Congratulations to the 2019 OEDA Annual Excellence Awards Winners and Finalists

OHIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (OEDA)
PRESENTS 2019 ANNUAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) presented its Annual Excellence Awards at its 2019 Annual Summit, held at the Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin

The Ohio Economic Development Association’s Annual Excellence Awards program recognizes the achievements of individuals and organizations throughout Ohio in the areas of economic and workforce development.

“The Annual Excellence Awards showcase the best of the best in economic development and gives members of the profession the opportunity to come together and collectively celebrate the success of the economic development profession,” Jennifer Price, OEDA Executive Director, said.

Annual Excellence Award Recognition was presented to the following finalists/winners.  Videos to highlight the award winning project entries were also produced.  The full awards presentation, including videos, may be viewed/downloaded HERE. 

 Click Here to view the full awards PowerPoint Presentation

Best Project
This award recognizes outstanding and innovative projects (retention, attraction, redevelopment (brownfield or historic), greenfield infrastructure, Main Street) in economic and business development that retain or generate jobs and capital investment.  The award determination is not dependent on the number of jobs created or retained, size of site, or the amount of total investment.  Rather, this award will showcase a unique approach to the project, which can include a public-private partnership, local collaboration, innovative financing and/or incentives, overcoming historic barriers or obstacles, or been a catalyst for economic development in the community.  The project must have been completed in the last 18 months, however there are no time limits or constraints on the total timeline of the project. 

• Winner – Clinton County Port Authority – Amazon Air Cargo Project – Best Project Video
  

Excellence in Marketing & Communications

This award recognizes successful economic development marketing projects or marketing campaigns.  Examples include target market studies, branding, websites, direct mail, consultant events, public relations campaigns, social media campaigns and advertising.

• Winner-Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber-Columbus Drive-In and DC Fly-In – Excellence in Marketing & Communications Video
  

Excellence in Innovation

This award recognizes unique approaches to any aspect of economic development and recognizes a person or organization that has developed innovative practices and programs.  Examples include but are not limited to podcasts, blogs, guerilla marketing techniques, legislative initiatives, creative development of match funds, combining work force development with economic development, and non-traditional partnerships. 

• Winner – Uptown Consortium, Inc. – The Uptown Innovation Corridor in Cincinnati’s Innovation District – Excellence in Innovation Video
  

Excellence in Workforce Development

This award recognizes unique approaches to any aspect of workforce development and recognizes a person or organization that has developed innovative practices and programs. The strategy(ies) should provide direction, guidance, and motivation to Ohio’s workforce and business community and demonstrate an impact in meeting the workforce needs or overcoming the challenges in a specific community/region, industry, population or the state as a whole.    

• Winner – Dublin Reality Check Digital – Excellence in Workforce Development Video
  

Economic Development Professional of the Year

This award recognizes an individual who has been an economic development professional in Ohio for at least the past year.  The purpose of the award is to identify someone who has assisted in making a significant impact in their organization/community through their efforts as an economic developer. The Economic Development Professional of the Year award encourages, recognizes, and celebrates the individual who has met the challenges of providing economic development, who demonstrates the ability and commitment to positively impact their community’s and/or the state’s economic growth, and contributed to the advancement of the economic development profession in Ohio. 

• Winner – Jennifer Ekey, Economic Development Director, City of Middletown
• Finalist – Daniel G. Evers, Executive Director, Clinton County Port Authority
• Finalist – Tim R. Mayle, Director Economic Development, Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development

Economic Development Rookie of the Year

This award recognizes an individual who has been an economic development professional in Ohio for less than two years (joined after May 1, 2017). The purpose of the award is to identify someone who has “hit the ground running” and made extraordinary contributions to local or state workforce and economic development in his/her career. The Rookie of the Year award encourages, recognizes, and celebrates one who has met the challenges of providing economic development early in their career and who demonstrates the ability and commitment to positively impact the state’s economic growth. 

• Winner – Patrick Mohorcic, Lake County Ohio Port and Economic Development Authority
• Finalist – Tammy Eallonardo, Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development
• Finalist – Shea MacMillan, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

The Ohio Economic Development Association is the professional association for economic developers.  The association’s mission is to increase economic prosperity in the State of Ohio by working together, on a non-partisan basis, with state, regional, and local development partners to advance Ohio’s economy through professional development, advocacy, and networking.  For more information about OEDA, please visit www.ohioeda.com.