Print
Category: Community News Community News
Published: 02 June 2023 02 June 2023

tpel all 2023Emily Gojkovich, fourth from left, is Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments deputy director

Washington, DC – The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation is pleased to announce Emily Gojkovich recently completed the 2022 - 2023 Training Program for Emerging Leaders (TPEL), a leadership training program funded by the Austin Regional Office of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, has successfully completed the program.  She was part of the fourth class of Emerging Leaders under this program.

"Economic Development Districts (EDDs) provide crucial support to communities, helping to spearhead local economic development plans and projects," said Jorge Ayala, Regional Director for EDA's Austin office. "EDA is proud to support NADO's training program and congratulates the selected participants. We look forward to working with each of them in the future."

The program was launched in 2014 and since that time 26 staff members from EDDs located in the EDA Austin region (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) have participated in the program.   The following individuals, selected from a very competitive pool of applicants, completed the 2022 - 2023 TPEL class:

Miranda Boler, Director of Regional Services, Permian Basin, Regional Planning Commission, Midlands, TXRachel Godeaux, Director of Economic Development, Acadiana Regional Planning Commission, Lafayette, LAEmily Gojkovich, Deputy Director, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments, Silver City, NMPaige Goodell, Local Government Services Program Coordinator, Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, Amarillo, TXWilson Fram, Economic Development Planner, Indian Nations Council of Governments, Tulsa, OKEmily Martinez, Director of Regional Economic Development, Coastal Bend Council of Governments, Corpus Christi, TXRegan Miller, Economic Development Planner, White River Planning and Development District, Batesville, ARMailinh Nguyen, Regional Project Coordinator, Texoma Council of Governments, Sherman, TXMiguel Segura, Director of Public Affairs and Regional Government, Alamo Area Council of Governments, San Antonio, TXVincent Soule, Deputy Director, Eastern Plains Council of Governments, Clovis, NM

They were recognized at the 2023 Southwest Region Economic Development Association (SWREDA) conference in New Orleans, LA, May 5, 2023.

The program recognizes the strong demand among EDDs in the Austin Region for professional and leadership development. Participants will attend in-person workshops held at various EDA project sites around the Austin Region. The program will include topics such as best practices in comprehensive economic development strategies (CEDS), project cultivation and management, and stakeholder engagement. The goal of the program is to help EDD planners and project coordinators enhance their skills to develop and manage successful economic development projects as well as potentially become future executive directors of EDDs.

"The NADO Research Foundation would like to thank EDA for its generous support of this training program," said Joe McKinney, Executive Director of NADO. "The participants are among the best EDD staff in the EDA Austin region and will be well-positioned after going through this program to continue their careers as future leaders of regional development organizations."

The curriculum included a blend of virtual training, workshops at various conferences, and on-site learning at several EDDs in the Austin region and other EDA regions across the country.

###

Founded in 1967, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides advocacy, education, networking, and research for the national network of 540 regional development organizations. NADO members provide professional, programmatic, and technical assistance to over 2,300 counties and 15,000 municipalities.  The NADO Research Foundation is NADO's 501(c) (3) nonprofit affiliate. The Research Foundation provides professional development training, research, and peer networking services. The Research Foundation examines new and innovative practices in regional development, strives to improve the organizational and professional capacity of regional development organizations and their partners, and bridges the communications gaps between policy makers, practitioners, and the public.  This project is made possible with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Austin Regional Office, under award # ED16AUS3030019.