Shreveport, March 16, 2021 – Sheena Bryant, Vice President of Business Development Strategy for the North Louisiana Economic Partnership based in Shreveport, LA earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) administered the CEcD Exam on March 6, 2021, and candidates received their results on March 12, 2021. With six years of economic development experience, Sheena Bryant has overseen the North Louisiana Economic Partnership’s business development strategy, including lead generation and business attraction activities, since 2016. She has planned numerous site visits for prospective companies and familiarization tours for site selectors, as well as assisted companies such as Weyerhaeuser and SuperATV establish new facilities in our region. Bryant has worked on 149 projects, representing over 44,000 potential jobs and approximately $16 billion in capital investment. Bryant’s achievement would not have been possible without the support from AEP SWEPCO, which contributed to her professional development through scholarships.
The CEcD designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgment in the following key areas of economic development:
-business retention and expansion
-finance & credit analysis
-marketing and attraction
-strategic planning
-entrepreneurial & small business development
-managing economic development organizations
-neighborhood development strategies
-real estate development & reuse
-technology-led economic development
-workforce development strategies
-foreign direct investment & exporting
As highly competent economic development professionals, Certified Economic Developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create leadership to build upon and maximize the economic development sector. Excellence in the economic development profession improves the wellbeing, quality of life and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities. There are currently over 1,100 active CEcDs in the United States.
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About the North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP)
NLEP provides professional economic development services to the 14-parish region of North Louisiana, including lead generation, prospect management and support of existing businesses. 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. For more information, visit www.nlep.org.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers 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 experience. 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. www.iedcONLINE.org.