Ron Leitch

Economic Development Representative Ron Leitch has worked in the Charlotte regional office of the N.C. Department of Commerce for almost 16 years. He was born, raised and educated in South Carolina and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Prior to his career in economic development, Leitch was an U.S. Army officer in Alaska. He also owned a retail furniture business for five years. Later Leitch served as an executive at three different chambers of commerce in North Carolina and as a local economic developer in two N.C. counties.

Leitch says one of his recent, memorable projects was CTL Packaging USA, a subsidiary of a privately-held Spanish company, which announced its intentions to locate its North American operations in Gaston County in October 2011. "This was just the right kind of company that the local economic development commission wanted to locate in the Gastonia Technology Park," explained Leitch. "With North Carolina, and especially the Charlotte region, already a strong plastic manufacturing community, CTL Packaging was an excellent fit for the county and state."

In order for North Carolina to be a more viable option among corporate executives and site selection consultants, Leitch recommends that state and local tax rates remain competitive with those states with which North Carolina competes the most for corporate relocations and expansions.
"In many of our most attractive counties, state and local tax burdens continue to creep upward, and we may be on the verge of losing any advantage of being a 'low tax' state," explained Leitch.

Outside of work, Leitch enjoys gardening, photography and golf.

North Carolina counites served: Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly