TUCSON, AZ (July 14, 2026) -- The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) kicked off its new AAED leadership year with its annual Leadership Retreat, held June 24–26, 2026, at the Omni Tucson National Resort.
The retreat brought together AAED’s Board of Directors, committee chairs and volunteer leaders from across Arizona to strengthen relationships, align priorities and prepare for the year ahead.
The event combined strategic planning with team-building activities, giving participants an opportunity to collaborate and reinforce AAED’s mission of advancing economic development throughout Arizona. Discussions centered on implementing the organization’s newly adopted 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, “Leading With Purpose,” and strengthening coordination among AAED’s statewide volunteer leadership team.
The strategic plan establishes four primary areas of focus: educating economic development professionals, advocating for sound public policy, expanding collaboration across Arizona and sustaining AAED’s organizational capacity.
The plan also calls for stronger professional training, a more visible statewide policy voice and greater participation from Arizona’s urban, rural, tribal and smaller communities. It reflects the increasingly complex responsibilities of economic development professionals, who are now expected to address workforce availability, housing, infrastructure, grant administration, regulatory requirements and project readiness in addition to traditional business attraction and retention.
AAED’s plan recognizes that communities are increasingly competing not only through incentives but also through their ability to provide the workforce, infrastructure, housing and partnerships necessary to support new and expanding businesses.
The retreat also marked the beginning of Pima County Economic Development Director Heath Vescovi-Chiordi’s term as AAED president.
“Hosting the retreat in Southern Arizona highlighted the region’s important role in the state’s economic development efforts while providing a collaborative setting to launch the new leadership year,” Vescovi-Chiordi said.
Vescovi-Chiordi brings more than a decade of economic development experience to the position. In addition to overseeing Pima County’s business attraction, retention and expansion efforts, he teaches economic development and local government administration at the University of Arizona.
He was recognized as AAED’s 2024 Economic Developer of the Year for a large community and has also received the International Economic Development Council’s Future Leader Award.
Joining Vescovi-Chiordi on AAED’s executive committee are
- President-Elect Kristen Stephenson of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council,
- Vice President Suzanne Boyles of the City of Buckeye,
- Secretary-Treasurer Jack Fitchett of the City of Winslow and
- Immediate Past President Jennifer Lindley of the Town of Queen Creek.
- Southern Arizona is also represented on the AAED board by Mike Czechowski of the City of Tucson and
- Carol Stewart of Tech Parks Arizona.
Vescovi-Chiordi thanked AAED staff members Katie Hurst, Juliana Jervis and Madison Leyvas for coordinating the retreat, as well as Laura O’Blenis and Jenna Evans of Stiletto Consulting for their leadership in developing AAED’s new strategic plan.
“Their efforts, combined with the dedication of AAED’s volunteer leaders, have positioned the organization for another successful year of supporting communities, businesses and economic development professionals across Arizona,” Vescovi-Chiordi said.