IEDC’s Advisory Committees are an excellent place to network with your peers, engage with the challenges of strengthening our shared profession, and learn about the trends that will impact the work that we do. The purpose of our advisory committees is to allow the Board to break some of the specific functional and policy work of the organization into manageable pieces. The Committees make recommendations for specific organizational needs and empowers those who volunteer their time to be an integral part of our organization.
The Advisory Committee Handbook was adopted by the IEDC Board of Directors in September 2010. It provides an orientation to the role of Advisory Committees and explains what the committees do. The Handbook also outlines the policies and procedures that govern IEDC Advisory Committees.
Are you interested in serving on one of IEDC's Advisory Committees? Would you like to invite others to serve on an Advisory Committee? Download a printable copy of our "Get More Involved" card below.
This committee oversees AEDO applications, conducts the AEDO process, and makes recommendations for AEDO status. This committee reports to the Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee.
Chair: Jim Fram, CEcD FM CCE, Missouri Economic Development Council, Jefferson City, MO
Vice Chair: Allison J.H. Thompson CEcD FM EDFP, The Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Pine Bluff, AR
Contact: Dana Crater, [email protected], (910) 833-7020
This committee, composed of the BEDC Course Directors, functions as an organized group to share information and enhance the BEDC program. Any policy action must be referred to the Education and Certification Advisory Committee. Activities of the Committee may include profiling and sharing best practices among BEDC Course Directors related to program and instructor development, advising potential BEDCs and/or newly accredited BEDCs, alerting staff to contacts that may potentially serve as champions of a new BEDC within a state that currently does not have one, and acting as ambassadors to boost awareness of the accreditation program. The BEDC committee reports to the Education and Certification Advisory Committee, which reports to the Board of Director’s Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee (POM). POM oversees the accreditation of new BEDCs and other programs as well as the subsequent reaccreditation activity. The BEDC Committee meets four times a year: an in person meeting at the annual conference and three conference calls throughout the year.
Chair: James B. Hoelscher, CEcD, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Vice Chair: Kristene Manning, University of South Florida Business Development Center, Tampa, Florida
Staff Liaison: Chris Colan, [email protected], (202) 545-7238
The Education and Certification Advisory Committee assists in the development of new CEcD exam content and provides input to help shape the relevancy and content of professional development courses, including advanced courses. The committee monitors complimentary and competitive education offerings by outside groups within the economic development industry. The work of this committee will include reviewing questionable CEcD applications in which the candidate's eligibility cannot be clearly determined by staff; disputed "failed" results of the CEcD exam; applications for level two re-certification credits; and applications for Basic Economic Development Course accreditation. The committee will oversee the Re-accreditation of Basic Economic Development Courses on a 3-year cycle. This Committee reports to the Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee. Due to the nature of the content discussed and reviewed, this committee is open only to current CEcDs.
Chair: Patrick H. Vanderpool, CEcD FM HLM, Greater Tucamcari Economic Development Corporation, Tucamacari, NM
Vice Chair: Jenny Mizutowicz, CEcD, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Contact: Courtney Day, [email protected], (202) 942-9464
This committee makes recommendations for enhancing the Excellence in Economic Development Awards and conducts the judging for the awards. Members must be able to participate in the judging in Washington DC. This Task Force reports to the Performance Committee.
Chair: Jane Jenkins, Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., Oklahoma City, OK
Vice Chair: Christina Winn, Prince William County Department of Economic Development, Gainesville, VA
Contact: Allison Mahnke, [email protected], (202) 942-9483
The IEDC Higher Education Advisory Committee develops and implements strategies to foster broader engagement between economic developers and the higher education sector, including universities, community colleges, and technical colleges. This Committee encourages building the capacity of economic developers and higher education to work collaboratively to grow jobs, investment and talent in a knowledge-based economy.
For more information on economic development-university collaboration, download this document.
Chair: Ryan Sharp, CEcD, University of California, Davis, CA
Vice Chair: Shabaka E. Gibson, Battle Creek Unlimited, Battle Creek, MI
Contact: Claudia Bellony, [email protected], (202) 942-9470
This committee provides a venue for networking and knowledge sharing among internationally-active members. These members include practitioners outside the US and those with an interest in global issues, trends and best practices. Members serve as an advisory committee on international content for IEDC's conferences, professional development courses and research projects. The International Committee reports to the External Member Relations Committee.
Chair: Vanessa Goeschl, CEcD, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Munich, GER
Vice Chair: Javier Marin, MBA-IB CEcD CGBP, Central Florida Development Council, Lakeland, FL
Contact: Zytha Kock, [email protected], (202) 942-9466
This committee focuses on membership development and enhancement including the mentoring and cultivating of new professionals in the economic development profession. The Advisory Committee reviews approaches to reach out and communicate to non-members the value of membership in IEDC including reviewing membership development and enhancement programs from other organizations and reviewing the Annual Membership survey for ideas for the provision of new cost-effective member services. This Advisory Committee is externally focused and reports to the External Member Relations Committee.
Chair: Michael A. Southard, CEcD, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, OK
Vice Chair: Michael A. Southard, CEcD, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, OK
Staff Liason: Adele Smith, [email protected], (202)942-9485
This committee monitors and reviews the organization's legislative affairs and federal relations by establishing a list of key legislative issues to be monitored, recommending strategic and policy actions, and providing guidance on the content of the annual Economic Development Summit. The committee reports to the External Member Relations Committee.
Chair: Robert Van Geons, CEcD, Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation, Fayetteville, NC
Vice Chair: Aundra Wallace, JAXUSA Partnership, Jacksonville, FL
Contact: Matthew Mullin, [email protected], (202) 942-9482.
The Sustainability Advisory Committee provides direction to IEDC's activities in the area of sustainable economic development. Specifically, the committee helps identify resources to support sustainability projects, works to develop criteria for identifying best or promising practices in sustainable economic development, and serves as a forum and expert committee for exploring and deciphering the implications and significance of emerging sustainability issues in economic development broadly as well as for IEDC projects specifically. The Sustainability Committee is committed to helping the members of IEDC, as well as the economic development profession, transform and accelerate their organizational and community sustainability thinking and activities. This committee reports to the Planning and Business Development Committee.
Chair: Sarah Lee, Th!nk Dutchess, Poughkeepsie, NY
Vice Chair: Odessa M. Archibald, CEcD, Georgia Power Company, Austell, GA
Staff Liaison: Todd Lang, [email protected], (202) 942-9488
This committee advises IEDC on matters important to young economic development professionals and students of economic development related disciplines. It recommends programming that is relevant to the younger set, assists with communication to this demographic and those interested in supporting young professionals, and provides general guidance to the organization on engaging young people. The Young Professionals Advisory Committee provides an outlet for younger members to become more involved in the organization and reports to the External Member Relations Committee.
The majority of the Young Professionals Advisory Committee's membership must be made up of individuals who are 35 and younger. Membership is also open to more experienced members of IEDC who find this work important.
Chair: Diana Velazquez, Longview Economic Development Corporation, Longview, Texas
Vice Chair: Adam Henry, CEcD, Arlington County/Economic Development, Arlington, VA
Contact: Allison Mahnke, [email protected], (202) 942-9483