The International Economic Development Council (IEDC)’s Board of Directors has selected seven new economic development leaders to serve on the organization’s 2025 Board of Directors for a two-year term. The board has also selected the leadership positions for the coming year. The process took place at the annual board meeting on September 15 during IEDC’s Annual Conference in Denver. All board and officer terms begin on January 1, 2025.
“These new board members represent a dynamic mix of experience, innovation, and passion for advancing economic development,” said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta and current board chair. “IEDC’s 2025 board includes increased representation from throughout the U.S. and globally. I’m excited to collaborate with these leaders as we work to drive impactful initiatives that will benefit communities across the globe. Their vision and leadership will be instrumental in guiding IEDC into a new era of growth and success.”
“It is an honor to take on the role of board chair for IEDC,” said Bryan Daniels, CEcD, CCE, IOM, President and CEO of the Blount Partnership and current board vice chair. “I am eager to work alongside such a talented and innovative team. Together, we will have the opportunity to collectively move the field forward by embracing the opportunities in front of us and showcasing our unique abilities, anticipating and responding to rapid changes, and championing new ideas and strategies to promote sustainable economic growth.”
“I am thrilled to welcome this new group of visionary leaders to our board of directors,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle. “Their extensive expertise and commitment to economic development will be invaluable in propelling IEDC toward a prosperous future for this profession, our members d stakeholders, and our organization.”
Below is the list of IEDC’s 2025 board members. The 2025 board is comprised of 33% members from the southeastern U.S., 23% from the central U.S., 20% from the western U.S., 17% from the northeastern U.S., and 7% international members. IEDC’s current membership includes 182 international members representing 21 countries.
2025 Chair of the Board
Bryan Daniels, CEcD, CCE, IOM, President and CEO, Blount (Tenn.) Partnership
Immediate Past Chair
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD, President and CEO, Invest Atlanta
Vice Chair of the Board
Danielle Casey, CEcD, President and CEO, Albuquerque (N.M.) Regional Economic Alliance
Secretary/Treasurer
Clyde Higgs, President and CEO, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Standing Committee Chairs
Julie Curtin, President, Economic Development, Development Counsellors International
Chris Masingill, CEcD, CEO, St. Tammany (La.) Corporation
Quentin Messer, Jr., CEcD, President and CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Jared Smith, CEcD, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, City of Henderson (Nev.)
Standing Committee Vice Chairs
Kevin Dick, CEcD, President and CEO, Carolina Small Business Development Fund
Barb LaMue, CEcD, EDFP, President and CEO, New North (Wis.), Inc.
Heather McDaniel, CEcD, EDFP, President, Ithaca (N.Y.) Area Economic Development
Mandi Mitchell, CEcD, President and CEO, Lafayette (La.) Economic Development Authority
New Board Members (Two-Year Terms)
Clare Barnett, Director of Business Growth, City of Toronto
Taylor Davis, Senior Director, Workforce Development and Partnerships, Elevate Rapid City (S.D.)
Tray Hairston, Esq, CEcD, Economic Development Attorney, Butler Snow LLP
Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Director, Pinellas County (Fla.) Economic Development
Jolene Schalper, CEcD, EDP, EDFP, Executive Vice President, Great Falls (Mont.) Development Alliance
Cornell Wesley, Chief Economic Development Officer, City of Birmingham (Ala.)
Courtney Zaugg, CEcD, EDP, President, Plaka + Associates
Renominated Board Members (Two-Year Terms)
Beth Bowman, President and CEO, Irving-Las Colinas (Texas) Chamber of Commerce / Irving Economic Development Partnership
Joi Cuartero-Austin, CEcD, Senior Program Officer for Economic Vitality, Main Street America
Haldane Davies, PhD, Executive Director, Orion Consultancy Services
Dennis Fraise, CEcD, President and CEO, Lee County (Iowa) Economic Development Group
David Griggs, CEcD, President and CEO MetroHartford (Conn.) Alliance
Trish Heidenreich, CEcD, Founder and CEO, Economic Development Initiatives Group
Maureen Krauss, FM, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Partnership
Heather McDaniel, CEcD, EDFP, President, Ithaca (N.Y.) Area Economic Development
Josh Mejia, Economic Development Specialist, Office of Economic Development, City of Arlington (Texas)
Courtney Pogue, CEcD, CCIM, CRE, EDP, LEED, AP, Senior Director, Grow America
Ryan Silva, Executive Director, New York State Economic Development Council
Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (Fla.)
Jared Smith, CEcD, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, City of Henderson (Nev.)
Joy Wilkins, CEcD, HLM, Principal, Serving Communities, LLC
Rob Williams, EDP, Director, Department of Economic Initiatives, SourceLink
Outgoing Board Members
Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation
David Leezer, CEcD, FM, Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, City of Hazelwood (Mo.)
Ann Marie Miller, CEcD, Director, Credits and Incentives, Hickey & Associates, LLC
Jonathan Morgan, PhD, Professor of Public Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government
Mike Neal, CCE, CCD, FM, HLM, IOM, President and CEO, Tulsa (Okla.) Regional Chamber
Jonas Peterson, CEcD, President and CEO, Southwest Michigan First
About IEDC
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 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.