It is hard to believe that it has been six months since I started my role as president and CEO of IEDC. I have been blown away by the support I have received from the economic development community, and I am inspired by all that is ahead.

Most of my first six months has been centered on listening, engaging, and learning from across the IEDC membership and economic development field. As a part of that listening tour, not only have I met individually with every IEDC board member, every IEDC team member, and many partners, I have also made random phone calls to IEDC members to solicit their feedback and hear from folks who may not normally have the chance to engage at a high-level with the organization. These conversations have been very enlightening and have provided me with valuable insight into the many challenges and opportunities seen in the economic development field today. I have heard helpful ideas on how IEDC can continue to serve members and partner with other organizations to meet these challenges. Most of all, I have been inspired. Inspired by the stories, inspired by the dedication that exists within the IEDC team, board, and membership, and inspired by the opportunity ahead.

I wanted to share a little more about what I have heard in my conversations with members, and how it has helped, and will continue to help, shape the future of the organization. In almost every conversation, I have heard stories of how IEDC has helped organizations and individuals further their economic development journey. According to my conversations, the training courses and research that IEDC provides seem to be resonating, and are arguably the most important aspects of the service the organization provides. However, it has also brought to light gaps that exist and details that are being missed that we are now working to address. Timeliness in responses and gaps in information on the status of a membership or certification are both areas that I have heard from several members as items to address. I have also heard a desire for IEDC to continue to be a thought leader, whether it is in advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill or in pushing the economic development field forward in a more inclusive way. In the end, most of the comments from IEDC members have centered around service and ensuring that the organization continues to provide the highest level of service to members and to the larger economic development community.

Based on the feedback I have received and will continue to receive, we will continue to focus on our mission of providing service, leadership, and excellence in economic development for communities, members, and partners by being the premier source of economic development knowledge and expertise worldwide; providing world-class services to our members; professionalizing and diversifying the economic development field; and strengthening our partnership, policy, leadership, and advocacy efforts.

We know that we must change and adapt to ensure we are providing the best service possible to members. That means you can expect a few things from the team at IEDC moving forward:

• proactive engagement;

• collaboration;

• thought leadership; and

• a new and updated vision of what the organization can and should be, all with your thoughts and ideas at the forefront of driving important conversations on the future of economic development.

Now in the organization’s 96th year, IEDC remains positioned for relevance, growth, and impact. From public to private sector, rural to urban, and local to international, our members are engaged in the full range of economic development experiences and are finding success and innovations in this time of profound change and rapid industry transformation. In particular, I have heard again and again the importance of equity to the future of this profession. This focus will continue to help not just IEDC, but the economic development profession, ensuring that we are driving more equitable outcomes for communities across the world.

Looking towards the future, we have embarked on several actions and initiatives to strengthen IEDC and ensure our programs and activities align with our mission and vision. Specifically, I am and will continue working to:

• build out a strategic planning framework and conduct an organization-wide SWOT assessment;

• focus on the organization’s financial health and resilience;

• assess the organization’s member-engagement tools and strategies;

• identify opportunities for new partnerships and collaboration;

• review and update our internal operations and HR systems and plans; and

• focus on team building, professional development, and well-being—helping to continue to build the resilience of the IEDC team.

I am excited and optimistic about the future growth of IEDC, and I look forward to meeting many more of you over the coming weeks and months. Your dedication to the organization and participation in our mission is critical to our success, and we thank you for your continued support.