"The Best of the Midwest"

MAEDC members are dedicated economic development professionals who share best practices to make you more valuable to your organization.  MAEDC is the best resource for making contact with site selectors, advancing regional economic development programs and accessing thought leadership.

A Message from the President
 

By Cinda Kelley-Hutchings, 2012 MAEDC President

Executive Director, Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership

Avon, Indiana  

Welcome to MAEDC 2012!  We have wrapped up an exciting year thanks to the hard work of the 2011 MAEDC officers and board, under the direction of President Kathy Evert.  With our strong conferences and value-add to membership, we have concluded 2011 with yet a stronger membership and sponsorship organization.  It would be my goal for 2012 that we keep the momentum by creating additional opportunities for engagement around our Mid-America region.

As a member of MAEDC you understand the value-add your involvement in this council brings to you as a professional and to your organization. MAEDC provides the opportunity to form relationships with a vast array of professionals who exemplify the best of economic development; however, I believe we often forget the value we personally bring to MAEDC.  As with any organization, the diversity of the membership offers varied opinion and experience adding new dimensions. It is with that belief and respect for the profession; I ask that you consider joining one of the MAEDC working committees - membership, sponsorship, conferences, awards or marketing/website committee.  Please contact Tracey Hogan, myself, or any of the committee chairs for more information.

It has been 10 years since my first MAEDC Competitiveness Conference and I continue to grow in my belief and support of this organization. I had been in the profession for less than a year when a mentor asked me if I planned to attend the upcoming MAEDC Competitiveness Conference.  His suggestion captured my interest enough for me to register even though I was not familiar with MAEDC at the time. I found this conference and attendees both educational and engaging.  After attending the Competitiveness Conference, I eagerly attended the Best Practices Conference the following spring.  I was not disappointed as both conferences brought new professional friendships, ideas and perspectives.   My professional network grows with each conference I attend.     

Since 2001, I have served a number of communities from 2500 to 150,000, with MAEDC being one of my key professional development investments along the way.  Each year I look forward to continuing to learn additional means and methods to assist my local communities, companies and commerce.   The value-add of MAEDC to me, as a professional, has secured its place in my professional budget.  If you have not attended one of our conferences, please accept this as my personal recommendation for consideration.  If you attend the conferences, I ask that you think about recommending the conferences to someone new to the profession or someone you are mentoring.

Please join with me in making 2012 another exceptional year for economic developers in the Midwest as MAEDC members are the best of the Midwest!