible for identifying the needs of perspective clients and coordinating appropriate delivery of services by the in-house service providers, sponsors and partners. He also coordinated the programs of all inbound international clients and visitors. The NEC is the second of only two such centers for entrepreneurs in the United States, the other center is located in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California.

Mr. Turk has previously served as Senior Director for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission in both Osceola and Seminole Counties, where he was the liaison between County Government, local and state economic development agencies, and business and industry. He was responsible for facilitating the retention and expansion of existing businesses and also for new industry prospecting and marketing for the attraction of new business to Central Florida.

Mr. Turk has been very involved in international relations and trade initiatives for Central Florida for over 15 years. He was instrumental in establishing twinning relationships and coordinating trade programs with governmental entities and grassroots organizations in Spain, Ireland and South Africa. He has served on the Board of Directors of the International Council of Central Florida for over 10 years, assisting international State Department visitors from all over the world.

His experience of more than twenty five years in the field of community and economic development includes working as the director of several chambers of commerce and economic development organizations in Alabama and Georgia, and as a manager with the Tennessee Valley Authority, a quasi-governmental utility partnership encompassing seven states.

Mr. Turk is a graduate of the University of Florida and the American Chamber of Commerce Institute. He has served on the Board of Directors with the Florida Economic Development Council and the Southern Economic Development Council.