PHOENIX, ARIZ. (April 21, 2026) — The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) presented its annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards during its Spring Conference at the El Conquistador Resort in Oro Valley, Arizona.
The EDDE Awards honor the best economic development practices by individuals, organizations, and companies that have significantly contributed to the state’s economic growth. Recipients are selected from a pool of nominations submitted by AAED members.
2026 EDDE Award Recipients
William Lampkin Long-Term Excellence in Economic Development
Winner: Harry Paxton, CEcD — Deputy Economic Development Director, City of Buckeye
Harry Paxton has spent more than 30 years shaping economic development across Arizona’s West Valley, serving the cities of Chandler, Goodyear, and, most recently, Buckeye. Over that career, he has been instrumental in attracting hundreds of companies and creating tens of thousands of jobs, working across all facets of the profession — from business attraction and retention to industrial, retail, and downtown redevelopment. Among his most consequential contributions was conceiving and championing Foreign Trade Zone #277 (Greater Maricopa FTZ), which helped set the stage for large-scale industrial and logistics growth along the Loop 303 corridor. He has also served as an instructor for AAED’s Academy for two years and has mentored countless professionals who now hold leadership roles across the state.
Best of Arizona Award
Winner: The Boeing Company & City of Mesa
The Best of Arizona award is presented to individuals or organizations whose dedication to economic development in Arizona has been unequaled, resulting in significant statewide impact. Boeing’s Arizona presence is anchored by its Mesa campus, the development and production home of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter since the early 1980s. The company employs more than 4,500 Arizonans across facilities in Mesa, Chandler, and Goodyear, partners with over 270 in-state suppliers generating an estimated 49,000 jobs statewide, and holds a nearly $4.7 billion U.S. Army Apache production contract running through 2032.
Economic Developer of the Year (Large Community)
Winner: Jaye O’Donnell — Economic Development Director, City of Mesa
Under O’Donnell’s leadership, Mesa secured 47 relocation and expansion projects — 27 percent above target — generating more than 5 million square feet of commercial development, $3.49 billion in capital investment, and 3,370 new high-quality jobs with average annual wages exceeding $65,000. Her work advanced the Palo District redevelopment (formerly Fiesta District) and the landmark $2 billion Legacy Park mixed-use development projected to generate $56 billion in economic output and more than 20,000 jobs over 20 years.
Economic Developer of the Year (Medium Community)
Winner: Marissa Garnett, CEcD, AZED Pro, AICP — Economic Development Project Manager, Town of Queen Creek
Garnett’s most significant achievement is her central role in supporting the recruitment of LG Energy Solution (LGES) — one of the largest economic development projects in Arizona history — representing $5.5 billion in capital investment, approximately 2,800 high-quality jobs, and the development of the largest stand-alone battery manufacturing facility in North America. She also led a data-driven marketing refresh, earned the IEDC Young Economic Development Professional of the Year award, and was selected for Economic Development 40 Under 40 in 2025.
Economic Developer of the Year (Small Community)
Winner: Jack Fitchett, MPA, AZED Pro — Economic Development Director, City of Winslow
In his two years with Winslow, Fitchett has negotiated a planned area development agreement with master developer Atlas Global covering more than 1,500 acres — projected to generate 5,500 direct jobs, 3,600 indirect jobs, $2 billion in economic impact, and $68 million in tax revenue over 20 years. He also secured more than $16 million in federal BUILD grant funding for the I-40 Trade Corridor and negotiated a 300-acre logistics hub development agreement with Global Logistic Development Partners.
Emerging Economic Developer of the Year
Winner: Claire Bruns — Business Development Manager, City of Goodyear
Since joining Goodyear’s Economic Development team in 2023, Bruns has built a remarkable record of entrepreneurial support. In 2025 alone, she served more than 200 entrepreneurs, launched the InnovationHub’s inaugural Coffee & Connect networking event, organized a first-of-its-kind Youth Entrepreneur Event with Agua Fria Union High School District, and expanded a formal partnership with ASU’s Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute to bring university-backed mentorship and programming to Goodyear’s small business community.
Economic Development Organization of the Year (Large)
Winner: City of Glendale
The City of Glendale has demonstrated a deep, sustained commitment to AAED through staff involvement at every level of the organization. Three team members completed the 2026 AAED Basic Academy, five hold the AZED Pro designation, and Cutter Chamberlain serves on the AAED Board of Directors. Glendale serves as a Gold Sponsor of the 2026 Spring Conference and has been recognized externally as both a Best City to Do Business and a Best Place to Work.
Economic Development Organization of the Year (Medium)
Winner: City of Goodyear
Four Goodyear team members actively serve on AAED committees, seven of eight team members hold or are pursuing AzED Pro certification, and the city hosted the January 2025 AAED Basic Economic Development Course at Goodyear City Hall. The city’s InnovationHub — now in its eleventh year — has supported more than 8,000 entrepreneurs through free workspace, workshops, networking, and business mentoring.
AAED Member of the Year
Winner: Bryan Seppala, AZED Pro — Principal Advisor, Resolution Copper
Seppala has served on the AAED Advisory Board and Board of Directors, revitalized programming as Vice Chair of the Rural Committee — organizing the first in-person Rural Event since pre-COVID — and personally recruited seven new AAED members. He led the creation of a Presidential Partner-level partnership between Resolution Copper and AAED that funds five Copper Corridor memberships and sponsors multiple AAED events annually.
AAED New Member of the Year
Winner: Brock Severson, AZED Pro — Economic Development Specialist, City of Apache Junction
Within his first year as an AAED member, Severson completed the Basic Economic Development Course, earned his AZED Pro certification, participated in the Mentorship Program, and hosted the AAED team at Apache Junction City Hall. He is also pursuing his CEcD credential through IEDC and attended Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute.
Provider of the Year
Winner: Colliers Engineering & Design
Colliers Engineering & Design (CED) was recognized for its sustained commitment to AAED through the engagement of Jodi James, who serves on the Spring Conference and Tribal Committees, previously chaired the Membership Committee, and generates approximately 15,000 LinkedIn impressions per week promoting AAED initiatives. CED also sponsors the 2025 Tribal Symposium and 2026 Spring Conference, and contributes to Arizona’s economic development ecosystem through infrastructure work — including notable projects such as the NorthPark master-planned development in north Phoenix and the West Industrial Area in Casa Grande.
Workforce Practitioner of the Year
Winner: Chandler Escalante, Workforce Development Project Manager, City of Chandler
Escalante is the architect of the Chandler Career Center, a city-sponsored workforce platform launched in April 2024 that now serves more than 125 Chandler-based employers and over 1,200 local job seekers. His signature “white glove” service model has driven strong adoption, with 1,200 positions manually posted to date. He also serves on the AAED Workforce Committee, the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board’s Youth Committee, and the Chandler USD–University of Arizona CTE Semiconductor Manufacturing Pathway Steering Committee.
About the Arizona Association for Economic Development
AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. For more information on AAED, visit www.aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.