Economic Developers Earn Ohio Certifed Economic Developer Credential

Oct 29, 2018News, Newsletter

The Ohio Economic Development Association is pleased to announce that seven economic development practitioners have been awarded the credential of Ohio Certified Economic Developer (Ohio CED) during the organization’s 2018 Annual Excellence Awards ceremony held Columbus, Ohio on October 17, 2018.

The following individuals have been awarded the Ohio Certified Economic Developer (Ohio CED) credential:
• Alyssa Carpenter, Program Manager, Wayne Economic Development Council
• Gregory Moon, Director, Wyandotte Co. Office of Economic Development
• Stuart Moynihan, Network Manager, JobsOhio
• Brent Painter, Director of Economic Development, City of Strongsville
• Mercedes Sanchez-Moore, International Trade Manager, City of Mentor
• Barrett Thomas, Director of Economic Development, Richland Community Development Group
• Matt Waldo, Senior Manager, Research & Analysis, JobsOhio

The Ohio CED program was launched in January 2017 in conjunction with the creation of the Ohio Economic Development Institute. The Ohio Certified Economic Developer (Ohio CED) credential is designed to demonstrate the depth and breadth of an individual’s knowledge and their ability to apply that knowledge to the benefit of their community or organization.

“Ohio’s economic developers play a critical role in keeping their communities strong,” Jennifer Tisone Price, OEDA Executive Director, said. “Their work ensures the well-being of a community through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements and quality of life investments.”

The Ohio Certified Economic Developer (Ohio CED) is a voluntary certification for practitioners who choose to demonstrate their advanced knowledge and training. The Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI) offers the pathway to certification with a curriculum designed to build upon a professional’s existing knowledge and skills. Because of prerequisites to begin the OEDI coursework, most professionals have at least five years of experience before being certified though many in the program will have more than ten.

The curriculum entails an initial 50 hours of coursework in the areas of real estate development and finance, site selection and site development, project finance and incentives, and business retention and expansion. From there, certification candidates must complete an additional 24 hours of approved elective continuing education and complete a capstone course. The capstone project is a culminating experience that represents the application of multiple competencies.

Mark Barbash, OEDA Professional Development Chairperson explained the rigor of the certification is designed to ensure Ohio has the most prepared and qualified economic developers to meet the specific needs of their respective communities or regions as well as the state’s overall economic development strategy.

“The Ohio CED program ensures economic developers have the advanced training to develop and execute strategies for economic development across the state of Ohio as well as their specific communities and regions, Barbash stated. “The program is state-centric meaning it is designed to align with Ohio’s specific economic development structure, tools, and programs.”

The next certification cohort includes 17 candidates and runs through May 15, 2019. Economic developers interested in the OEDI courses or the Ohio CED credential should visit ohioeda.com and click on programs.

Aligning Purpose with Profit: What Are Your Business Values?

The 2024 Small Business Symposium is set to take place on April 12, 2024. This event is tailored for small business owners, corporate and community leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to transform their businesses by aligning personal values with professional success. Register now for the early bird rate of $25!

read more

WEBINAR: How Can Local Economic Developers Talk with Housing Developers?

Housing demand outstrips supply so much that developers can be – and are – very selective about where they choose to invest. Factors like land price, annexation and zoning processes, infrastructure costs, density, and community design specs will make or break a developer’s go-or-no-go decision. This panel discussion will provide insights into developers’ decision-making processes, as well as help direct the focus of local economic developers to those areas in which they can add value in housing discussions.

read more

Speakers Sought for 2024 OEDA Annual Summit

The Call for Presentations for the OEDA Annual Summit to be held September 4-6, 2024, at the Glass City Center in Toledo, Ohio, is now open. The Annual Summit offers a unique platform to highlight innovative solutions, spark discussions, and share impactful strategies that have positively influenced communities. The Annual Summit organizers are seeking speakers to provide a variety of high quality educational sessions to attendees.

read more