ABOUT

Leadership

AAED Board of Directors

AAED’s Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of the Association. Their duties include the adoption of strategic and management policies and the employment of an Executive Director.

AAED Officers (2025-2026)

AAED’s Officers are comprised of elected board leaders who act as a steering committee for the full board.

Jennifer Lindley, AZED Pro

PRESIDENT

Town of Queen Creek

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Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, AZED Pro

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Pima County

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Kristen Stephenson, CEcD

VICE PRESIDENT

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

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Suzanne Boyles, AZED Pro

SECRETARY/TREASURER

City of Buckeye

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Karla Moran, AZED Pro

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

SRP

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AAED Directors – Metro Area

Heath Anderson, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

Western Electrical Contractors Association

Kirsten Hall, CEcD, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

City of Surprise

Michael Jansen, CEcD, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: TUCSON

Trico Electric Cooperative

Melissa Johnson, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

Danson Construction

Jaye O’Donnell

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

City of Mesa

Cameron Robb, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

APS

Bryan Smith

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

City of Phoenix

Rebecca Timmer, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

Stantec

AAED Directors – Rural Area

Cutter Chamberlain, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: PRESCOTT VALLEY

Previously Town of Prescott Valley
Currently City of Glendale

Jack Fitchett, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: WINSLOW

City of Winslow

Maggie Holmberg, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: CHINO VALLEY

Town of Chino Valley

Steve North, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: SHOW LOW

Town of Show Low

James Smith, CEcD

RURAL AREA: FLORENCE

Previously Pinal County
Currently A.R. Mays Construction

Tim Suan

RURAL AREA: WICKENBURG

Town of Wickenburg

AAED Advisory Directors

Neil Calfee

ASU Economic Development + Innovation Zones

Mike Czechowski, CEcD

City of Tucson

Jaime Embick, AZED Pro

City of Safford

Fernando Garcia, AZED Pro

Arizona Commerce Authority

Francesca Miller, AZED Pro

Multistudio

Bryan Seppala, AZED Pro

Resolution Copper

AAED Past Presidents

AAED has a proud history of strong leadership. Click the link below to view all past presidents, going back to our founding in 1974.

View the Full List of Past Presidents

Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED)

Karla Moran, AZED Pro	2024-2025
Vincent “Skip” Becker, AZED Pro	2023-2024
Wendy Bridges, AZED Pro	2022-2023
Lori Collins, AZED Pro	2021-2022
Mignonne Hollis, AZED Pro	2020-2021
Nicole Snyder, AZED Pro	2019-2020
Richard Wilkie, CEcD, AZED Pro	2018-2019
Curt Woody, AZED Pro	2017-2018
Jennifer Graves, CEcD	2016-2017
Julie Engel, CEcD	2015-2016
Danielle Casey, CEcD	2014-2015
Eric Larson	2013-2014
Teri Drew	2012-2013
Chris Camacho	2011-2012
Lori M. Gary, CEcD	2010-2011
Rock Rickert	2009-2010
Jane Bristol, CEcD	2008-2009
Garrett Newland	2007-2008
L.H. Hamilton	2006-2007
Stephanie Healy	2005-2006
David Bentler	2004-2005
Bruce Coomer	2003-2004
Robert Tippett	2002-2003
Wade Nafzger	2001-2002
Kim Soulé	2000-2001
Donald J. Myers	1999-2000
Evelyn Casuga, CEcD	1998-1999
Brian Dalke, CEcD	1997-1998
Betty J. Niles	1996-1997
Dee Dee Bark	1995-1996
David Kincaid	1994-1995
Valerie Manning	1993-1994
William Grace	1992-1993

Arizona Association for Industrial Development (AAID)

Janice Schaefer	1991-1992
Allan E. Bartels, Jr.	1990-1991
Judie Scalise	1989-1990
Michael Hammond	1988-1989
Robert Riley	1987-1988
Herman Orcutt	1986-1987
William Stephenson	1985-1986
Stephen Paquette	1984-1985
John Camper	1983-1984
Dunbar Norton	1982-1983
Charles Civer	1981-1982
James Gullyes	1980-1981
Milan Srnka	1979-1980
Ben Warren	1978-1979
Richard C. Ireland	1977-1978
Richard S. Parker	1976-1977
William W. Lampkin	1975-1976
Shelby Dill	1975-1976
David Richmond	1974-1974

Jennifer Lindley, AZED Pro

AAED President
Downtown Development Manager, Town of Queen Creek

Jennifer Lindley has served in the Town of Queen Creek’s Economic Development Department since 2014 and is the key staff member for all downtown economic development projects. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and economic development.

Before joining the Town of Queen Creek, Jennifer was the Executive Director for the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership and served as the Vice President of the East Valley Partnership.

Jennifer is the President for the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Economic Development, Past Chair of the Board of Directors for Neighbors Who Care and a fellow of the International Downtown Association Emerging Leaders Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a Master in Business Administration from Benedictine University. Jennifer was recently named one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award winners for 2022.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlindley

Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, AZED Pro

AAED President-Elect
Director, Economic Development at Pima County

Heath Vescovi-Chiordi is currently the Director of Economic Development for Pima County, AZ. Heath graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Spanish as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on local government.

Heath’s areas of focus at Pima County include both Economic Development and Workforce Development initiatives, including specific programs to aid in sustainable and diverse economic growth that increases the viability of Pima County for business attraction, retention, and expansion purposes, and by extension, creation of upwards economic mobility for the community.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-vescovi-chiordi

Kristen Stephenson, CEcD

AAED Vice President
Senior Vice President, Research & Analytics, Greater Phoenix Economic Council

Kristen Stephenson serves as GPEC’s senior vice president of research & analytics. Kristen rejoined the team in 2018 after previously working for the organization from 2002-2014. In her role, she leads the innovative research programs such as the community partnership program, market intelligence and competitor market analyses, while supporting the efforts of the business development and marketing teams.

Prior to rejoining GPEC, Kristen worked for the City of Glendale in the Office of Economic Development, focusing on business attraction and expansion, including projects such as Progressive Leasing, Bechtel and Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. She also provided support to strategic projects and research for the city.

Kristen has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Arizona State University and a Master’s degree in Community and Economic Development from the Pennsylvania State University. She is an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Certified Economic Developer and serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Economic Development. She was named one of AZ Big Media’s People to Know in 2022 and 2023. Kristen has lived in the region for over 30 years and currently resides in Glendale with her husband and two children.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-stephenson-cecd-0400b457

Suzanne Boyles, AZED Pro

AAED Secretary/Treasurer
Economic Development Director, City of Buckeye

Suzanne serves as the Economic Development Director for the City of Buckeye, where she spearheads a diverse range of economic development activities. Her role encompasses driving business attraction, developing strategic marketing initiatives, advancing workforce development, fostering entrepreneurship, and implementing business retention and expansion strategies. With a proven track record, Suzanne has successfully facilitated the establishment of numerous businesses across industrial, retail, hospitality, and healthcare sectors in the communities she has served. Suzanne earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Western New Mexico University.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-boyles

Karla Moran, AZED Pro

AAED Immediate Past President
Economic Development Principal, SRP

Karla Moran is a Principal Economic Development Analyst for the Salt River Project. She is responsible for attracting and expanding business and industry within SRP’s service territory, providing site-specific electrical infrastructure identification and cost analysis, and working collaboratively alongside state, regional, and municipal partners to identify targeted company attraction, expansion, and retention efforts conducive to building a healthy economy to advance well-planned growth throughout the Valley.

Moran has been in economic development for over 15 years, including roles at the Arizona Department of Commerce, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and the Town of Gilbert. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University and is also pursuing a Certified Economic Developer designation with the International Economic Development Council and Arizona Economic Development Professional certification. Moran serves on the boards of CoreNet Global (Arizona chapter), Arizona Association for Economic Development and the Real Estate Investment Advisory Council and is a GPEC-Certified Ambassador.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlatmoran