New president named for Catalyst Connection

One of three local economic development groups that are affiliated with the Pittsburgh Technology Council has a new president.

Catalyst Connection, a nonprofit that operates under a contract with the U.S. Commerce Department to help boost the region's manufacturing base, has named Petra Mitchell as its new president.

Mitchell, who previously served as the organization's vice president of operations, replaces Steven Zylstra, the former president and CEO of South Oakland-based Tech Council and its affiliates, who resigned in April. Replacements for the other three positions have not yet been named. The other Tech Council affiliates are the Doyle Center for Manufacturing Technology and the Pennsylvania Nanomaterials Commercialization Center.

As president of Catalyst Connection, Mitchell will oversee efforts to improve the economic competitiveness of the region's manufacturing base. Catalyst Connection runs work force development programs, productivity improvement programs and classes on overall business development for small and midsized manufacturers.

The group contends it helped local manufacturers realize an overall increase in sales of $47.6 million in 2006. Mitchell, who has been a staff member with Catalyst Connection since 1994, could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday.