IEDC is proud to announce a new cohort of certified Entrepreneurship Development Professionals (EDPs)! The EDP credential is designed to build capacity for those supporting entrepreneurship in their communities, and demonstrates the skills and expertise to steer communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED). 

"Economic developers are the cornerstone of the business communities they represent, which is why IEDC is pleased to extend our sincere congratulations to all the dedicated professionals who have achieved the EDP credential," said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle. "As the largest membership organization for economic developers, we are proud to recognize these exceptional individuals for their economic development skills and their continued commitment to enhancing economic vitality and quality of life in their communities.” 

To earn the EDP credential, candidates must have two years of full-time experience in economic development, complete the necessary coursework, and pass the certification examination. The following individuals passed the recent EDP exams: 

Ayisat Abilogun, EDP, CEO, Financial Leadership Club of America

Skip Alford, EDP, President & CEO, Lake Wales (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Council 

Alexandra Bennett, CEcD, EDP, Manager of Economic Development and Member Services, Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative 

Amanda Craig Bradley, EDP, Business Outreach Manager, DRIVE Economic Development, Danville, Pa. 

Evan Fay, EDP, Senior Consultant, Economic Development Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, LLP 

Rodney Parkkonen, EDP, Senior Business Strategy Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation 

Eunika Smalls, CPA, EDP, Business Consultant, Solutions 4 Success, LLC, Greensboro, N.C. 

Danielle Stellrecht, EDP, Senior Director, Economic Impact Strategy and Relations, Dallas College 

Arthur Thomas III, EDP, Director of Mission Investing and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (Conn.) 

Cynthia Traore, EDP, Business Development Administrator, Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission, Towanda, Pa 

The EDP courses and credential are made possible through support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Economic Development Administration and a partnership with the University of Missouri–Kansas City’s SourceLink.