Washington, DC – The Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has selected 26 economic development leaders to serve on the organization's 2024 Board of Directors for a two-year term, including leadership for the coming year. The process took place during the annual board meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2023, at IEDC's 2023 Annual Conference in Dallas, TX. All board terms will begin on January 1, 2024. 

"We are looking forward to the transformative leadership that this impressive group of top economic developers will bring to the profession throughout their terms," said Jonas Peterson, CEcD, the 2023 IEDC Board Chair and President and CEO, Southwest Michigan First. "With the election of the 2024 Board of Directors, we can expect remarkable achievements not only in the upcoming year but in the many years to come. Their expertise, dedication, and innovative strategies will undoubtedly shape the future and success for IEDC and its members." 

"I am truly honored to be elected Board Chair of the IEDC Board of Directors for the upcoming year. With our exceptional team and forward-thinking vision, we are poised to drive unprecedented growth and innovation in the field of economic development,” expressed Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta. "Together, I am confident that we will create a thriving ecosystem that fosters equitable economic expansion, empowers businesses, and uplifts our communities around the world." 

"I am thrilled to have such a highly qualified and dedicated slate of individuals as IEDC board members, who bring extensive credentials and a strong commitment to driving economic development. Their expertise and passion will be instrumental in guiding and propelling IEDC toward driving a prosperous future for this profession, our members and stakeholders, and our organization," noted Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of IEDC. 

2024 Chair of the Board 

• Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD, PhD, President and CEO, Invest Atlanta 

Immediate Past Chair 

• Jonas Peterson, CEcD, CEO, Southwest Michigan First 

Vice Chair of the Board 

• Bryan Daniels, CEcD, CCE, IOM, President and CEO, Blount Partnership (Tenn.)  

Secretary/Treasurer 

• Danielle Casey, CEcD, President and CEO, Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance 

External Member Relations Committee 

• Chair: Clyde Higgs, President and CEO Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. 
• Vice Chair: Julie Curtin, President, Economic Development, Development Counsellors International (Colo.) 

Planning and Business Development Committee 

• Chair: Quentin Messer, Jr., CEcD, President and CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation  
• Vice Chair: Molly Howey, CEcD, President, Economic Development, GO Topeka and Greater Topeka Partnership 

Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee 

• Chair: Mike Neal, CCE, CCD, FM, HLM, IOM, President and CEO, Tulsa (Okla.) Regional Chamber 
• Vice Chair: Josh Mejia, CEO, Mejia and Company (Texas) 

New Board Members (2 Year Terms):  

• Stephen Cheung, President & CEO, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (Calif.) 
• Ron Frierson, Director of Economic Development, Western U.S., Amazon 
• Philip Gaskin, Strategic Advisor to the CEO, Entrepreneurship and Economic Mobility, Kauffman Foundation (Mo.) 
• Mandi Mitchell, CEcD, President & CEO, Lafayette Economic Development Authority (La.) 
• Henry Silentman, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Navajo Nation Economic Development/Shiprock Regional Business Development Office (N.M.)
• Robert Van Geons, CEcD, President & CEO, Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Foundation (N.C.)
• Ella Woger, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Puerto Rico 

Current Board Members (Re-nominated for 2 Year Terms): 

• Amy Case-Madison, CEcD, EDFP, EDMP, Executive Director, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (Texas) 
• Michael Catsi, CEcD, DFCP Economic Development Manager, Tacoma Public Utilities (Wash.)
• Barbra Coffee, CEcD, EDFP, Director of Economic Initiatives, City of Tucson (Ariz.)
• Rodney Crim, CEcD, EDFP, CEO & President, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (Mo.)
• William Cronin, President & CEO, Pasco Economic Development Council (Fla.)
• Kevin Dick, CEcD, President & CEO, Carolina Small Business Development Fund (N.C.)
• Clyde Higgs, President & CEO, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
• Molly Howey, CEcD, President, Economic Development, CO Topeka and Greater Topeka Partnership (Kan.)
• Tamika Jenkins, CEcD, Executive Director, Hinds County (Miss.) Economic Development Authority
• SeonAh Kendall, CPA, Economic Health Director, City of Ft. Collins (Colo.)
• Chris Knight, Managing Director, FDI Intelligence for Financial Times (London)
• Barb LaMue, CEcD, EDFP, President & CEO, New North, Inc. (Wisc.)
• Chris Masingill, CEcD, Chief Executive Officer, St. Tammany Corporation (La.)
• Quentin Messer, Jr., CEcD, President & CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Bethany Miller, CEcD, Sr. Economic Development Consultant, Hickey Global Economic Development Consulting, (Va.)
• Rebecca Moudry, Director of the Department of Economic Initiatives, Department of Economic Initiatives, Fairfax County (Va.)
• Jessica Paolini, Manager of Economic development, Office of Planning, Policy and Economic Development, Somerset County (N.J.)
• Daniel Silverman, VP, Foreign Direct Investment, Investissement Quebec
• Leonard Sledge, Director of Economic Development, City of Richmond (Va.)
• Jennifer Wakefield, APR, President & CEO, Greater Richmond Partnership (Va.) 

Outgoing Board Members 

• Dr. James Collard, CITP, PhD, FM, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Citizen Potawatomi Nation 
• Todd Greene, CEcD, Institute Fellow and Executive Director of WorkRise, The Urban Institute, Atlanta 
• Gregory Hitchin, CEcD, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, City of Waynesboro (Va.) 
• Ean Johnson, CEcD, Vice President, Economic Development, OmniTRAX (Ohio) 
• Allison Larsen, CEcD, Founder and Company Administrator, TadZo (Ariz.) 
• Lindsey Kimball, CEcD, EDFP, Economic Development Director, City of Westminster (Colo.) 
• Ronald Kitchens, CEcD, President and CEO, Wichita Falls (Texas) Chamber of Commerce 
• Scott Martinez, CEcD, President and CEO, Tyler Economic Development Council/Tyler Chamber of Commerce (Texas) 
• Donald Pierson, CEcD, Secretary, Louisiana Economic Alliance 

About IEDC  

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,400 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.  

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