Silver City-based Leader Recognized for Exceptional Contributions through Service Related to the Practice of Economic Development

Silver City, NM – Linda Kay Jones, CEcD, Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives at Western New Mexico University, was awarded with Fellow Member status by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for attaining unusual stature in the field of economic development and closely related disciplines.  

"The term 'unusual stature' characterizes a member's substantial contributions to the profession through service to IEDC and/or academic ventures directly related to the practice of economic development," said Paul Krutko, IEDC chair. "Ms. Jones serves as a premier example of one who has made just such contributions and we are proud to have bestowed Fellow Member status upon her."

Linda Kay Jones serves as Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the President, Western New Mexico University, Silver City. Her previous position was Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Economic Development, and Community Affairs for WNMU.

As a Certified Economic Developer and new IEDC Fellow Member, she is the Director of the New Mexico Basic Economic Development Course that has been presented on the campus of WNMU since 1993. She was instrumental in establishing the course for New Mexico. Linda Kay is Director of the Mexico Economic Development courses being presented in Mexico, and serves on the board of WNMU’s International Academy for Economic Development.
 
Linda Kay was twice chosen as the state’s Economic Developer of the Year.  A prominent figure in her community, Jones is also president for the New Mexico Women’s Forum and member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) and has traveled globally with other pre-eminent members to advance women's leadership across careers, cultures and continents.

Linda Kay sits on several boards of directors in the New Mexico area, as well as several national boards.  For 21-years, Jones held the executive director position with SIGRED and its Small Business Development Center, NAFTA Institute, International Business Accelerator, all housed in the Global Resource Center on the WNMU Campus (which was the brainchild of Ms. Jones).  Linda Kay Jones’ track record also includes owner of a successful executive recruitment company, which held offices throughout Texas.

Raised in Texas, Linda Kay Jones’ personal interests are as varied as her professional accomplishments.  An enthusiastic golfer and a passionate chef who has studied in Italy, Jones is a driving force in whatever she involves herself and is dedicated to positive change through action.

About the International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base.  From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions.www.iedconline.org