Jennifer Thomas earns Ohio Certified Economic Developer credential
DAYTON, Ohio – Jennifer Thomas of REDI Cincinnati has earned the Ohio Certified Economic Developer (OhioCED) designation, a statewide credential recognizing advanced expertise in business attraction and retention, development finance, site readiness and community strategy.
Thomas was recognized Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Awards Luncheon during the Ohio Economic Development Association’s (OEDA) Annual Summit in Dayton. Nineteen professionals statewide earned the credential this year, joining a group of 130 certified economic developers across Ohio.
To earn the credential, candidates must complete, within three years, the Ohio Basic Economic Development Course, all five Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI) core courses, and the OEDI Capstone Course.
The capstone is the program’s culminating project. Working with an OEDA mentor, each candidate applies what they learned across real estate, finance and incentives, site selection, and business retention and expansion to a challenge in their own community. Projects are evaluated by practicing economic development professionals.
“The OhioCED tells employers, elected officials and site selectors that a practitioner works at a recognized professional standard,” said David Zak, President & CEO, OEDA. “Jennifer earned it on top of a demanding job, and the Cincinnati region is the community that benefits.”
About the OhioCED credential
The OhioCED is a voluntary certification administered by the Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI), the education arm of OEDA. Certified economic developers must complete 16 hours of approved continuing education each year to keep the designation.
About the Ohio Economic Development Association
The Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) is the statewide professional association for economic developers and their partners, working to train, inform, connect, and advocate on behalf of Ohio’s economic development professionals. With more than 900 members, OEDA is one of the top five state economic development associations in the country. It delivers nationally recognized programming through the Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI), including the nation’s largest Basic Economic Development Course, and hosts the OEDA Annual Summit, the nation’s largest state-level economic development conference. Learn more at ohioeda.com.