Washington, D.C. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) welcomes Julia Kraeger, a nationally known leader in non-profit strategy and public policy impact, as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Kraeger brings over a decade of experience in driving organizational transformation and fostering strategic partnerships to her new role. In her capacity as COO, Kraeger will collaborate closely with CEO Nathan Ohle and the IEDC leadership team to spearhead operational initiatives, catalyze strategic plan implementation, and navigate the organization through a period of dynamic growth and innovation.
“Julia joins IEDC at the perfect time,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President & CEO. “She brings an incredible level of experience and understanding on how to build and support a dynamic and growing organization. As the organization’s COO, she will help drive implementation of the organization’s most comprehensive strategic plan in its history, and continue to build on the foundation that has made IEDC what it is today.”
Kraeger comes to IEDC from the Brookings Institution, where she led strategy and operations for Brookings Metro, a $15 million research division dedicated to advancing regional inclusive growth. During her tenure, Kraeger cultivated deep ties with business and economic development entities, including numerous IEDC members, leveraging research insights to drive impactful change on a local and national scale.
Recognized for her adeptness in building and mobilizing high-performing teams, Kraeger is poised to leverage her expertise in aligning organizational systems, capacities, and cultures to drive tangible outcomes at IEDC.
“I’m passionate about equipping practitioners with the information and tools they need to grow vibrant regional economies that benefit more people,” stated Julia Kraeger. “As Chief Operating Officer, I will bring my deep knowledge of this field and my experience aligning organizations to support it, working with Nathan and the rest of the IEDC team to translate an ambitious new vision into reality.”
Julia Kraeger’s appointment as COO underscores IEDC’s commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in economic development practices worldwide.
Julia will join the IEDC team beginning Monday, February 12.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 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.