Fred Welch, executive director of the Greater Conroe Economic Development Council, announced he will step away from the position Oct. 13 after accepting a job in Galveston County to move closer to his relatives. Welch has served as executive director of the GCEDC since 2014 and has worked to develop programs to market the city of Conroe to companies considering a location in the region, including businesses in the life sciences, energy, manufacturing, and business and professional service industries. Since 2015, the GCEDC has facilitated tax abatements for 10 companies that were either entering or expanding in Conroe, representing about $135.4 million in investment, officials said in a press release. "The credit for our success goes to the community and our staff,” said Welch. “The stewardship of our volunteer GCEDC Board and the governance of the [Conroe Industrial Development Corporation] board, coupled with a highly qualified professional staff, is the reason why Conroe has moved as far along as we are today in economic growth.” CIDC board members and Conroe city officials appointed Danielle Scheiner as interim executive director of the council. Scheiner previously served as GCEDC's deputy director. “Our GCEDC staff will miss Fred, yet we are grateful to him for his leadership and focus on professional economic development,” Scheiner said in the release. “It will be business as usual here at the Conroe Economic Development Council, which is good news for both attracting and retaining prospective businesses and jobs in Conroe."