WithersRavenel would like to welcome Arthur Salido as the company’s new director of Business Strategy and Economic Development.
In this role, Salido will help local governments and private businesses position themselves for growth, prosperity, and resiliency. His background in public and private sector economic development, executive leadership, community engagement, and process management will help lead our clients to long-term success on a variety of projects and strategic initiatives.
Salido worked for nearly 17 years at Western Carolina University — the last three years as Executive Director of Economic Development and Regional Partnerships. In this role, he connected WCU with businesses, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, economic developers, and local governments, raising more than $300,000 in external funding and sponsorships from 2018-20. Salido has relationships throughout the state with regional councils of governments, county commissioners, elected officials, UNC system schools, chambers of commerce, and civic and industry groups. He also serves on numerous regional economic development boards and committees.
Arthur is a Ph.D. chemist with background in environmental, remediation, and instrumentation applications. Additionally, he has worked as a consultant for a variety of companies and was on the executive team of a biotechnology startup.
His educational background includes an MBA from Western Carolina University, a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Wake Forest, and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University.
Would you like to put Arthur and our economic development professionals to work for you? Contact him at (828) 575-9763 or asalido@withersravenel.com.