Government & Economic Development Institute

Business Assistance Coordinator – Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

I’ve had the distinct pleasure to lead several economic development projects for the city of Springfield, Missouri since graduating Intensive in 2015. From expansion projects with KraftHeinz, 3M and Vital Farms to more recent retail projects including the first Buc-ee’s in the state of Missouri, a second Target for our city, and many other retailers that are new to our community. I recently graduated from OUEDI and I’m actively studying for my CEcD and recently passed the exam for our state-wide certification (MoCED).

My favorite thing about the Intensive course was as someone that was new to economic development, I had the opportunity to get a great overview of economic development and get a better understanding of the field as I was jumping into it.

As someone that was new to economic development, I learned through the course the importance of having a strong network of peers. Your network, regardless of where they reside, can be such a resource as you work through a project, navigate something new, or simply have a question.

When I went through Intensive, I was very new to economic development and trying to absorb everything like a sponge. One of the biggest takeaways was the value of building relationships not just with community partners, but also with your business community. I learned about the value of a simple thank you note and the importance of staying in contact with your community partners outside of just when you need something. So many of my strong relationships present day are from the valuable lessons I learned in Intensive.

I’m still in contact with some of my fellow peers I’ve met through Intensive. We get to see each other at annual conferences and events throughout the country. It’s always great to catch up and learn about what everyone has been up to.

Learning and continuing education are such a crucial part of your personal growth. Going through Intensive is a great investment on yourself whether you work in economic development every day directly or perhaps want to learn how you can support the economic developers in your community. This was a great opportunity for me that allowed me to have a head start on my career in economic development. Make the investment, dedicate the time, and have fun. WDE!