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
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.

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.

Kristen Stephenson, CEcD
VICE PRESIDENT
Greater Phoenix Economic Council
VIEW BIO
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

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.

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.
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

Bryan Smith
METRO AREA: PHOENIX
City of Phoenix

Rebecca Timmer, AZED Pro
METRO AREA: PHOENIX
Stantec

Cameron Robb
METRO AREA: PHOENIX
APS
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, AZED Pro
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 |