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

Jennifer Lindley, AZED Pro

PRESIDENT

Town of Queen Creek

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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

Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, AZED Pro

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Pima County

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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

Kristen Stephenson, CEcD

VICE PRESIDENT

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

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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

Suzanne Boyles, AZED Pro

SECRETARY/TREASURER

City of Buckey

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Vincent "Skip" Becker, AZED Pro

AAED Secretary/Treasurer
Economic Development Director, City of Buckey

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

Karla Moran, AZED Pro

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

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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

AAED Directors – Metro Area

Heath Anderson, AZED Pro

Heath Anderson, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

Western Electrical Contractors Association

Kirsten Hall, CEcD, AZED Pro

Kirsten Hall, CEcD, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

City of Surprise

Michael Jansen, CEcD, AZED Pro

Michael Jansen, CEcD, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: TUCSON

Trico Electric Cooperative

Melissa Johnson, AZED Pro

Melissa Johnson, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

Danson Construction

Jaye O’Donnell

Jaye O’Donnell

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

City of Mesa

Bryan Smith

Bryan Smith

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

City of Phoenix

Rebecca Timmer, AZED Pro

Rebecca Timmer, AZED Pro

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

Stantec

Cameron Robb

Cameron Robb

METRO AREA: PHOENIX

APS

AAED Directors – Rural Area

Cutter Chamberlain, AZED Pro

Cutter Chamberlain, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: PRESCOTT VALLEY

Previously Town of Prescott Valley
Currently City of Glendale

Jack Fitchett, AZED Pro

Jack Fitchett, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: WINSLOW

City of Winslow

Maggie Holmberg, AZED Pro

Maggie Holmberg, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: CHINO VALLEY

Town of Chino Valley

Steve North, AZED Pro

Steve North, AZED Pro

RURAL AREA: SHOW LOW

Town of Show Low

James Smith, CEcD

James Smith, CEcD

RURAL AREA: FLORENCE

Previously Pinal County
Currently A.R. Mays Construction

Tim Suan

Tim Suan

RURAL AREA: WICKENBURG

Town of Wickenburg

AAED Advisory Directors

Neil Calfee

Neil Calfee

ASU Economic Development + Innovation Zones

Mike Czechowski, CEcD, AZED Pro

Mike Czechowski, CEcD, AZED Pro

City of Tucson

Jaime Embick, AZED Pro

Jaime Embick, AZED Pro

City of Safford

Fernando Garcia, AZED Pro

Fernando Garcia, AZED Pro

Arizona Commerce Authority

Francesca Miller, AZED Pro

Francesca Miller, AZED Pro

Multistudio

Bryan Seppala, AZED Pro

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