PHOENIX, ARIZ. (June 2, 2026) — The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) is pleased to announce its 2026–2027 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, whose terms began on June 1st.
Celebrating more than 50 years of service, AAED connects economic development practitioners across Arizona’s diverse rural, suburban, and urban communities. This year also marks the launch of AAED’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, Leading With Purpose, which deepens the organization’s commitment to three core pillars—educate, advocate, and collaborate—to advance responsible economic growth across the state.
AAED’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors bring deep professional networks and firsthand community experience to AAED’s work, helping shape the programs, partnerships, and policy positions that serve members statewide.
For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the Executive Committee includes:
- President — Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, AZED Pro
- President-Elect — Kristen Stephenson, CEcD
- Vice President — Suzanne Boyles, AZED Pro
- Secretary/Treasurer — Jack Fitchett, AZED Pro
- Immediate Past President — Jennifer Lindley, AZED Pro
Together, the 2026–2027 Executive Committee brings extensive experience spanning business attraction, workforce development, downtown revitalization, and regional economic strategy from communities across Arizona.
Heath Vescovi-Chiordi steps into the AAED presidency after serving as President-Elect in 2025–2026. As Director of Economic Development for Pima County, he leads business attraction and industry retention efforts across Southern Arizona. Heath also holds an Adjunct Faculty position at the University of Arizona, where he designed and teaches a course on economic development and local government administration for Master of Public Administration students. He brings more than a decade of professional experience in the field and was recognized in 2024 with both AAED’s Economic Developer of the Year Award (Large Community) and the International Economic Development Council’s Future Leader Award.
Kristen Stephenson advances from Vice President to President-Elect for 2026–2027. As Senior Vice President of Research & Analytics at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), she directs the organization’s market intelligence, community partnership programs, and competitor analysis work, while closely supporting the business development and marketing teams. With more than 20 years in the field—nearly all of them at GPEC—Kristen holds the CEcD designation from the International Economic Development Council and was recognized as AAED’s 2023 Member of the Year.
Suzanne Boyles moves into the Vice President role after serving as AAED’s Secretary/Treasurer in 2025–2026. As Economic Development Director for the City of Buckeye, she oversees a broad portfolio that includes business attraction and retention, workforce development, strategic marketing, and entrepreneurship support. She brings more than 12 years of economic development experience and has been recognized as AAED’s Member of the Year in 2021 and one of AZBigMedia’s Most Influential Women in 2022.
Jack Fitchett has served as a Rural Director on AAED’s Board since 2023 and joins the Executive Committee as the incoming Secretary/Treasurer. He currently serves as the Economic Development Director for the City of Winslow, where he is responsible for attracting and retaining quality employment opportunities and enhancing quality of life for residents and businesses in northern Arizona. Jack is a lifelong Arizonan and University of Arizona graduate, who brings nine years of economic development and rural municipal administration experience to the executive committee. He has been named as this year’s Economic Development Director of the Year Award (Small Community – 2026).
Jennifer Lindley concludes a successful year as AAED President and transitions into the Immediate Past President role, where she will continue to provide guidance to the Executive Committee. Jennifer has served with the Town of Queen Creek’s Economic Development Department since 2014, with a sustained focus on downtown revitalization and economic growth. Her broader career spans more than 20 years in nonprofit leadership and economic development, including roles as Executive Director of the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership and Vice President of the East Valley Partnership. She is a co-founder of AZ Downtowns, an initiative dedicated to strengthening statewide collaboration and legislation for downtown development and redevelopment. Jennifer was named AAED’s Economic Developer of the Year (Medium Community) in 2021 and was recognized on the Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list.
AAED also elected/re-elected 14 members to its Board of Directors.
Metro Directors
- Kirsten Hall, CEcD, AZED Pro — Business Attraction Manager, City of Surprise
- Cameron Robb, AZED Pro — Senior Economic Development Consultant, APS
- James Smith, CEcD — Business Development Director, A.R. Mays Construction
- MaKenzie Wilson, AZED Pro — Economic Development Project Manager, Town of Gilbert
Rural Directors
- Terri Curtis, AZED Pro — Economic Development Project Manager, City of Kingman
- Tricia Lewis, AZED Pro — Economic Development Manager, City of Prescott
- Bryan Seppala, AZED Pro — Principal Advisor – Economic Development & Social Investment, Resolution Copper
- Diana Soto, AZED Pro — Economic Development Coordinator, Town of Prescott Valley
Advisory Directors
- Mike Czechowski, CEcD, AZED Pro — Economic Development Senior Project Manager, City of Tucson
- Fernando Garcia, AZED Pro — Executive Vice President of International Trade & Development, Arizona Commerce Authority
- Kimberly Hanes, AZED Pro — Associate Director of Economic Development + Innovation Zones, Arizona State University
- Melissa Johnson, AZED Pro — Director of Business Development & Marketing, Danson Construction
- Carol Stewart — Vice President, Tech Parks Arizona
- Erica Sturwold, AZED Pro — Senior Economic Development Project Manager, SRP
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.
