Nineteen economic development professionals from across Ohio have earned the Ohio Certified Economic Developer (OhioCED) designation, a statewide credential recognizing advanced expertise in business attraction and retention, development finance, site readiness, and community strategy.
The Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) recognized the new credential holders Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Awards Luncheon during its Annual Summit in Dayton. They are members of the program’s ninth cohort and join 130 professionals statewide who hold the designation.
This year’s recipients are:
Jason Antonick, City of Huber Heights
Marissa Bechstein, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
Joshua Bender, Village of North Baltimore
Maribeth Burns, Wayne Economic Development Council
Dana Dusseau, Lucas County Department of Economic Development
Scott Gafvert, Clermont County Department of Community & Economic Development
Stephanie Gilchrist, City of Youngstown
Nicole S. Harris, City of Warrensville Heights
Jonathan Kabat, City of Reynoldsburg
P’Elizabeth Koelker, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Chris Lewis, City of Forest Park
David McCandless, City of Sharonville
Sonia Newman, Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County
Michalla Perkins, City of Middletown
James Russell, City of Upper Arlington
James Shively, Tuscarawas County
Perrica Short, Preble County Development Partnership
Kelly Smith, Lorain County Community Development
Jennifer Thomas, REDI Cincinnati
“The OhioCED tells employers, elected officials, and site selectors that a practitioner works at a recognized professional standard,” said David Zak, President & CEO, OEDA. “These professionals earned it on top of demanding jobs, and the communities they serve are the ones who benefit. We’re proud to welcome them to the ranks of Ohio’s certified economic developers.”
What it takes
To earn the credential, candidates must complete, within three years, the Ohio Basic Economic Development Course, all five Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI) core courses, and the OEDI Capstone Course.
The capstone is the program’s culminating project. Working with an OEDA mentor, each candidate applies what they learned across real estate, finance and incentives, site selection, and business retention and expansion to a challenge in their own community. Capstone papers, presentations and scenario assignments are then evaluated by practicing economic development professionals.
“This credential is conferred by the profession itself,” said Mark Barbash, Director of the Ohio Economic Development Institute. “Every capstone is reviewed by peers who know exactly what this work demands, and that review is what gives the designation its weight. This cohort met that standard, and Ohio communities will be better for it.”
About the OhioCED credential
The OhioCED is a voluntary certification administered by OEDI, the education arm of OEDA. Professionals become eligible after completing the Ohio Basic Economic Development Course or logging three years of full-time economic development experience. Certified economic developers must complete 16 hours of approved continuing education each year to keep the designation.
Economic development professionals interested in pursuing the credential can contact Mark Barbash at mbarbash@ohioeda.com or visit ohioeda.com.