(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) – Looking to the future, Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc. (AED) has launched a process that will guide its efforts and priorities in economic development to invest in the recovery and resiliency of the region.
“My top priority is to develop a clear strategy and plan for future growth of the region,” commented AED’s recently recruited President & CEO Danielle Casey.
To conduct the needed analysis and research as well as gather input from a wide swath of community stakeholders and business leaders, AED has assembled a consultant team with proven experience in creating best in class economic development strategies as well as organizations around the country.
As the President of IO.INC, Dr. Ioanna Morfessis has founded three best-of-class economic development organizations in the U.S. where her work resulted in 300 successful business locations and expansions, the attraction of nearly $30 billion of private capital investment and the creation of more than 200,000 new direct private sector jobs in these markets. In 2004, she launched IO.INC, a visionary consulting practice that works with Fortune 500 companies, young enterprises, nonprofits, colleges and universities, counties and cities across the U.S. and world on business and economic growth strategies. She will be conducting a number of roundtable discussions and one on one interviews as part of the process.
Barry Matherly, President of Hickey Global Economic Developing Consulting, has helped communities prosper by creating opportunities for new investment and job growth for over 25 years. As a certified economic development professional and trusted thought leader, he is a Past Chair of the International Economic Development Council, the largest economic development association in the world, and is a member of the United States Department of Commerce Investment Advisory Council. Hickey Global is a full-service economic development consulting firm supporting private, public, and non-profit economic development organizations around the world, and is part of the Hickey family of companies with more than 20 offices around the world performing global site selection and public Incentive analysis support in a diverse set of industries including consumer products, health care, aerospace/defense and renewable energy, among many others. Hickey Global will be working on the discovery, data analysis, and recommendations portion of the strategy development.
To ensure the strategy is developed with stakeholder input and delivers consensus among organizational leaders, a Task Force has been created to serve in an ongoing advisory capacity during the development process. Serving on the AED Strategic Planning Task force include:
- Julie Morgas Baca, Bernalillo County Manager
- Dale Dekker, principal of Dekker/Perich/Sabatini
- Mitzi Montoya, Dean, Anderson School of Management for University of New Mexico
- Tim Nitti, Economic Development Consultant for PNM
- Roberta Ramo, Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk, P.A.
- Charles Rath, Founder, President & CEO of RS21
- Samantha Sengel, Vice President for Advancement & Enrollment Strategy for Central New Mexico Community College
- Gerald Weseen, Vice President of Strategy & Business for New Mexico Gas
Board Chair Joe Farr and President & CEO of AED Danielle Casey will also participate on this task force.
This strategic planning effort is made possible by a number of generous thought leaders and Signature Leadership Sponsor Bernalillo County, Strategy Champion Sponsor New Mexico Gas Company, along with additional support from PNM, Bradbury Stamm Construction, Century Sign Builders, Fidelity Investments, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, and Gardenswartz Realty.
“It takes all of us working together to create a plan that we can all rally around, and that can be game-changing for the Albuquerque region, both in the short term and for the future. I’m excited to be a part of this,” commented Joe Farr, Board Chair for AED.
The process is expected to take about four months to complete. To sign up to receive updates on the process, or to sponsor this critical effort, visit ABQ.org/2021Strategy.
About AED AED is a private, nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to recruit business and industry, help local companies grow and generate quality jobs and opportunities throughout the Albuquerque metro area. AED provides confidential assistance to businesses considering the area for expansion and new investment. Since its creation in 1960, AED has recruited more than 240 companies and more than 35,000 jobs to the Albuquerque metro area. For more information about AED, visit www.www.abq.org or call 505-705-3777.