PHOENIX, ARIZ. (May 9, 2023) — As the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) celebrates Economic Development Week May 8-13, it is pleased to announce eight economic developers and business professionals from across the state have earned their AZED Pro designation from The Academy of Arizona, AAED’s formal education program.
To earn an AZED Pro certification, economic development professionals must complete seven courses including: Economic Development in Arizona; Business Retention and Expansion; Taxation, Finance, and Incentives; Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development; Marketing and Business Development; Workforce Development; and an elective.
The Academy of Arizona, presented by AAED, is a formal education program aimed at ensuring Arizona’s economic development and business professionals receive the most current and relevant training in topics pertaining to the practice of economic development in Arizona. A structured ongoing professional development program is required to maintain the AZED Pro designation.
AZED Pro graduates announced at the 2023 AAED Spring Conference last month in Tucson:
- Katherine Anderson, AZED Pro, Yavapai College REDC;
- Roger Biede, AZED Pro, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce;
- Crisi Clark, AZED Pro, Town of Camp Verde;
- Courtney Gulley, AZED Pro, Pinal County;
- Francesca Miller, AZED Pro, Multistudio;
- Brian Wright, AZED Pro, City of Buckeye;
- Meg Zemlicka, AZED Pro, Marketing Alliance, Inc.;
- Creag Znetko, AZED Pro, City of Flagstaff.
“Gaining AZED Pro designation is a differentiator when it comes to the overall expertise and knowledge of economic development and business professionals,” said AAED Executive Director Carrie Kelly. “This commitment ensures that these professionals have the tools they need to continue propelling Arizona communities forward.”
PHOTO CAPTION: AAED’s 2023 class of AZED Pros (left) to right Creag Znetko, Brian Wright, Meg Zemlicka, Francesca Miller, Courtney Gulley, Crisi Clark, and Katherine Anderson. (Photo courtesy of Larry Kantor).