Posted by – Stephanie Carroll, Manager of Business Development and Community Relations

In 2014, my colleague and I started a group within the Michigan Economic Developers Association (MEDA) called Emerging Leaders.  The goal of the group is to ensure connectivity to industry professionals and establish a network of peers with expertise in the various aspects of economic development.  The group also provides emerging leaders with specific professional development opportunities.

Yesterday, we held our annual spring event in Lansing, and the room was full of early to mid-career economic developers.  It was an exciting start to the day.  We had entrepreneurs and business owners talk about their experiences in the communities they have worked with on a project.  It was a great discussion, and I think we all learned about what developers and businesses expect when they engage with local government.

We also heard from a group of respected economic developers from communities around Michigan who shared their experiences, how the landscape has changed, what they foresee, and their suggestions for preparing for your career for success.

Even though I’ve been involved in economic development for many years, these types of events are meaningful and provide a great deal of perspective when it comes to wanting to be at the top of your game.

As the economic climate in Michigan continues to change and grow, we are better prepared to serve our communities through educational programs offered through professional organizations like MEDA.