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SHREVEPORT-MONROE, La.) North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) sets the standard for economic development excellence as two more professional staff members earned their Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation. This brings the total number of Certified Economic Developers on staff to four. NLEP now ranks in the Top Ten of all economic development organizations globally for the number of CEcDs on staff.
Christine Rambo, NLEP Senior Vice President, Communications & Marketing, and Ashley Busada, NLEP Vice President, Government Relations and Business Development, received their CEcDs in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 4, 2017 after sitting for a two-day exam, which consisted of both a written portion and an oral interview. The pass rate on the CEcD exam in Little Rock was just 41 percent.
“NLEP is very proud of Christine’s and Ashley’s professional commitment toward earning this prestigious certification,” said Scott Martinez, CEcD, NLEP President. “Our goal is to eventually have all of our economic development professionals certified as a commitment to providing exceptional economic development service to the communities in North Louisiana.”
The CEcD is the industry gold standard for excellence in the profession, awarded by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest professional organization for economic developers with 5,000 members worldwide. Candidates are required to have at least four years of consecutive, paid, full-time economic development related experience before applying to sit for the exam.
“We congratulate the North Louisiana Economic Partnership’s Christine Rambo and Ashley Busada for attaining the Certified Economic Developer designation,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “They join the elite ranks of 1,100 people worldwide who represent the very best skills, conduct and results in our economic development profession. NLEP also is certified as an Accredited Economic Development Organization by the International Economic Development Council. These standards of professionalism demonstrate their dedication to elevating the economy of North Louisiana, and we are proud to call NLEP one of our most valued and effective partners.”
The CEcD exam establishes a baseline of core knowledge for economic developers. Earning this highly sought after certification demonstrates that the economic developer has a comprehensive base of knowledge to perform at the top level in the profession.
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Christine Rambo has led NLEP’s communication strategies and marketing efforts for the last seven years. Christine is focused on marketing the region to prospective companies, enhancing the brand awareness of NLEP and promoting the positive perceptions of North Louisiana.
“I feel honored to have received this acknowledgment from my peers,” said Rambo. “Becoming a Certified Economic Developer allows me to better serve my region, empowering with me with the knowledge and the tools to work with local and state partners to promote economic development in our communities.”
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Ashley Busada manages NLEP’s government relations program and oversees advocacy efforts that impact economic development in North Louisiana. Additionally, Ashley works to recruit companies to North Louisiana in her business development role and handles investor communications and outreach.
“NLEP’s goal is to attract jobs and businesses to North Louisiana.,” said Busada. “In order to achieve this goal, we as an organization must remain on the cutting-edge. By earning my CEcD, I gained more expertise to help our team continue to compete on a national level.”
About North Louisiana Economic Partnership
North Louisiana Economic Partnership, an Accredited Economic Development Organization, provides professional economic development services to the 14 parish region of North Louisiana, including lead generation and prospect management. The organization also represents the interests of North Louisiana with a unified voice and as a single point of contact. It acts as a catalyst, a convener, and a connector in the region to ensure that North Louisiana’s economic development potential is realized. Its vision is for North Louisiana to be a thriving region-a destination for high quality talent, innovative companies, and global investment.