University of Alabama -Advanced Economic Development Leadership
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Four universities and collaborated on the creation of an Advanced Economic Development Leadership training program to solve a need for an in-depth, experiential program designed for mid and senior economic development professional.
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University of Alabama -Advanced Economic Development Leadership
- 4. Experiential Applied Learning Exercises, Team Competition, Debate, Discussions
- 5. Faculty • Professors • Site Consultants • Business Leaders • Seasoned Economic Developers
- 6. Inaugural Class • Graduated 42 professionals • Class gave constructive and sincere feedback to allow us continuous improvement across the board
- 7. Criteria for Participants • Mid to Senior level professional • 5 years experience in economic development • Completion of basic certificate
- 8. 14 participants 13 participants 8 participants 5 participants 3 participants 2 participants 1 participant
- 10. “Stellar program. This is exactly what the profession needed. The information was so practical and useful, unlike many other programs. Geaux Tigers!” -Melody Woodworth, executive director, Louisiana Development Authority’s business expansion and retention program
- 11. “…the Advanced program is an innovative and highly interactive program that focuses on the real world application of economic development principles and not on lectures.” -Manny Salazar, economic development council director, Greater Kingsville, NC
Editor's Notes
- We are honored to be chosen as a finalist for the UEDA Awards of Excellence. As you can see from the logo, this program is a partnership between four outstanding universities. Joining me today are our partner representatives: Jim Roach, Executive Director of the TCU Neeley Executive Education program; Dr. Bill Smith, professor emeritus at the University of Southern Mississippi; Nan Johnston, director of the Clemson Center for Corporate Learning; and I’m Neal Wade, managing partner for the program and director of the University of Alabama Economic Development Academy.
- Is economic development a profession? Are economic developers professionals? Are there agreed-upon standards that should be met to be called an economic developer? Are those currently engaged in economic development prepared to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities that are necessary to sustain, maintain and grow our local, regional and state economies?
- These questions framed the discussion about creating a new approach to training mid and senior level economic developers. For almost a decade a few leaders in economic development have discussed an approach that would go beyond the existing basic training programs and allow select practitioners to explore, debate and discuss the nuances of quality job creation in a deeper dive learning experience. Four years ago, the vision began to take shape as the University of Alabama launched an academy dedicated to advanced training for economic development professionals. Soon, three other major universities became partners in the Advanced Economic Development Leadership executive education program - Clemson University, the University of Southern Mississippi and Texas Christian University. In academia, things move a bit slower than in other aspects of business. The four partners interviewed countless site consultants, business leaders, seasoned economic developers, academics and government leaders to determine an approach and curriculum that would truly be worthy of advanced learning. We’ve often said that if we had a dollar for every curriculum iteration we’ve prepared we could all retire.
- But we did all agree that the teaching approach had to be experiential - hands-on, applied learning that de-emphasized lectures and featured exercises, team competition, debate and discussion. No written tests but creative ways to confirm that practical learning and application has taken place.
- The faculty is still a work in progress with the correct mixture of professors, site consultants, business leaders and seasoned economic developers being the goal. While we met with each instructor to explain the audience, teaching approach and desired outcome, real evaluation comes from the actual in-class session. TCU professor Rita Kosnik led a stimulating discussion and exercises on effective negotiations; veteran site consultant Bob Hess facilitated Project Frog which allowed six teams from the class to compete for job creation projects; Duke Energy Senior Vice President for economic development Clark Gillespy led the class through the evolving world or Foreign Direct Investment and Trade; and site consultant Kate McEnroe explored the proposition that talent is today’s economic development currency. All in all, we had a world-class faculty approaching the curriculum in a unique learning process. Because we require evaluations and verbal feedback from the class, we are able to determine what subjects and which instructors actually fit the desired approach.
- In August, we completed the inaugural class and graduated forty-two professionals with the Economic Development Master Practitioner diploma from the four partner universities. Throughout the two-week course, we were fortunate to have a class that was willing to give constructive and candid feedback. Their feedback plus our intuitive review has allowed us to have continuous improvement of the faculty, approach, curriculum subjects and process.
- We target mid and senior level professionals and prefer at least five years’ experience in economic development and a basic economic development training certificate. From the beginning, it has been our goal to be the final step in the training process and not a competitor for those seeking a basic certificate. There are excellent programs across the U.S. that already provide that level training.
- Beginning a new national program is a scary thing! No matter how much preparation, how many curriculum iterations and world-class faculty are on board, the proof in the pudding is the how many students submit applications. Our magic goal for the first class was forty participants and we exceeded that goal. Forty-five from across the U.S. joined the inaugural class with three having to split participation between the first and second classes.
- We promote that you learn as much from your class mates as from the instructors and that adage was demonstrated over and over again throughout the two weeks of the first class. Economic development in the Pacific Northwest is different from job creation strategies in the Southeast U.S. But, we found that every section of the U.S. can learn from the trials, tribulations and successes of their brothers and sisters. It was most evident when we divided the class into teams and they had to learn how to work with diverse personalities, varied thought processes and intrinsic views about job creation strategies. Our graduates have become the program’s most ardent ambassadors. Following an exciting graduation evening, a flurry of emails, selfies and social media posts confirmed that we had struck a nerve – a very good nerve.
- Of course, football rivalries have become part of the jousting back and forth. Melody Woodworth, executive director of Louisiana Development Authority’s business expansion and retention program and a rabid LSU fan wrote “Stellar program. This is exactly what the profession needed. The information was so practical and useful, unlike many other programs.” Of course, she ended her email Geaux Tigers!
- Manny Salazar from Kingsville, NC wrote that “…the Advanced’ program is an innovative and highly interactive program that focuses on the real-world application of economic development principles and not on lectures. The four partner universities have done a great job in developing a curriculum that will benefit those who are growing in the industry just as much as it will benefit the 30-year veteran.”
- We try to answer questions at the end of each week; So What? What now? What did I learn that can be applied back home? What are my take-aways to make me a better economic development change agent in my community? What can I teach my staff and volunteer team members that will impact quality job growth in the region?
- The class came together as one unit, all striving to explore the challenges and opportunities of a profession that is changing just as the world is changing. In fact, several in the class have talked about a reunion to keep fresh on local lessons and staying relevant in this rapidly changing market.
- The partner universities couldn’t be more pleased with the state of the Advanced Economic Development Leadership program. With a successful first class under our belts, it’s on the next group of professionals and the opportunity to provide an unparalleled learning experience that ultimately impacts people’s lives across the country. In fact, the second class begins in less than two weeks at Clemson.