UT CIS Certifies State Economic Developers

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services graduated its eighth class recently through its Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Program.  This cohort brings the total number of Tennessee certified economic developers to 52.

This year’s spring graduates gathered in Nashville to present their Capstone Projects, the final requirement for certification.  TCED candidates completed a week-long Basic Economic Development Course in addition to a series of six core courses pertinent to economic and community development.  The TCED Program gives participants a broad-based knowledge of economic trends, tools and core components required to compete in today’s global economy.

 

The spring 2018 TCED graduates are:

 

Kim Baker, CEO, Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce

Mandy Christenson, President & CEO, White House Area Chamber of Commerce

Sherri Ferguson, President & CEO, Portland Chamber of Commerce

Steve Hilton, President & CEO, Brownsville Haywood County Chamber of Commerce

Darrell James, President, James and Associates Engineers & Planners

Teresa Jones, former Executive Director, Lexington-Henderson County Alliance

Iliff McMahan, Regional Director, Northeast TN Region, Tennessee ECD

Stephania Motes, City Manager, Town of Spring City

Andy Wallace, Deputy Mayor, Campbell County Government

 

“All of our Tennessee certified economic developers made a serious commitment to achieve this designation,” said Kim Denton, director of the TCED Program.  “They now will be able to use this in-depth knowledge to benefit their communities and regions.”

 

New graduates will be invited to join the TCED Alumni Group, which provides continuing education and networking opportunities several times throughout the year.