AAED bestows AZED Pro designation on 8 economic developers at 2023 spring meeting

AAED bestows AZED Pro designation on 8 economic developers at 2023 spring meeting

News & Updates

by | May 8, 2023 | News & Updates

     PHOENIX, ARIZ. (May 8, 2023) — As the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) celebrates Economic Development Week, it is pleased to announce eight economic developers and business professionals from across the state have earned their AZED Pro designation from The Academy of Arizona, AAED’s formal education program.

To earn an AZED Pro certification, economic development professionals must complete seven courses including: Economic Development in Arizona; Business Retention and Expansion; Taxation, Finance, and Incentives; Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development; Marketing and Business Development; Workforce Development; and an elective.

The Academy of Arizona, presented by AAED, is a formal education program aimed at ensuring Arizona’s economic development and business professionals receive the most current and relevant training in topics pertaining to the practice of economic development in Arizona. A structured ongoing professional development program is required to maintain the AZED Pro designation.

AZED Pro graduates announced at the 2023 AAED Spring Conference last month in Tucson:

  • Katherine Anderson, AZED Pro, Yavapai College REDC;
  • Roger Biede, AZED Pro, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce;
  • Crisi Clark, AZED Pro, Town of Camp Verde;
  • Courtney Gulley, AZED Pro, Pinal County;
  • Francesca Miller, AZED Pro, Multistudio;
  • Brian Wright, AZED Pro, City of Buckeye;
  • Meg Zemlicka, AZED Pro, Marketing Alliance, Inc.;
  • Creag Znetko, AZED Pro, City of Flagstaff.

“Gaining AZED Pro designation is a differentiator when it comes to the overall expertise and knowledge of economic development and business professionals,” said AAED Executive Director Carrie Kelly. “This commitment ensures that these professionals have the tools they need to continue propelling Arizona communities forward.”

 About AAED

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) was founded in 1974 with a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. The Association works to promote economic development in the State of Arizona through an exchange of information and educational opportunities among its members, to act as a liaison with outside groups, to influence legislation affecting economic development, and to empower members to create relationships to improve the economic outlook for Arizona. For more information on AAED, visit aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.

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by May 08, 2023
Desert Science Development wins 2023 REIAC/Rockefeller Group Challenge with life science project; event celebrates 10th anniversary

Desert Science Development wins 2023 REIAC/Rockefeller Group Challenge with life science project; event celebrates 10th anniversary

News & Updates

by | May 8, 2023 | News & Updates

Three teams compete in finals of 10th Annual Arizona State University MRED event.

      PHOENIX, ARIZ. (May 8, 2023) – Med tech labs. A fitness component. A retail park. Connected pathways. The creation of 10,000 jobs.

When the dust settled at the 10th annual REIAC/Rockefeller Group Challenge at Arizona Country Club, it was the Discovery Oasis – Desert Science Development team that took home the cash prize of $1,000 per team member among the three teams of graduating Masters of Real Estate Development (MRED) students from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business.

This year the competing teams of graduating ASU MRED students presented their development proposal for the vacant 218 acres owned by Mayo Clinic at 56th to 64th streets and Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix. Student teams presented their response to a request for development proposals created with Mayo and the MRED program.

A 10th-anniversary presentation recognizing MRED program alumni was held before the presentations.

The winning team of Casey Mahoney, Shane Doherty, McKenna Palmer, and Isa Ragland said its goal was to “create a sense of place by developing five innovative hubs to work together as an ecosystem.”

The Discovery Oasis – Desert Science Development comprises six phases to be built over 23 years, totaling 3 MSF of medical tech office space. Phase 1 features med tech lab facilities, a retail park, open spaces, and a museum. Phase 1 also included a convention center. Other phases included a community hub, research and development hub, and education and incubator hub. Phase 1 is where the synergy between Mayo and ASU exists, the team said.

“For the past 10 years we have produced graduates that the industry wants. These are graduates going into the industry and becoming industry leaders,” said Mark Stapp, director of the MRED program. “Although there is one winner in the Challenge, all student teams do excellent work. Each year we have great people involved, and even greater development projects to judge.

“It’s the faculty that delivers the content that’s so important to people in the industry. That was especially true for this particular assignment. The mentors and students alike were phenomenal. This is as rich and as real as we can make it,” Stapp said.

The other finalists and their projects:

>> Discovery Oasis – CORTEX: Jill Yen, Matt Howze, Ryan DuMars, and Jimmy Hawkins presented a development with lab and office space in which to generate research opportunities. It included hospitality and multifamily components and featured 7.8 MSF of buildable space. Other components were a Fitwell Center, retail space, and family care and education facilities.

>> Discovery Oasis – Echelon Development: Ann Johnson, Kolby Smith, Cody Deppen, and Zach Jaffe presented a project whose focus was entrepreneurship, education, and community. The proposal includes 46 buildings covering more than 5 MSF. It features three cores across the site: multifamily and office; med tech labs; and research and development space.

Each team was allotted 10 minutes to present a development solution followed by questions from the audience. Audience members chose the winning team immediately after the presentations.

“Two things get better every year,” Stapp said. “One is the support that comes from the REIAC membership and Rockefeller Group because that’s how this becomes real in terms of the student experience and not just in theory. The student experience continues to improve as we develop an alumni base who give back. As the program develops a reputation, we get better students every year.”

In addition to sponsoring the annual Challenge, REIAC Southwest awards two $2,500 scholarships to MRED students that have a financial need and want to pursue real estate careers in Arizona after they graduate.

“I am beyond belief that we are in our 10th year. Still, I continue to be impressed by the scope and execution of the presentations,” said Mark Singerman, Rockefeller Group Vice President/Regional Director and past REIAC Southwest President. “Rockefeller Group is extremely proud to have its name associated with this great program.” ​

 About REIAC

 The Real Estate Investment Advisory Council (REIAC) was established as a nonprofit trade association to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, concerns and experiences among senior executives who conduct real estate transactions. The invitation-only group limits its membership to senior-level executives at companies, who act as principals, and whose function is to develop, acquire, manage and/or finance real estate. Institutional quality programs and peer-to-peer relationship-building opportunities have established REAIC’s reputation throughout the national real estate investment community as one of its premier associations. www.reiac.org  The Power of REIAC

 About MRED

In nine months, the W. P. Carey Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) prepares students to lead real development projects that are environmentally respectful, socially responsible, and artfully designed. The MRED program is transdisciplinary, aligning principled instruction with dynamic real-world application. MRED is a unique partnership between four highly regarded schools within Arizona State University:

  • The W. P. Carey School of Business
  • The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
  • The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
  • The Del E. Webb School of Construction https://programs.wpcarey.asu.edu/masters-programs/real-estate-development

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by May 08, 2023
TEPCON Construction, Inc. celebrates 20 years of providing specialized general contracting services

TEPCON Construction, Inc. celebrates 20 years of providing specialized general contracting services

News & Updates

by | May 4, 2023 | News & Updates

     TEMPE, ARIZ. (May 4, 2023) – Building communities by building relationships accurately describes what drives TEPCON Construction, Inc.

Founded in 2003 by Tom Pritscher as a small consulting effort for commercial clients, the locally-owned general contractor later expanded to a full-service general contracting firm and is celebrating 20 years of providing specialized construction services in occupied corporate environments.

TEPCON employs nearly 50 people at its Tempe headquarters. Its culture revolves around three important core values – Respect, Safety, and Teamwork – which are taken very seriously by all team members. These core values inform every interaction both internally among fellow employees and also in external practices between the company and people with whom employees come in contact, including clients, vendors, and trade partners.

“Our core values are integral to the way we operate. It’s an internal practice between TEPCON employees, as well as an external practice between the company and every person we come in contact with,” Pritscher explained. “Regardless of the scope and size, everything we do is relationship-focused and quality-driven. When asked what size project TEPCON does, I often quote my dad, who was a contractor: ‘We’ll change a lockset for a client in Hong Kong if that’s what they need.’ In other words, TEPCON will do anything for a client.”

TEPCON works in concert with facility and property managers and sees itself as an extension of a client’s internal team for all of its construction efforts. More than a dozen Fortune 500 clients are repeat customers and several have partnered with TEPCON since its inception in 2003. Projects range from small facility construction maintenance to large tenant improvement projects and an occasional ground-up project.

“Our philosophy is to bring our facility knowledge and relationship culture to every project, positively impacting results and personal satisfaction of clients, employees, and subcontractors,” Pritscher said. “Every project starts with listening to our client’s needs and concerns. Using our facility and operations knowledge makes us experts in our field, but our forward-thinking partnership mentality sets us apart.”

As a full-service general contractor that self-performs select trades, TEPCON can provide faster results and consistent labor, ensuring that projects are completed efficiently and to the highest standards.

TEPCON assembles the best team for each specific challenge while maintaining a consistent, professional worker aesthetic. To ensure the safety and security of its clients and their facilities, TEPCON drug screens and background checks each of its employees and adheres to strict guidelines when working in occupied environments.

“We aim to blend into corporate environments while delivering controlled project costs, timely scheduling, and unmatchable quality,” Pritscher said. “We understand facility and property managers and aim to become an extension of the team to make their goals our business.”

This approach has ensured that TEPCON clients consistently re-engage over time.

“I have worked with TEPCON Construction for the last 20 years. TEPCON displays a high level of professionalism, experience, dedication, and commitment to quality on all their construction projects,” said Rick Corea IFMA Fellow, retired Senior Director, Global Facilities for ON Semiconductor. “TEPCON does an outstanding job cultivating a teamwork-oriented construction environment.”

TEPCON also prides itself in knowing it is more than just a construction company – its employees are active members of the community. It is committed to strengthening, enriching, and supporting the community. And community involvement isn’t just an annual event at TEPCON – it’s a year-round effort.

TEPCON Cares is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization started in 2018 with the express mission to make a difference in the lives of people in our community.

“We find that community involvement creates an environment of collaboration within the workplace,” Pritscher said. “When acting as a team, through TEPCON Cares, we can achieve more. Giving is one of the most powerful things a person can do. Our hope is that by sharing our giving story it will inspire others to do the same.”

For more information visit tepcon.com.

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by May 04, 2023
Valley attorney Michelle De Blasi celebrates 3rd anniversary with ASU Mentor of the Year award

Valley attorney Michelle De Blasi celebrates 3rd anniversary with ASU Mentor of the Year award

News & Updates

by | May 4, 2023 | News & Updates

     SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.  (May 4, 2023) – Prominent environmental, natural resources and energy attorney Michelle De Blasi is celebrating her firm’s third anniversary with an added accolade – 2023 Mentor of the Year, Arizona State University Program on Law & Sustainability Mentorship Initiative.

The Law Office of Michelle De Blasi was founded on May 1, 2020. De Blasi focuses on business strategy by helping clients in a broad array of industries complete their projects from start to finish, overseeing all aspects of permitting, while assessing business risks and hitting milestones on time and on budget.

De Blasi possesses decades of experience assisting clients obtain successful results with their environmental, natural resource and energy projects. She has led numerous large-scale, complex environmental remediation enforcement and brownfield cases, and has completed environmental compliance, due diligence and permitting for some of the largest industrial facilities under development in the Valley.

As a mentor to the next generation of women attorneys, De Blasi advises individuals to find their purpose and passion in the practice of law. Recognizing a need for law students to receive mentoring, De Blasi worked with Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law to found the Mentorship Initiative for Sustainability Law (MISL), which links experienced attorneys with law students studying within the Program on Law and Sustainability.

Each year the students nominate a mentor who goes above and beyond to receive the Mentor of the Year award.

“The MISL program is just one of the many incredible attributes of the ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Sustainability Law program that sets it apart,” De Blasi said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been a champion of women, whether through mentorship or being mentored.  I am very excited to be at the helm of a woman-owned business, which is uncommon in my industry. It is also for this reason that I established The Women’s Professional Power Scholarship at ASU’s law school.

“The scholarship provides need-based educational scholarship funds to women law students who will be entering the legal field, as well as professional guidance related to skills that are essential to a successful law practice,” De Blasi said.

Now in its eighth year, MISL creates opportunities for lawyers to provide one-on-one professional guidance and to share practical knowledge and skills with second- and third-year law students to aid them in the critical transition from law student to legal practitioner.  De Blasi assists the MISL program to pair experienced attorney-mentors with ASU law student mentees in the fall semester of each academic year.

“Michelle is critical to the MISL program’s annual success,” said Professor Troy Rule, the Joseph Feller Memorial Chair in Law and Sustainability and Faculty Director of the Law and Sustainability Program at ASU Law. “We’re incredibly grateful to Michelle for playing such an integral role in this valuable initiative.”

When she launched her firm in 2020, De Blasi already had a successful practice built on her decades of experience and relationships assisting clients obtain successful results with their environmental, natural resource and energy projects. She brought many years of government and “Big Law” experience to her own firm to provide more effective client service at a lower cost.

“Over the past decade the legal market has been changing, with even large companies focusing more on specific areas of expertise for their legal counsel instead of the large law firm billable hour model. The world is becoming more virtual, including law,”  De Blasi said.  “I’m very grateful to be able to provide more efficient and focused legal services and strategic partnerships for my clients who are undertaking many of the world’s issues, while still being able to partner with many law firms of all sizes who do not have counsel with my areas of expertise.”

De Blasi advises clients on state and federal environmental regulatory levels.  Clients consistently rely on her knowledge of hazardous waste, air quality, water quality, environmental health and safety, real property due diligence, utility regulation, natural resource damage issues, asbestos, and underground storage tank regulation.

Throughout her many years of experience on the energy side of her practice, De Blasi has advised clients on due diligence, permitting, siting and contractual agreements for energy generation projects, both traditional and alternative energy, as well as carbon emissions tracking and reporting.  With the vast increase in the implementation of renewable energy across all industries, this skill set has proved to be invaluable in assisting her numerous clients with their projects, whether they are utilizing renewable energy or generating it.

De Blasi is active in industry organizations and serves as the Co-Chair of the Federal Affairs Committee for Valley Partnership; Board Member and Past President, of the Phoenix Parks Foundation; and Executive Director of the Arizona Energy Consortium.

A native of Colorado, De Blasi earned a B.S. in political science with a minor in biology/zoology from Arizona State University and a J.D., Law, Certificate of Emphasis in Environmental Law, from the University of Washington.

For more information visit mdb-law.com.

 

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by May 04, 2023
Best of NAIOP honors the most successful projects, companies, individuals of 2022 within Arizona’s commercial real estate community

Best of NAIOP honors the most successful projects, companies, individuals of 2022 within Arizona’s commercial real estate community

News & Updates

by | May 3, 2023 | News & Updates

     PHOENIX, ARIZ. (May 3, 2023) – Commercial real estate’s leading annual awards, the Best of NAIOP, celebrated the top-performing people, companies, and projects of the past year on April 27 at the Arizona Biltmore. The Arizona Chapter of NAIOP bestowed awards in 34 categories before a full house of nearly 1,000 commercial real estate professionals.

“Congratulations to all the 2022 Best of NAIOP nominees and winners. We recognize your efforts and are grateful for your contributions to our community,” said Best of NAIOP Chairmen CJ Osbrink, Newmark, and Jeff Foster, Prologis. “We want to extend our utmost gratitude to the NAIOP staff, Board of Directors, and the Best of NAIOP committee volunteers for all the hard work and time they have put forth in making this such a successful and rewarding evening.”

NAIOP Arizona kicked off the evening with the prestigious Award of Excellence. This year’s recipient, Keith Earnest with VanTrust Real Estate, was recognized for his more than 20 years of contributions to NAIOP and to commercial real estate in Arizona and beyond.

Company winners were ViaWest Group, Firm of the Year; Prologis, Industrial Owner/Developer of the Year; Lincoln Property Company Desert West, Office Owner/Developer of the Year; Willmeng, General Contractor of the Year and Tenant Improvement Contractor of the Year; Butler Design Group, Architect of the Year; McCarthy Nordburg, Interior Architect of the Year; Western Alliance Bank, Lender Firm of the Year; and Suntec Concrete, Subcontractor of the Year.

In the brokerage awards, JLL was Brokerage Firm of the Year; Cushman & Wakefield had three individual/team winners;  CBRE and Newmark both had two individual/team winners.

For project awards, Transaction of the Year went to CRG’s The Cubes at South Mesa – Lowe’s Home Improvement Build-to-Suit. Elliot Gateway, developed by Trammell Crow Company with Graycor Construction Company Inc. as the General Contractor, won Spec Industrial Project of the Year More Than 500,000 SF. ViaWest Group’s Sight Logistics Park took home both Redevelopment Project of the Year and Spec Industrial Less than 500,000 SF. Hines’ The Adeline won the inaugural Multifamily Project of the Year award.

“It was an incredible night celebrating the tremendous projects and great achievements by our NAIOP members in 2022. Congratulations to all that were nominated and to the award winners – job very well done,” said 2023 NAIOP Arizona Board Chair Cathy Thuringer with Trammell Crow Company.

 2022 Best of NAIOP Arizona winners

Architect of the Year: Butler Design Group
Brokerage Firm of the Year: JLL Phoenix

Firm of the Year: ViaWest Group

General Contractor of the Year: Willmeng
Industrial Owner/Developer of the Year: Prologis
Interior Architect of the Year: McCarthy Nordburg
Lender Firm of the Year: Western Alliance Bank
Office Owner/Developer of the Year: Lincoln Property Company Desert West
Subcontractor/Vendor Firm of the Year: Suntec Concrete
Tenant Improvement Contractor of the Year: Willmeng
Title/Escrow Firm of the Year: Chicago Title
Developing Leader of the Year: Josh Tracy, Ryan Companies
Emerging Broker of the Year: Tanner Ferrandi, CBRE
Healthcare Broker of the Year: Kathleen Morgan, Newmark
Industrial Broker of the Year: Mike Haenel, Andy Markham, Phil Haenel, Cushman & Wakefield
Investment Broker of the Year: Will Strong, Cushman & Wakefield
Office Broker of the Year: Scott Boardman and Kristina Cutillo, Cushman & Wakefield
Retail Broker of the Year: Steve Julius, Jesse Goldsmith and Chase Dorsett, Newmark
Tenant Representative Broker of the Year: Chuck Nixon, CBRE
Economic Impact Project of the Year: Goodyear Civic Square at GSQ
Industrial Build-to-Suit Project of the Year: Pepsico @ Tolleson Corporate Park
Industrial Tenant Improvement Project of the Year: 10 West Commerce
Mixed-Use Project of the Year: The Grove
Multifamily Project of the Year: The Adeline
Office Build-to-Suit Project of the Year: CCS Corporate HQ
Office Tenant Improvement Project of the Year Less Than 100,000 SF: JLL Phoenix Office at The Grove
Office Tenant Improvement Project of the Year More Than 100,000 SF: 301 Jefferson
Redevelopment Project of the Year: Sight Logistics Park
Retail Project of the Year: Retail at Cavasson
Spec Industrial Project of the Year Less Than 500,000 SF: Sight Logistics Park
Spec Industrial Project of the Year More Than 500,000 SF: Elliot Gateway
Spec Office Project of the Year: 100 Mill
Sustainable Project of the Year: The Beam on Farmer
Transaction of the Year: The Cubes at Mesa South, Building C (Loews Home Improvement)

 

Office Tenant Improvement Project of the Year Less Than 100,000 SF: JLL Phoenix Office at The Grove

 About NAIOP

NAIOP, a 20,000+ member organization in North America provides unparalleled industry networking and education, and advocates for effective legislation on behalf of its members. It is the leading association for developers, owners, and related professionals in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and mixed-use real estate. The Arizona Chapter represents over 1,000 members and is among the largest in the 50+ network. 

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by May 03, 2023
City of Winslow’s Una Wirkebau named 2023 Economic Developer of the Year, Small Community, at AAED’s annual EDDE Awards

City of Winslow’s Una Wirkebau named 2023 Economic Developer of the Year, Small Community, at AAED’s annual EDDE Awards

News & Updates

by | May 2, 2023 | News & Updates

     TUCSON, Ariz. (May 2, 2023) – Una Wirkebau with the City of Winslow was named 2023 Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) Economic Developer of the Year for a Small Community at the annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards at the spring conference in Tucson last week.

The EDDE Awards honor the best economic development practices for individuals, organizations and companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of economic growth in the state. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations made by members of AAED.

The Small Community Award honors an economic development professional in a community of fewer than 50,000 people. Wirkebau’s contributions to the Winslow community include several impactful initiatives.

Wirkebau secured $300,000 in grant funding to expand a local farmer’s market, which increased the footprint of education and access to locally made and grown food. She spearheaded Why Not Winslow, a place branding initiative, broadening Winslow’s reach on Facebook and Instagram.

Wirkebau partnered with Moonshot at Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET), which allowed for the community’s first pitch event. She worked with Local First Arizona to host a first-of-its-kind Rural Policy Forum in Winslow, connecting rural economic development professionals, community leaders, business owners, nonprofits, and other rural stakeholders interested in sustaining rural communities.

Additionally, she was part of the team that advocated for the funding to fix the levee in Winslow as a part of the $65.5 million Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act work plan from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Winslow Levee Project will help hundreds of Winslow residents get out of a flood plain and save money on home insurance.

About AAED

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) was founded in 1974 to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. The Association works to promote economic development in the State of Arizona through an exchange of information and educational opportunities among its members, to act as a liaison with outside groups, to influence legislation affecting economic development, and to empower members to create relationships to improve the economic outlook for Arizona. For more information on AAED, visit aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.

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by May 02, 2023
City of Avondale named 2023 Economic Development Organization of the Year, Medium Community, at AAED’s annual EDDE Awards

City of Avondale named 2023 Economic Development Organization of the Year, Medium Community, at AAED’s annual EDDE Awards

News & Updates

by | May 2, 2023 | News & Updates

     TUCSON, Ariz. (May 2, 2023) – The City of Avondale was named the 2023 Economic Development Organization of the Year for a Medium Community at the Arizona Association for Economic Development’s (AAED) annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards at the spring conference in Tucson last week.

The EDDE Awards honor the best economic development practices for individuals, organizations, and companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of economic growth in the state. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations made by members of AAED.

The award for Economic Development Organization of the Year for a Medium Community recognizes service and dedication to AAED as an organization representing a population of between 50,000 and 100,000 people.

The City of Avondale was lauded as one of AAED’s top most-involved partners, committed to supporting and advancing its mission in Arizona. The community’s staff supports the delivery of programming, activities, and education for AAED each year. It hosts the Basic Economic Development Course at the city’s conference center and serves as a judge for the course.

The City of Avondale holds IEDC’s Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) designation – the only community to do so in the West Valley. Avondale is engaged with multiple committees through WESTMARC and assists its business community through its LeadingEDGE Awards, recognizing businesses that have positively impacted both the community and the business environment.

About AAED

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) was founded in 1974 to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. The Association works to promote economic development in the State of Arizona through an exchange of information and educational opportunities among its members, to act as a liaison with outside groups, to influence legislation affecting economic development, and to empower members to create relationships to improve the economic outlook for Arizona. For more information on AAED, visit aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.

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by May 02, 2023
City of Chandler’s Micah Miranda named Economic Developer of the Year, Large Community, at AAED’s 2023 EDDE Awards event

City of Chandler’s Micah Miranda named Economic Developer of the Year, Large Community, at AAED’s 2023 EDDE Awards event

News & Updates

by | May 2, 2023 | News & Updates

     TUCSON, Ariz. (May 2, 2023) – Micah Miranda with the City of Chandler was named 2023 AAED Economic Developer of the Year for a Large Community at the annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards at the spring conference in Tucson last week.

The EDDE Awards honor the best economic development practices for individuals, organizations, and companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of economic growth in the state. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations made by members of the Arizona Association for Economic Development.

The award recognizes outstanding achievement by an economic development professional in a large community with a population of more than 100,000.

Miranda is an extremely well-respected industry leader with over 20 years of experience in municipal and state government organizations. His efforts in 2022 resulted in adding 4,219 jobs and absorbing more than 1.8 million square feet of space with a capital investment of more than $330 million.

Miranda is an active member of AAED and a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council. His past economic development experience includes positions at the City of Maricopa, the Arizona Department of Commerce, the City of Tempe, and the City of Mesa.

One of his top focuses is increasing opportunities for higher education in the community he serves. Last year his team led the execution of an intergovernmental agreement with the University of Arizona to support its relocation from the Chandler Community Center to a larger space in Downtown Chandler.

Miranda also led a significant place branding initiative in the City of Chandler’s employment corridors. Efforts ranged from branded banners on light poles to unique art installations to custom monument signs at major intersections.

The city’s tourism program has also benefited from Miranda’s leadership, adding an immersive, 360-degree virtual tour to its website and securing a $248,000 Visit Arizona Initiative Marketing Grant to promote Chandler as a meeting and events destination.

Miranda is often asked to weigh in on local and state tax bills and other policy issues affecting economic development – most recently spearheading legislation that would help address Arizona’s housing challenges.

About AAED

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) was founded in 1974 to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. The Association works to promote economic development in the State of Arizona through an exchange of information and educational opportunities among its members, to act as a liaison with outside groups, to influence legislation affecting economic development, and to empower members to create relationships to improve the economic outlook for Arizona. For more information on AAED, visit aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.

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by May 02, 2023
Arizona Association for Economic Development presents 2023 EDDE Awards; Mesa’s Bill Jabjiniak named recipient of William Lampkin Award

Arizona Association for Economic Development presents 2023 EDDE Awards; Mesa’s Bill Jabjiniak named recipient of William Lampkin Award

News & Updates

by | May 2, 2023 | News & Updates

     TUCSON, Ariz. (May 2, 2023) – The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) presented the 2023 Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards during its annual Spring Conference held in Tucson last week.

The EDDE Awards honor the best economic development practices for individuals, organizations and companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of economic growth in the state. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations made by members of AAED.

Overall, nine EDDE Awards – including a new member award, Emerging Leader – were presented to:

  • Economic Developer of the Year Award – Large Community: Micah Miranda, City of Chandler;
  • Economic Developer of the Year Award – Small Community: Una Wirkebau City of Winslow;
  • Economic Development Large Organization of the Year Award: City of Mesa;
  • Economic Development Medium Organization of the Year Award: City of Avondale;
  • Emerging Leader of the Year: Chad Schleicher, City of Tempe;
  • Member of the Year: Kristen Stephenson, CEcD, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC);
  • New Member of the Year: Ryan Jones, Yavapai College Regional Economic Development Center (REDC);
  • Workforce Practitioner of the Year: Jennifer Mellor, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.

The William Lampkin Award for Long-Term Excellence in Economic Development was awarded to Bill Jabjiniak, Economic Development Director, City of Mesa.

This award recognizes outstanding achievements by an individual that has made significant contributions to economic development efforts in Arizona and demonstrated a sustained commitment to AAED. Nominations are evaluated based on the overall economic impact of the individual’s efforts to Arizona, the nominee’s contributions to AAED, the development of strong relationships and community support, and contributions to the economic development profession.

Jabjiniak possesses more than 30 years of results-driven vision and leadership in revitalization strategies, public/private partnership opportunities, project financing, and business recruitment. He leads a team of 15 professionals focused on business attraction, retention and expansion, entrepreneurship and small business development, redevelopment, revitalization, and workforce development/talent attraction.

During his tenure, his team has assisted in creating and retaining more than 36,000 jobs, successfully leading more than 523 projects, and generating more than $17.4 billion in capital investment.

His team helped with numerous high-profile retention initiatives, including the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s spring training operations; MD Helicopter’s corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility; and expanding Banner Health’s Desert Medical Center and Banner Children’s at Desert Medical Center.

Under his leadership, several high-caliber entrepreneurship and small business development programs were launched that have included LAUNCHPOINT, Mesa’s Technology Incubators, and Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program, both of which have assisted hundreds of companies grow and thrive in only the last few years.

At the onset of the pandemic, his team collaborated to save local businesses and developed a grant program to help businesses in need, granting more than $4.5 million to 525 businesses. Another 250 businesses were provided free technical assistance (valued at nearly $1 million) to promote resiliency and train businesses to operate in new ways. Part of the effort included the investment and build-out of HUUB – a digital platform that serves local businesses 24/7 providing access to training, education, webinars, and resource information – all free to local entities.

“With a vision from our elected officials and city management, Mesa is a community that is doing great things, and I’m very lucky to have that type of support,” Jabjiniak said. “Since I’ve been in this position, everyone in the City of Mesa has been on the same page when it comes to getting things accomplished. I’m honored by this award and I share it with everyone involved in Mesa’s success.”

AAED Executive Director Carrie Kelly said the EDDE Awards truly recognize those bringing businesses to Arizona and creating jobs.

“These professionals and organizations can take great pride in knowing how impactful they are in helping to create and maintain Arizona’s growing and vibrant economy,” Kelly said. “AAED is proud to have each of them as members in our statewide organization, which supports them and their efforts.”

About AAED

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) was founded in 1974 to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. The Association works to promote economic development in the State of Arizona through an exchange of information and educational opportunities among its members, to act as a liaison with outside groups, to influence legislation affecting economic development, and to empower members to create relationships to improve the economic outlook for Arizona. For more information on AAED, visit aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.

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by May 02, 2023
City of Mesa brings home a pair of honors as AAED presents EDDE Awards at annual event

City of Mesa brings home a pair of honors as AAED presents EDDE Awards at annual event

News & Updates

by | May 2, 2023 | News & Updates

     TUCSON, Ariz. (May 2, 2023) – The City of Mesa garnered two honors as the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) presented its annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards at the spring conference in Tucson last week.

The EDDE Awards honor the best economic development practices for individuals, organizations and companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of economic growth in the state. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations made by members of AAED.

Mesa won the Economic Development of the Year Award – Large Organization, and Mesa Economic Development Director Bill Jabjiniak won the William Lampkin Award for Long-Term Excellence in Economic Development.

This Lampkin Award recognizes outstanding achievements by an individual that has made significant contributions to economic development efforts in Arizona and demonstrated a sustained commitment to AAED. Nominations are evaluated based on the overall economic impact of the individual’s efforts to Arizona, the nominee’s contributions to AAED, the development of strong relationships and community support, and contributions to the economic development profession.

Jabjiniak possesses more than 30 years of results-driven vision and leadership in revitalization strategies, public/private partnership opportunities, project financing, and business recruitment. He leads a team of 15 professionals focused on business attraction, retention and expansion, entrepreneurship and small business development, redevelopment, revitalization, and workforce development/talent attraction.

During his tenure, his team has assisted in creating and retaining more than 36,000 jobs, successfully leading more than 523 projects, and generating more than $17.4 billion in capital investment. Notable companies doing business in Mesa include Amazon, Apple, Cessna Aviation, CMC Steel, JX Nippon, NTT, AT&T, CyrusOne, Dexcom, EdgeCore, Santander Consumer USA, Waymo, Able Engineering/Extron Aviation, Virgin Galactic, XNRGY, to name a few.

His team helped with numerous high-profile retention initiatives, including the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s spring training operations; MD Helicopter’s corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility; and expanding Banner Health’s Desert Medical Center and Banner Children’s at Desert Medical Center.

Under his leadership, several high-caliber entrepreneurship and small business development programs were launched that have included LAUNCHPOINT, Mesa’s Technology Incubators, and Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program, both of which have assisted hundreds of companies grow and thrive in only the last few years.

At the onset of the pandemic, his team collaborated to save local businesses and developed a grant program to help businesses in need, granting more than $4.5 million to 525 businesses. Another 250 businesses were provided free technical assistance (valued at nearly $1 million) to promote resiliency and train businesses to operate in new ways. Part of the effort included the investment and build-out of HUUB – a digital platform that serves local businesses 24/7 providing access to training, education, webinars, and resource information – all free to local entities.

“With a vision from our elected officials and city management, Mesa is a community that is doing great things, and I’m very lucky to have that type of support,” Jabjiniak said. “Since I’ve been in this position, everyone in the City of Mesa has been on the same page when it comes to getting things accomplished. I’m honored by this award and I share it with everyone involved in Mesa’s success.”

The award for Economic Development Organization of the Year for a Large Community recognizes service and dedication to AAED as an organization representing a population of more than 100,000 people.

Mesa has been a strong advocate and supporter of AAED as a member, sponsor, and participant for many years, participating in every spring and fall conference, golf tournament, luncheon, educational event and workshop that AAED has to offer.

Mesa is recognized as a regional economic development leader, working with more than 55 companies in creating more than 4,200 jobs last year and $2.9 billion in capital investment. It strongly encourages education and professional development and is an IEDC-certified Accredited Economic Development Organization, which is a tremendous tribute to its commitment, performance, and professionalism.

 About AAED

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) was founded in 1974 to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. The Association works to promote economic development in the State of Arizona through an exchange of information and educational opportunities among its members, to act as a liaison with outside groups, to influence legislation affecting economic development, and to empower members to create relationships to improve the economic outlook for Arizona. For more information on AAED, visit aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.

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by May 02, 2023