WASHINGTON - Sept. 11, 2020 - The International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest nonprofit professional association for professional economic developers in the world, has recognized nineteen leaders in the field with its 2020 Honorary & Leadership awards for achieving excellence in the profession. Recipients will be awarded gold, silver and bronze designations at a ceremony during IEDC's virtual Annual Conference this October, in recognition of their work in communities across the United States and Canada.

IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world's best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year's most influential leaders. 35 categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

"The recipients of IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the very best of economic development and exemplify the ingenuity, integrity, and leadership that our profession strives for each and every day," said 2020 IEDC Board Chair and One Columbus CEO Kenny McDonald. "More than ever, the value of a career dedicated to improving the quality of life for our friends and neighbors cannot be overstated. Each of this year's recipients sets a precedent for fellow economic developers to aspire to in the years to come."

Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world, following a nomination process held earlier this year. IEDC received over 500 submissions from 4 countries.

Leadership award winners include:

New Economic Development Professional of the Year Award

• Josh Mejia – Executive Director, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (Brownsville, TX)
• Victoria Adams Phipps – Vice President, Programs, and Executive Director, New Orleans Business Alliance (New Orleans, LA)

Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award

• Floyd Batiste, CEcD – CEO, Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation (Port Arthur, TX)

Citizen Leadership Award

• David Jolly – General Manager, Metzger's Do It Best Hardware, (Los Alamos, NM)
• Paul Salm – VP-Business Banking, BMO Harris Financial Group (Chippewa Falls, WI)

Leadership Award for Public Service

• Mayor Scott Getzschman – City of Fremont (Fremont, NE)

Institutional Leadership Award

• Dr. Joe May - Chancellor of Dallas Community College (Dallas, TX)

Federal Leadership in Economic Development Programs Award

• Phil Paradice – Regional Director, U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA Atlanta Regional Office (Atlanta, GA)

Congressional Leadership in Economic Development Award

• Representative Joyce Beatty – United States House of Representatives (Washington, DC)

Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development

• Neil Everson, CEcD, EcD, FM - former Director of Economic Development for the City of Hamilton (Hamilton, Ontario)
• Gerry Gabinet - former Director of Economic Development of Strathcona County (Sherwood Park, Alberta)

Fellow Members (FM)

• Lara L. Fritts, CEcD – President and CEO, Greater Richmond Partnership (Richmond, VA)
• Mike Kirchhoff, CEcD – President and CEO, North Central Illinois EDC (Oglesby, IL)

Honorary Life Member (HLM)

• David Dodd, CEcD, FM– President, International Sustainable Resilience Center (New Orleans, LA)
• Joel R. Duke, CEcD, EDFP – President/CEO, Georgia BRE Insights, LLC (Atlanta, GA)
• Fred Morley, FM – Founder and Chief Economist, Rising Tide Economics (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
• Patrick Vanderpool, CEcD, FM – Executive Director, Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation (Tucumcari, NM)
• Joy Wilkins, CEcD – Founder, Serving Communities (Cumning, GA)

Award winners will be recognized at the organization's 2020 Annual Conference held virtually October 13-16. Interested parties can register at iedconline.org/virtualdallas.

Contact
International Economic Development Council