Leadership

AAED President
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

AAED President-Elect
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

AAED Secretary/Treasurer
Economic Development Director, City of Winslow

Jack Fitchett currently serves as the Economic Development Director for the City of Winslow. He is responsible for attracting and retaining high quality job opportunities for his community and helping enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses in the northern Arizona region.  

Jack is a lifetime resident of Arizona and has spent the majority of his career working in public service. He has over eight years of economic development and municipal administration experience, having worked for several Arizona communities. Jack graduated from the University of Arizona with a master’s degree in public administration, and a bachelor’s degree in political science. 

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