August 5, 2025 – The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) is proud to announce that Chad Matheson, Interim President & CEO, has earned the prestigious Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). This nationally recognized certification is a hallmark of excellence within the economic development profession and signifies the highest level of competency and expertise in the field.
“Achieving the CEcD credential has been a long-term professional goal and a meaningful milestone for me,” said Matheson. “This certification underscores AREA’s unwavering dedication to providing world-class service and leadership for the Albuquerque region’s growth and competitiveness. I am proud to bring this additional level of expertise to our team, partners, and contributors.”
“Becoming a Certified Economic Developer isn’t just a credential, it’s a career-defining milestone that demonstrates a professional’s dedication to elevating their expertise and their community impact,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle. “Certified Economic Developers possess deep technical knowledge and bring trust and credibility to stakeholders, investors, and peers. We are thrilled to celebrate Chad Matheson on achieving this accomplishment and joining our network of professionals driving economic progress around the world.”
The CEcD designation is awarded only after a rigorous process requiring verified years of dedicated professional experience in economic development, in-depth coursework, and a comprehensive three-part examination.
“Chad’s achievement in earning the CEcD credential is a testament to his leadership and dedication to advancing economic development in New Mexico,” said Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “His expertise strengthens AREA’s impact in the Albuquerque region and bolsters our strong partnership with the organization as we work together to attract investment, create jobs, and build lasting opportunities for communities across New Mexico.”
Don Tarry, AREA Board Chair and President & CEO of PNM Resources, praised Matheson’s accomplishment: “Chad’s achievement demonstrates the depth of talent and commitment within AREA. His earning of the CEcD credential reinforces our organization’s focus on excellence as we continue to drive impactful economic development strategies for the Albuquerque region. The Board is proud to have a leader who exemplifies such skill and dedication to the profession and to the community we serve.”
Matheson joined AREA in February 2022 and has since played a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s strategic initiatives. In 2023, Matheson was recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developer’s and in 2024 received the New Mexico Economic Developer of the Year Award from New Mexico IDEA, the statewide association for economic development professionals. As Interim President & CEO, Matheson is committed to guiding AREA through a period of growth and transformation while fostering collaboration among public and private partners.
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IEDC
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,500 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers typically work for cities, counties, states, public-private partnerships, and chambers of commerce and promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experiences. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions.
About AREA
The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead and execute strategies designed to grow and diversify the economic base of the greater Albuquerque region, creating a prosperous, diverse and inclusive economy and elevating the standard of living for all. AREA provides confidential assistance to businesses considering the area for expansion and new investment. Since its creation in 1960, AREA has recruited more than 250 companies and more than 35,000 jobs to the Albuquerque metro area. AREA also provides retention and expansion assistance to existing industry. For more information, visit ABQ.org.