Tim Thomson and Jon Rose were announced as the 2014 Kitsap Economic Development Champions at the March 20 KEDA annual meeting.

Thomson, former CEO of the Port of Bremerton, was honored for his involvement in economic development through his leadership of Kitsap Aerospace and Defense Alliance, Puget Sound Naval Base Association and the Port of Bremerton.

Rose was honored for several projects attributed to him  including the rebirth of Port Gamble, the addition of the Wright Creek Business Park in Bremerton and the “String of Pearls”. The project that “won his heart” is the Kitsap Forest & Bay Project, he said.

Other highlights included passing of the board chair gavel from Julie Tappero, West Sound Workforce, to Steve Politakis, Kitsap Bank.

Eight people were elected to the KEDA Board of Directors. They are: Linda Brown, CEO, The Doctors Clinic (Returning Director); John Gardner, Dean, Bainbridge Graduate Institute (Returning Director); Elliot Gregg, President, Kitsap Credit Union ; Bob Guyt, Principal, Rice Fergus Miller; Erin Leedham, General Manager, Kitsap Mall; Brent Morris, Publisher, Kitsap Sun; Chris Rieland, President and CEO, Pacific NW Title and Julie Tappero, President, West Sound Workforce.

The 2014 KEDA Board of Directors officers are: Chair: Steve Politakis, CEO, Kitsap Bank; Vice Chair: Ben Anderson, CEO & President, Art Anderson Associates; Treasurer: Bob Guyt, Principal, Rice Fergus Miller and Immediate Past President: Julie Tappero, President, West Sound Workforce.