Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development

Every year IEDC looks specifically for an individual who has demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

2022

Roy H. Williams, FM

Roy H. Williams has dedicated 50 years of his remarkable career to the field of economic with over 17 years of service at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. He has been a leader in the transformation of Oklahoma City and leaves behind a legacy for job creation and retention, and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Williams began his career in Texas as an intern at the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and quickly gained experience, working in Chambers and in various other capacities, including The Economic Development Group, Inc., an international economic development consulting firm with offices in Ohio and Arizona. As partner, co-founder, and President, Mr. Williams built economic development strategies and tools for a wide range of clients and performed site selection consultant work and executive searches for economic development organizations.

Mr. Williams took the helm of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in 2004, and within two years, General Motors announced the closure of their Oklahoma City manufacturing plant. He quickly met with the U.S. Air Force and explained how they could modernize manufacturing facilities and provide it to the Air Force, and working with state and local officials, the facility was realized and now Tinker Air Force Base is the most modern manufacturing space the Department of Defense utilizes. Moreover, there is continued growth at Tinker Air Force Base and through this continued work and expansion realized more than thousands of jobs in the area.

One of the biggest economic development projects Mr. Williams led was the expansion of the Boeing facility in Oklahoma City. Under Mr. Williams’ guidance, the Chamber created an innovative proposal that ultimately was adopted by Boeing when evaluating economic development projects. The approach was multi-faceted, and included a transparent website with information containing any concerns by employees about Central Oklahoma, presentations from senior public and private leadership to Boeing employees, and accessible descriptions of incentives. This methodology secured the deal and laid the groundwork for additional projects to contribute to Boeing’s growth, which went from 700 employees in the 1990s to over 4,000 present day.

Mr. Williams has also paved the way for the criminal justice reform in the community. He led an effort to bring all the necessary players, including community leadership to identify key issues and create a pathway to reform. Presently, the daily jail population has been reduced to 1,000 and in the process of replacing the county detention center. This example shows Mr. Williams’ is adept in consensus building.

Mr. Williams has been recognized for his contributions as a recipient of a prestigious Chairman’s Award from the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Board of Directors in 2008, and is a Fellow Member and past Board Member of the International Economic Development Council.

Mr. Williams has led his entire career with integrity and with the utmost respect from his friends and colleagues. Oklahoma has seen significant growth and transformation and The International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development to Roy H. Williams.

2021
Dr. Maury Forman, HLM

Dr. Maury Forman retired as the Senior Manager in 2016 with over 30 years of service at the Washington State Department of Commerce. Described as an innovator, leader, and visionary in economic development, particularly in the Northwest region, Dr. Forman touched many lives during his career at the Washington State Department of Commerce. He brought a renewed focus to the state’s economic development efforts for small businesses and entrepreneurship, particularly in rural communities through the creation of the State of Washington’s technical assistance, education and training, access to capital and mentoring/networking (TEAM) strategy in 2013.

Dr. Forman started Washington’s first Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) in 1991 after seeing a need for economic development professionals to receive training. Since 1991, this BEDC has graduated over 2,500 attendees from the Northwest region. Dr. Forman went even further to engage with professionals from communities of all sizes, resulting in a truly lasting impact. A scholarship program was established and each state and region contributed registration scholarships to its rural communities and no practitioner was denied the opportunity to learn about economic development, and to date, over 500 attendees received full or partial scholarships.

In addition to the BEDC, Dr. Forman founded Community Survivors, bringing practitioners from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia together to showcase best practices and introduce new strategies to economic developers in the region.

In 2015, Dr. Forman founded the Startup Washington 365 Program, which aimed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs at the state and local levels. The website is a one-stop-shop with resources that includes how-to articles, book reviews, and grant opportunities, and in its first two years, Startup Washington helped over 200 entrepreneurs with 51 new ventures and the state legislature approved $250,000 to fund their rural economic development programs from 2017-2019.

Dr. Forman has written 21 books that have been distributed for free providing technical assistance to practitioners online and at state conferences. His books include topics such as retention, community development, management, and best practices and are identifiable through their accessibility and inclusion of cartoons. Many of these books serve as guides for businesses and communities, in addition to economic development professionals.

Dr. Forman has been recognized for his contributions as a recipient of a Vision Award in 1998 from the U.S. Small Business Administration and Office of Advocacy and he was the first recipient of the International Economic Development Council’s Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award in 2012.

Dr. Forman has also been a generous contributor and member of the board of the Bollinger Foundation. The foundation assists children whose parents worked in the field of community development, economic development or assisted housing and who died prematurely. Aside from his quantifiable achievements, Dr. Forman has made a lasting impression with those he works with. Described by his friends, colleagues, and students as compassionate, witty, humorous, and optimistic, Dr. Forman impacted so many through his work as a public sector worker, speaker, writer, and educator. His innovative approach to economic development can be seen throughout the Northwest region. The International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development to Dr. Maury Forman.

2020

Neil Everson, CEcD, FM, EcD

Neil Everson retired as the Director of the Economic Department in 2016 with over 25 years of service with the City of Hamilton, Ontario. While working for both municipal and provincial governments in Canada, Mr. Everson demonstrated himself in his craft of economic development and for building a great team. His efforts have helped Hamilton become one of the fastest growing cities in Canada by attracting businesses and diversifying its once steel dependent economy.

Mr. Everson led the first Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) program in the Province in 2000. This is a program that has now been replicated in dozens of other municipalities across Ontario. In 2001, he was the driving force to advance the small business portfolio in Hamilton. He worked closely with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to bring a Small Business Enterprise Centre to Hamilton to serve all aspiring entrepreneurs Mr. Everson’s innovative integration of planning and economic development activities at the local level made a major impact on Hamilton and its economic platform. As part of his business attraction strategies, Canada Bread built a 388,000 square foot facility and in 2014 Maple Leaf opened its current meat processing facility in Hamilton. Mr. Everson also helped sell out a large portion of the Ancaster Business Park by attracting Tim Hortons and Stackpole Automotive to set up shop, the latter of which now has its global headquarters in the park and employs almost 1,000 people. The park has grown to include 570 acres, along with 218 businesses and nearly 3,800 employees.

Due to Mr. Everson and his team’s hard work, businesses in Toronto and other areas now have an increased interest in Hamilton. His role in opening one million square feet of manufacturing space along Cormorant Road has allowed the city to become a preferred location for manufacturing. Going beyond this economic growth and diversification, Mr. Everson led the city effort to achieve the internationally recognized Accredited Economic Development Organization designation in 2012. Hamilton became the second organization in Canada and the first city government in Canada to be accredited.

Along with serving as an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) board member and participating as the first Canadian economic development “Expert Panel” member for IEDC’s Technical Assistance Program, Mr. Everson also participated in many international projects. This includes his work on a Canadian International Development Agency sustainable development project in Dahlian, China. He was also given a secondment by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to conduct a review of the economic development operations of the City of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Additionally, Mr. Everson provided best practices and advice to help IEDC succeed in expanding work into Canada. He also served as the chair of the Economic Developers Association of Canada.

Mr. Everson’s dedication to economic development can be seen throughout his education, career, and the many relationships he built in the field. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Economics as well as an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, and he received his EcD and CEcD certifications in 1991 and 2013 respectively. In 2016, Mr. Everson was selected as a recipient of the Fellow Member designation from IEDC, a testament to his longstanding work in development. In the same year, City of Hamilton Council bestowed the commemorative designation "Neil Everson Way” on Cormorant Road in the Ancaster Industrial Business Park to recognize his outstanding contributions to the City of Hamilton’s economy.

The International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development to Neil Everson.

Gerald Gabinet, EcD

Gerry Gabinet led the Economic Development and Tourism team as a Director at Strathcona County for 18 years. Not only was he well accomplished in attracting and retaining major businesses to the County, he was very committed to mentoring staff and economic developers.

One of his largest professional accomplishments was working with his team to increase the total wealth in Strathcona County for the municipality and its citizens. The average household income is now over $160,000 and the total assessment is more than $32.8 billion. He was very successful in attracting commercial business and industry to the area, including developing the protocol for business trips for Strathcona County’s provincial, national, and international prospects, which resulted in property purchase plans for over $22 billion worth of new hydrocarbon and petrochemical projects. Additionally, during his time as Director, the team announced and completed three billion-dollar projects.

Prior to time at Strathcona County, Mr. Gabinet acted as Coordinator of Business Development at Parkland County. While there, he used his marketing skills to create a branding statement and strategy for the “Acheson Advantage” that attracted over 500,000 square feet of new industrial development. He continued to help market the area by developing a regional economic association with Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland County, in addition to organizing the business attraction and retention program for the County. Mr. Gabinet also worked well in the consumer goods industry with Procter & Gamble and Molson’s Brewery, along with involvement with commercial and industrial real estate in collaboration with Dynafour Real Estate and J.J. Barnick Real Estate Limited.

Mr. Gabinet served many local and regional organizations as a dedicated member and in multiple executive positions. This includes The Economic Developers Association Canada, Pacific Northwest Economic Development Council, Alberta First, and Greater Edmonton Economic Development Team, where he served in every executive position, including Chairman. After serving as Director and Chair of the Economic Developers Alberta Annual Conference, Mr. Gabinet was given the Economic Developer of the Year award and an Honorary Life Membership. He also received the Distinguished Service medal and Long Service medal from the Commissionaires Northern Alberta.

Mr. Gabinet also worked with many international organizations, including with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) on a number of special projects. He developed meaningful relationships through the International Council for Shopping Centres (ICSC) for the Pavilions of Canada opportunity at ICSC Whistler, resulting in access to marketing space and registration at a reduced rate for local municipalities from across Canada. Mr. Gabinet was also a committed partner to the Program for Local Economic Development and Democratic Governance in Ukraine. He presented twice at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities project in Kyiv on the role of local economic development as part of the Municipal Local Economic Development project.

On August 9, 2020, Gerry Gabinet passed away after a battle with cancer. His diligence in leading his team, building relationships in the field, and mentoring economic developers across the world ensured his legacy will continue to live on. For his dedication to economic development, the International Economic Development Council is truly honored to posthumously present the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development to our colleague, mentor, and friend, Gerry Gabinet.

2019

Kenneth Dobson, GRI, CSI, FM, HLM

This award honors an individual who has been a long-time and influential leader in economic development. Kenneth Dobson, fellow member and honorary life member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), has dedicated over 40 years of his career to the field of economic development. As the first African American hired by the National Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) and among one of the few African Americans working in economic development at the start of his career, Mr. Dobson has been a trailblazer and role model in the field. His experiences traverse boundaries, including cities of all sizes and location, fiscal and economic challenges.

Mr. Dobson’s economic development career path began when he was selected as a program manager with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He was then recruited by Ed DeLuca, Founder of CUED, to be the organization’s Director of Community Advisory Services Division. At CUED, Mr. Dobson helped deliver technical assistance to client cities and regions.

In the past forty years, Mr. Dobson has served as Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Development at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Executive Vice President for the Detroit Downtown Development Authority, Senior Vice President of the Kensley Eco-Development Company, and most recently as the Economic Development Administrator of Fulton County, Georgia. He has led and participated in many large development projects, such as the development of diversified mixed-use real estate, tech-based, commercial office, and retail developments including small and minority-owned businesses. At the Detroit Downtown Development Authority, he worked with a real estate portfolio valued at over $5 billion. Mr. Dobson was also a major facilitator in sourcing government funds for the $1.25 billion construction of the Daimler-Chrysler Jeep Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio.

Mr. Dobson has also been involved in international economic development engagements with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in China. Additionally, he has been an advocate and participant in other international missions, including as a foreign domestic investment representative in Copenhagen, Denmark, Toyota Japan, and India.

As a leader and trailblazer in the field, Mr. Dobson has served on a number of boards, including IEDC and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). By testifying on behalf of IEDC, he has also made contributions to key federal government policy reforms related to advancing local economic development progress. For his expansive work, Mr. Dobson has received multiple awards, including the Economic Development Innovation Award, and IEDC’s Richard Preston Excellence Award for Leadership in Economic Development Education.

Mr. Dobson has been deeply engaged in public speaking and teaching economic development topics regarding technology-based and sustainable development and their impact on urban regional tax base in American communities. Now in retirement, he is working on a book on reurbanization and next generation economic development, dedicated in memory of his mentor and friend, Mr. Ed DeLuca.

Mr. Dobson has been an exemplary leader in both his community and the economic development field, and for that reason the International Economic Development Council is honored to present Kenneth Dobson, HLM, FM with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

2018

Jay C. Moon, CEcD, FM, HLM

There are few economic developers in the field today with the stature and reputation of Mr. Jay Moon, President and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. Whether he is working to advocate for workforce development and manufacturing initiatives or mentoring the next generation of economic developers, Mr. Moon understands the complexity of the profession and the skills it takes to better communities and work collaboratively.

Since 2002, Mr. Moon has worked as President and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturer’s Association (MMA). As the leader of an association that represents more than 2,400 manufacturers and associated businesses, Mr. Moon has helped in the development of landmark civil justice reform and government programs supportive of business and industry. He also helped develop and currently manages the state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, a public-private partnership aimed at supporting small to medium size manufacturers.

Mr. Moon’s dedicated approach to workforce development is evident, especially in his work with the Mississippi’s State Workforce Board while serving as Chair from 2013 to 2016. During this time, he worked with a team to create the first Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act grant for Mississippi, which coordinates all workforce development programs and support networks in the state.

After the early years of his career as an assistant planner and analyst, he continued working his way up and became a department director for the City of Gulfport, where he created the city’s first economic development program. Before joining the MMA, Mr. Moon held several positions at the Mississippi Development Authority.

In addition to his work to improve economic and workforce development throughout Mississippi, Mr. Moon has given much of his time to helping and teaching others. For the past 18 years, he has been an instructor for the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. He has also served as Dean for the program and as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Moon’s leadership, accomplishments, experience and commitment are well-known in the field. In 2016, Mr. Moon was recognized as one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Influential persons, and in 2017 as one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs by the Mississippi Business Journal.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the worst recorded storm to hit the continental United States, Mr. Moon worked with former Governor Haley Barbour regarding relief for citizens and industry in the state. While helping the citizens of Mississippi, he had to focus on industry and help to make sure jobs did not leave the state. He worked with the Mississippi legislature and the state’s Congressional delegation to insure adequate resources were made available to help rebuild the state’s infrastructure.

Mr. Moon is also a leader at the national level, having served as Chairman of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2011, from which he also holds the Certified Economic Developer certification, as well as Fellow and Honorary Life Member designations. Placed on the original committee to develop ethics guidelines at IEDC, he was one of the three original instructors and continues to teach this course today.

As a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers, Mr. Moon brought the CEO to an IEDC conference and helped IEDC dial into the issues of manufacturing. He is a true gentleman and his patience and grace allowed him to bring additional civility to an already civil board.

With all this in mind, the International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in honor of Edward deLuca to Jay Moon.

2017

Steven Budd, FM, HLM

Steven Budd, president of CityWide Development Corporation, is a steadfast advocate for innovative and far-reaching economic development. He has been a visionary leader in the transformation of Dayton, Ohio, for more than three decades, and the commitment he has shown to his community will ensure its prosperity well into the future.

Mr. Budd began his career with CityWide Development Corporation, his only employer since college, as an intern and housing analyst in 1978. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming president of the organization in 1989, a position he has held since. Throughout his time with CityWide, Mr. Budd has led more than 1,400 economic development projects resulting in nearly $1 billion in new investment and the creation or retention of 30,000 jobs.

Recognizing the need for improved housing in his city, Mr. Budd oversaw the rehabilitation of nearly 10,500 units in the Dayton area. It has been a sustained effort: in 1990, he led the development of the first significant housing project in decades, resulting in 160 units and laying the groundwork for more than 20 future market-rate housing developments.

Proving his commitment to the creation of a vibrant economy in which businesses thrive, Mr. Budd was a leader in the transformation of the Oregon District and Neon District, two downtown entertainment areas in Dayton. Today, the districts are home to more than 30 locally owned restaurants, pubs, and boutique retail establishments. He also led an initiative to repurpose a 32-acre brownfield site into a technology park, TechTown, which supports the attraction and growth of innovative business in Dayton. The campus now houses more than 40 technology companies that employ 450 individuals.

Mr. Budd has long been a supporter of programs that aid in the development of local businesses. Over the past three decades, he has instituted a venture capital program, a minority business development program, a microenterprise development program, and a Foreign Trade Zone Program. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. This partnership between the Dayton Ballet, the Dayton Opera, and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra allowed the three financially burdened organizations to work together for a common cause and reduce operational costs.

A patient, dedicated, and creative leader, Mr. Budd is a longstanding and active member of IEDC and served on the merger team that oversaw the transition of IEDC’s predecessor organizations. He was also a founding member of the Economic Development Research Partners and held several leadership roles within IEDC before being elected as chairman in 2004. Mr. Budd, a Certified Economic Developer, has been designated an IEDC Fellow Member, Honorary Life Member, and received the Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award in 2012. For his dedication to economic development, the International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in honor of Edward deLuca to Steven Budd.

2016

Joseph Marinucci, FM, HLM

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development is given in honor of Edward deLuca, in recognition of a lifelong commitment to excellence in economic development.

Joseph Marinucci, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA), is a dedicated, forward-thinking leader with nearly four decades of economic and community development experience. Mr. Marinucci began his career in economic development when he joined the Department of Community Development of Cuyahoga County. He has led economic development teams for the State of Ohio and the City of Cleveland and has been part of the leadership team at DCA for nearly 15 years.

Among his many exceptional contributions to the economic development profession is the work he did with the Playhouse Square Foundation, the country’s second-largest theater district. The success of Playhouse Square spurred the transformation of Downtown Cleveland with Mr. Marinucci uniting building owners to create Cleveland’s first business improvement district. He also served as Chairman of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation through its execution of the Cleveland Gateway Project, a multi-phase strategy to create a 28-acre sports complex in Downtown Cleveland. The collaborative also included the mayor's office, city planning department, transportation and parking authorities, and two major league sports franchises. It resulted in a $425 million urban district that serves as a shining example of downtown regeneration and economic vitality. Mr. Marinucci’s ability to collaborate with and lead diverse parties towards a common goal has been integral to Cleveland’s development.

Mr. Marinucci and DCA have played a fundamental role in the transformation of the city. From 2007 to 2014, the Downtown Cleveland area led the region in reducing office vacancy by nearly 4 percent, and the Cleveland office market saw continued growth at the end of 2015. During that same year, more than 20 new retailers opened in or committed to Downtown Cleveland locations.

In preparation for the 2016 Republican National Convention, Mr. Marinucci helped formulate a plan to secure and further improve the city. Improvements included a tree-planting program that resulted in 275 new trees, the installation of murals and other works along public transit lines, and the installation of 55 signs and maps to help visitors navigate downtown.

Beyond his professional posts, Mr. Marinucci is an active member of various associations and community development committees. He served as Chairman of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Board of Directors from 2005-2006 and has remained an active and committed member of the association since then. In 2007, he was recognized as an Honorary Life Member of the International Economic Development Council and has taken a leadership role on the host committee for the 2016 IEDC Annual Conference, his second conference as host. Mr. Marinucci also hosted IEDC in 1996 for the Council for Urban Economic Development Annual Conference.

Beyond the measurable results that Mr. Marinucci has helped achieve, he has left an indelible personal mark on those he works with. Viewed as a careful and considerate leader who values integrity above all else, Mr. Marinucci focuses on bringing together the appropriate partnerships and creating a clear vision to ensure positive change continues in Downtown Cleveland.

Mr. Marinucci is a tremendous leader who has long been an advocate for the city he loves. It is clear, through his work in Cleveland and through his involvement with IEDC, that he deeply cares about improving people’s lives. The International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in honor of Edward deLuca to Joseph Marinucci.

2015

Dennis G. Coleman, CEcD FM HLM

Dennis G. Coleman began his career in 1975 as executive director of the DeSales Housing Corporation. He then became the vice president of community development at Mercantile Bank, winning the bank the Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House and the Fair Housing Award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. From there, Mr. Coleman began work for the City of St. Louis where he consolidated multiple development agencies into one for a greater, singular purpose. From his efforts, the St. Louis Development Corporation was born.

In 1990, Mr. Coleman became the CEO of the St. Louis County Economic Council. That year, St. Louis’ defense-driven economy lost 59,000 jobs and $4.4 billion in wages. Mr. Coleman skillfully responded with a two-tiered readjustment program that produced 102,000 new jobs by 1997. To this day, the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment regards his strategy as a national best practice model.

Mr. Coleman was instrumental in the acquisition of the World Trade Center St. Louis and the creation of the Metropolitan Education Training Center. Both are an integral part of growing the region’s economy, providing programs and research to assist companies as they expand globally.

He also led development initiatives such as NorthPark, a 550-acre business park expected to produce 12,000 jobs, and was an integral part of the $100 million retention project for the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) National Personnel Records Center that retained 800 jobs.

In 2013, Mr. Coleman once again united a fragmented economic development effort to form the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. As the Partnership’s CEO, he completed the first joint strategic plan. Since the Partnership’s inception, St. Louis has seen over 11,800 jobs, including the retention and expansion of companies including Edward Jones and Boeing, and has announced and more than $1.25 billion in private investments. Mr. Coleman’s legacy at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership will be marked with success. Today, St. Louis thrives with a spirit of innovation, claiming the number one spot for startups, a booming biotech cluster, and fastest growing tech job market.

Beyond his commitment to his community, Mr. Coleman has shown dedication to the field of economic development. As an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) board member, he rose through the ranks and became the chairman in 2011. He has continuously prioritized the organization by traveling to conferences each year, even when kidney failure made trips extremely difficult. Mr. Coleman has also testified before Congress on several occasions and has become a well respected national authority on economic development issues.

Evident by his dedication to IEDC and tremendous career in St. Louis, Mr. Coleman is undoubtedly committed to excellence in economic development. While cultivating a successful 40 year career, he has adeptly balanced his professional life with a rich personal one anchored by his family and unshakable faith. Among his many deserving accolades, the International Economic Development Council is humbled to present the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of Edward deLuca to Dennis G. Coleman.

2014
Edward A. Nelson, Jr., CEcD FM HLM
Economic Development Professional
USFC-EDI
Atlanta, GA

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development is given in honor of Edward deLuca, in recognition of a lifelong commitment to excellence in economic development.

Edward A. Nelson, Jr. has held leadership positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors of economic development for the last 42 years. He has an extraordinary record of creating and developing organizations that embrace comprehensive, innovative approaches to job creation, retention and expansion, and small businesses development.

Mr. Nelson’s intuition and knowledge of economic development was apparent even in the early years of his career. After completing business school, Mr. Nelson hit the ground running, taking a position with the Georgia Institute of Technology and assisting the U.S. State Department with economic development in Nigeria. After successfully executing contracts with the US Economic Development Administration for the Georgia Institute of Technology and navigating political unrest in Nigeria, Mr. Nelson set out to address the lack of economic development resources for minority businesses in the United States. To that end, Mr. Nelson founded his first company, Applied Management, Technical Assistance and Research (AMTAR), which provided assistance to small and minority businesses. He quickly grew the firm into a five-office, 55 employee organization in just five years, exhibiting a mastery of organizational leadership that has been a theme throughout his career.

In 1993, Mr. Nelson became Assistant Director of Finance and Business Services for Fulton County Department of Planning and Economic Development. After being chosen to develop a business plan, he became the first Director of the newly organized Economic Development Division. The results in two years exceeded $500 million in total investment and over 21,000 jobs. In 1998, Mr. Nelson took the reins of the DeKalb (GA) Chamber of Commerce. As President and CEO, he directed a team that created 15,000 jobs and $1.2 billion in investment during his tenure and pulled double duty as the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Senior Vice President. In 2002, Mr. Nelson returned to private practice and started his second firm, EAN International Consulting, Inc. (EANI). EANI provides management and technical assistance to companies preparing to enter the global marketplace and provided economic development services in 18 countries including Europe, Africa, Canada, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. During that time, he also assisted and directed the establishment of the Gulf County Economic Development Council in Port St. Joe, Florida. Mr. Nelson recently created the Economic Development Initiative for Unincorporated South Fulton County, overseeing all economic development services for the unincorporated area. Thanks to his leadership, in just 18 months the initiative has generated $102 million in investment and created 389 direct jobs.

As economic development has expanded, so has Mr. Nelson’s approach. He champions collaborative, problem-solving strategies that generate a new approach to the field both domestically and abroad. Because of his life-long dedication to economic development the International Economic Development Council is proud to present Edward A. Nelson Jr. with the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development, in Honor of Edward DeLuca.

2013
Kurt Chilcott, CEcD FM HLM
President & CEO
CDC Small Business Finance Corp.
San Diego, CA

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development is given in honor of Edward deLuca, in recognition of a lifelong commitment to excellence in economic development.

Known for his tact, creative problem solving, and ability to bring people together, Kurt Chilcott has successfully led economic and community development organizations for more than 30 years. Mr. Chilcott began his career working with rural communities under California’s Economic Adjustment Unit. He later moved on to administer the State Enterprise Zone Program and was tasked with designating California’s original enterprise zones, including comprehensive economic development strategies for each.

In addition to his work with enterprise zones, Mr. Chilcott spent over fifteen years at the City of San Diego, serving as Director of Economic Development Services and Manager of Community and Economic Development.

Having demonstrated his skills in large-scale economic development with the City of San Diego, Mr. Chilcott was chosen to direct the CDC Small Business Finance as President and CEO in 1998. Under Mr. Chilcott’s leadership and the mantra of Making a Difference for Small Businesses, the CDC has been the nation’s perennial leader in SBA 504 loan production. Since the organization’s inception, it has leveraged $12.2 billion in small business loans. The CDC has also created 125,000 jobs, helped 9,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses, and reinvested over $3.5 million in the community. With Mr. Chilcott’s direction, the CDC won the SBA’s Lender of the Year Award an unprecedented three times.

Mr. Chilcott has gone above-and-beyond his role as CEO, taking the initiative and developing legislation that streamlined SBA loan programs and improved access to capital for small businesses across the nation. He also participated in the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Financing Forum, where he recommended small business capital investment strategies to the Obama administration.

Beyond his impressive work with the CDC, Mr. Chilcott found time to give back to the profession and serve on many economic development organization boards. He was integral to the creation of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). In his role as chair of Council of Urban Economic Development (CUED), Mr. Chilcott participated in the final round of merger talks with the American Economic Development Council (AEDC) in 2000. Mr. Chilcott helped address difficult topics for both organizations, such as education and certification, which proved vital to the success of the merger. After months of intense negotiation, the two entities successfully combined to create IEDC and Mr. Chilcott was named co-chair of the new organization. His influence and guidance during the merger was instrumental in developing the thriving organization that IEDC is today.

Kurt Chilcott’s work in San Diego and on behalf of the economic development profession has been motivated by the guiding principle that actions should be driven by the greater good. With this mindset, he has shown an unparalleled level of dedication to increasing economic vitality and to the field of economic development. His work has not gone unnoticed. He has received California’s highest honor for Economic Development Leadership, the Golden Bear Award, and the Arthur Goodman Memorial Award for commitment to underserved populations and areas. The International Economic Development Council is honored to add to his list of accolades by bestowing the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award in Honor of Edward deLuca to Kurt Chilcott.

2012
Jim Reid
President
Momentum Texas, Inc.
Dallas, TX

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

In a career that has spanned more than four decades, self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur Jim Reid has facilitated and implemented creative economic development programs throughout the country. Mr. Reid’s early career included key economic development positions with the cities of Washington, DC, Miami, and Dallas. After serving as the Assistant City Manager of the City of Dallas for six years, Mr. Reid shifted his focus to the non-profit sector and found his passion.

In 1989, Mr. Reid founded and served as the first president of the Southern Dallas Development Corporation (SDDC). The organization was formed to assist small and minority businesses, increase jobs, and promote economic development initiatives in southern Dallas. It soon became a market leader in providing alternative lending to its target constituency. Mr. Reid led the effort to secure funds to help SDDC become the first micro-lender and first community development financial institution (CDFI) in Texas.

While at the helm of SDDC, Mr. Reid also founded and managed the Texas Mezzanine Fund. The fund is a statewide CDFI focused on business lending in low to moderate income areas, loans to women and minority owned businesses, and affordable housing loans. He later became the Texas Mezzanine Fund’s first full-time president.

In 2005, Mr. Reid became president of Momentum Texas Inc., a statewide non-profit that operates in Dallas area, a position he currently holds. With the mission “Build Communities and Grow Entrepreneurs”, Momentum Texas and Mr. Reid have focused on several successful initiatives. Mr. Reid initiated a historical strategic plan that led to a three-year, $1 million program to encourage the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit. He has also carried out a nationally recognized Texas Entrepreneurship Initiative in five Texas cities and facilitates the Bank On Dallas initiative, a program designed to assist 25,000 unbanked households start checking accounts.

Most recently, Mr. Reid has concentrated on empowering veterans to hone their entrepreneurial skills through the DFW Veterans Business Assistance Program. Based on the Kauffman Foundation First Step Fast Trac Program, veterans attend entrepreneurship boot camps and workshops that focus on management, marketing, networking, and other essential tools for successful business ownership. The first cycle of the veterans program provided 440 training opportunities and was the catalyst to 21 new or expanded businesses.

Mr. Reid is a longtime member of the International Economic Development Council and served on the board of its predecessor, the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) for eight years. He has been recognized often for his advocacy for small and minority business, including the prestigious National Minority Business Champion of the Year from the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2011.

Jim Reid has been a tireless and passionate advocate for small and minority owned business for more than forty years. Few people have been more committed and impacted this oft overlooked demographic as he has. The International Economic Development Council is honored to present the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in honor of Edward deLuca to Jim Reid.

2011
Ioanna Morfessis, HLM
President & Chief Strategist
IO.INC
Phoenix, AZ

In an economic development career that has spanned nearly four decades, Dr. Ioanna Morfessis has shown herself to be a cutting edge, innovative leader; establishing programs and tools that have become models that others have emulated throughout the United States.

Dr. Morfessis currently serves as President at IO.INC, a consulting practice she founded in 2004 to assist organizations and communities develop and execute growth strategies. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Morfessis facilitated the development of a “start-up” city of Maricopa, Arizona and served as the main architect of its economic development strategy. A testament to the effectiveness of Dr. Morfessis’ strategy, Maricopa has grown from a population of 4,300 in 2003 to more than 43,000 in 2010.

Dr. Morfessis began her economic development career in 1974 as a co-founder of the Greater Washington Business Center, the nation’s first one-stop shop for small and minority businesses. During a time of unrest and civil strife, the organization capitalized on the creation of the U.S. Office of Minority Business Enterprise to help rebuild and revitalize some of the District of Columbia’s most historic neighborhoods and business districts.

After a successful stint with the Greater Washington Business Center, Dr. Morfessis moved on to become the first director of the newly formed Montgomery County, Maryland Office of Economic Development. While there, she collaborated with the private sector and federal labs to create the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, the nation’s first research and development park devoted exclusively to biotechnology. Today, this facility has grown to be one of the largest concentrations of life science and biotech firms in the nation.

In 1985, Dr. Morfessis became the founding executive director of the Phoenix Economic Growth Council. During her tenure, she was directly involved in the attraction of 42 companies to Phoenix, generating more than $2 billion in private investment and 8,000 new jobs. When Phoenix’s economy began to deteriorate in the late 1980s, Dr. Morfessis worked tirelessly, in partnership with others, to help persuade those in the area that a regional approach to economic development was the best option for the Greater Phoenix area. Through these efforts, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council was formed and Dr. Morfessis was named President and CEO.

After twelve years in Phoenix, Dr. Morfessis returned east to Baltimore, Maryland to serve as the President and CEO of the region’s first public-private economic development organization, the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore. Here, she helped establish Space Hope, a partnership among the Alliance, higher education institutions and NASA. The program, which encourages students to pursue studies in science and math, was established long before STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) became a focal point of educational policy.

Dr. Morfessis served on the Board of the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) and as Board Chair in 1992-1994. She remains an active member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and participates regularly at conferences as a speaker.

Ioanna Morfessis continues to be at the forefront of economic development trends and has been a perpetual innovator throughout her career. For this reason, the International Economic Development Council is honored to bestow upon Dr. Ioanna Morfessis, the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development, in honor of Edward deLuca.

2010
John Shirey
Executive Director
California Redevelopment Association
Sacramento, CA

In an economic development career that has spanned nearly four decades, John Shirey, Executive Director of the California Redevelopment Association, has left an imprint on many communities throughout the United States. His innate ability to bring people together and navigate difficult political environments has proven to be an invaluable asset to every community in which he has worked.

Mr. Shirey began his career in economic development in 1976 in Long Beach, California. Once a thriving Navy town, Long Beach was struggling and the city was in desperate need of development and diversification. Mr. Shirey worked tirelessly as an advocate for Long Beach to secure federal grants and economic development planning assistance. What resulted was an economic development strategy that led to the city’s revitalization and redevelopment.

Mr. Shirey went on to hold positions at the National League of Cities and Los Angeles County Community Development Commission before returning to Long Beach, California to become the Assistant City Manager.

In 1993, Mr. Shirey became the City Manager in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was faced with a deteriorating downtown riverfront, a city core that was separated from the waterfront by a highway, and an extremely unhappy NFL owner. In a redevelopment effort that included the surrounding county, Mr. Shirey helped organize an extensive plan that included two new sports stadiums, the relocation of a state highway, a museum, a 70 acre downtown park, and a major mixed-use development along the Ohio River. The result was a development project that completely revitalized the landscape of the struggling city.

In 2002, Mr. Shirey began what may be his most lasting legacy in economic development; as the Executive Director of the California Redevelopment Association, he has worked tirelessly to support the profession and its ability to work effectively in a contentious political environment. His voice has been one of reason in the defense of redevelopment as a key tool in furthering economic development throughout the state. His advocacy work has educated both elected officials and the public on the benefits of using redevelopment for economic development purposes.

The California Redevelopment Association is a membership organization that has over 650 members, comprised of city and county officials, consultants, lawyers, bankers, and developers. Because of Mr. Shirey’s exhaustive work, his membership is able to stay abreast of developments as they happen in the field.

Because of his collaborative spirit and tremendous dedication to the field of economic development, the International Economic Development Council is honored to present John Shirey with the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in Honor of Edward deLuca.

2009
Rick Weddle, FM HLM
President & CEO
Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina
Research Triangle Park, NC

Intensity. Integrity. Innovation —These are three words that describe Rick Weddle’s 28+ year career as an economic developer and change agent in various regions and cities around the United States. Throughout his tenure as a practitioner and as the first chairman of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) after the merger of the American Economic Development Council (AEDC) and the Council for Urban and Economic Development (CUED), Rick has exhibited exemplary performance and leadership in the economic development profession and has led efforts that have had a significant impact on the communities and stakeholders involved. In addition, he has modeled the way for peers – using his career to set a new standard for the profession and raise the bar as to what it means to be an economic developer.

Rick Weddle has played strong leadership roles in the economic development community. Active in IEDC since its inception, Rick, a Fellow Member, was elected as Chairman of IEDC in 2002 and received the designation of Honorary Life Member in 2007. Currently, Rick also serves on the Board of Directors of Duke Raleigh Hospital; Research Triangle Regional Partnership; Regional Transportation Alliance; and Triangle Reality Check. Serving as a Board member to each group, he demonstrates his dedication to his career as to the economic development profession.

In addition, Rick currently serves as President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, owner and developer of the renowned Research Triangle Park (RTP). He oversees Park operations and development and is setting the strategic direction for RTP’s future. Under his leadership to date, the Park’s success has surpassed its historic performance. Since 2004, RTP has generated successful development projects with projected capital investment of over $800 million and the projected creation of over 6,300 new, high-quality jobs.

Rick was elected President of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) North American Division in December 2007. During his term, he served on IASP’s International Board of Directors, and The Research Triangle Park hosted the 2009 IASP World Conference on Science and Technology Parks in June 2009.

During his career in economic development, Rick has used these skills in a diverse range of communities – working to attract companies and create jobs, improving the business climate of regions, and setting other regions apart for their best practices and know-how to strengthen their competitive positions in uncertain economic times. Previously, he led regional economic development organizations in five different regions, including Greater Phoenix, AZ; Toledo, OH; Stockton, CA; Winston-Salem, NC; and Tulsa, OK. During his tenure, these organizations created a combined total of 32,000 new jobs and invested over $3.4 billion in their regions.

Because of his tremendous, lifelong work in economic development, the International Economic Development Council is proud to award Rick L. Weddle with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in Honor of Edward DeLuca.

2008
Gary Conley, HLM
President
TechSolve, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH

Mr. Conley has been working in the field of economic development for over 40 years. During his career, Gary’s work in economic development has spanned from real estate development to job creation and brought him from Ohio to California. Throughout this time, Gary consistently used innovative economic development tools and was able to stay at the forefront of the field.

Mr. Conley has been a leader in economic development in many cities. He has taken charge of economic development programs in Dayton, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Cincinnati and delivered impressive results. He has made large strides in business retention and attraction in these cities and has created thousands of jobs and developed affordable housing, technology centers and museums.

Mr. Conley is also a very successful writer, having composed numerous technical papers, guide books and publications on economic development. As an expert in the field, organizations such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Community Development Association have all come to Gary in search of his vast knowledge of economic development and his ability to compose intelligent and informative publications.

Mr. Conley has gathered great respect in the economic development community. Gary was selected in 1984 by his peers in the field to be Chairman of the Council for Urban Economic Development, a forerunner to the International Economic Development Council.

During his career, Mr. Conley has made it a point to encourage others in the field, including newcomers. He has recruited several highly talented young professionals that have advanced in the economic development profession and are today prominent practitioners. Gary takes pride in passing along his knowledge and skills to a new generation of economic developers with hopes that they will continue along the path to excellence that he has followed.

Today, and for the last thirteen years, Mr. Conley has been president of TechSolve. TechSolve is a National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center. During Mr. Conely’s tenure, TechSolve’s clients report that the organization has enabled them to undertake a great deal of new investment which has led to the creation and retention of thousands of jobs.

Because of his tremendous, lifelong work in economic development, the International Economic Development Council is proud to award Gary Conley with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in Honor of Edward DeLuca.

2007
Mark D. Waterhouse, CEcD, FM, HLM
President
Garnet Consulting Services, Inc.
Pleasant Valley, CT

Mark Waterhouse has been active in the field of economic development since 1972. During his career, he has worked across many facets of both the public and private sectors of economic development. He has been a successful practitioner at the community level, an industrial park developer, and a comprehensive and broad-based economic development consultant.

Mr. Waterhouse has consistently demonstrated highly innovative approaches to economic development. He has played strong leadership roles in economic development associations at the local, regional, and national level. During his term as chair of the American Economic Development Council, he established the “Preeminence Task Force” to frame the strategies necessary for the council to respond to emerging challenges and maintain excellence in professional association programs and activities. This watershed task force report framed many of the key trends and issues that opened the organizational door for the eventual merger of AEDC and CUED into the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He represented AEDC during the first two explorations of merger of the two organizations.

Mr. Waterhouse has had a tremendous impact on both the economic development profession and the career advancement of individual practitioners across the country for over 35 years. He is one of the founders of Western Connecticut State University’s economic development undergraduate major. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker at economic development programs nationally. He was presented the 1996 Richard Preston Award for Educational Merit for his long-term contributions to economic development education. He is also the author of many articles about economic development.

Because of his tremendous, life-long work in economic development, the International Economic Development Council is proud to award Mark Waterhouse with the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award.

2006
Michael J. Olivier, CEcD, FM
Secretary
Louisiana Department of Economic Development
Baton Rouge, LA

2005
James Griffin, CEcD, FM, HLM
Executive Director
City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency
Hornell, NY

2004
James Devine, CEcD
President & CEO
Lees Summit Economic Development Council
Lees Summit, MO

2003
Robert Ady
President
Ady International Company
Mount Prospect, IL

2002
James O. Roberson, CEcD, FM, HLM, EM
Chairman
Research Triangle Regional Partnership
Cary, NC

2001
Thomas Blanchard
Empire State Development - WNY Region
Buffalo, NY

2000
George T. Karras
Rockville, MD

1999
Rosemary Scanlon
Economic Consultant
Brooklyn, NY

1998
D. Kenneth Patton
Director of Real Estate
New York University School of Continuing & Professional Studies
New York, NY

1997
Ronald C. Kysiak
Executive Director
Evanston Inventure
Evanston, IL

1996
Melvin Roebuck
Los Angeles, CA

1995
John E. Corrigan
President
John E. Corrigan Associates
Naples, FL

1994
Mr. Herbert J. Bailey
Assistant City Manager
City of Miami
Miami, FL

1993
Phillip Hammer

1992
Tom Kelley

1991
James C. Hankla
Senior Advisor
Port of Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

1990
Bernard L. Berkowitz
Senior Advisor for Economic Initiation
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD

1989
Mr. Walter D'Alessio
Chairman & CEO
NorthMarq Advisors
Philadelphia, PA

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