EDA has a new chairman.

The Suffolk Economic Development Authority voted unanimously at its meeting yesterday to elect Harold Faulk as its new chairman.

Previously, Tim Copeland had served as chairman. He was re-elected this year to continue to serve in the role, but Copeland’s four-year term of service expired in February.

Each seat on EDA is through Council appointment. Jeff Gardy (the council member representing the Holy Neck borough, which Copeland was appointed to represent) elected to replace Copeland with Stacy Lewis.

Lewis co-owns and operates Lewis Construction of Virginia Inc.

Gardy was on hand at the meeting to introduce Lewis to the board, as well as meeting attendees. He praised Lewis’s knowledge of the construction process because in his career he has worked for both the city of Chesapeake’s engineering department as well as his own construction company.

“He’s worked both sides of construction,” Gardy told the board. “I think he might have invaluable input (to give) in what developers need.”

While Lewis filled Copeland’s seat, it still left Copeland’s position as chairman of the board empty.

Before giving her ideas on the matter, board member Cynthia Ferguson said Copeland should be commended for the work he did as chairman.

“Tim Copeland did an excellent job for this authority,” she said. “He was a fine chairman, and I would like to applaud his time and effort.

Ferguson then nominated Faulk to take over the position since he was already serving as vice-chairman previously. She said she would take over as vice-chairman and nominated Dennis Gartman to take over her secretary-treasurer duties.

The board voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Also in the meeting:

The board heard a presentation regarding the development of Foreign Trade Zone modifications within the city.

The board also heard a presentation regarding the last bond rating visit in the city.

The board was updated on the construction progress of the Health and Human Services Building.

The board discussed topics for the EDA retreat.