LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (May 20, 2010) - Jim Devine, President and CEO of the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), has been named by the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) as the 2010 Professional Economic Developer of the Year. This prestigious award is presented to an MEDC member who has made significant contributions in the field of community-based economic development. Devine will be recognized at a lunch on May 25 held during the 2010 MEDC Spring Conference at Lake of the Ozarks.
"The overall award submittal was reflective of Jim Devine's long and active career in economic development. This award is very special to MEDC, and Jim's many successes and achievements make him a worthy recipient," said John Mehner, CCE, MEDC President and CEO of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. "Jim has exhibited leadership on regional and national levels. His decision-making skills speak to successful projects he has been involved with throughout his career. We are proud to welcome Jim as Missouri's 2010 Professional Economic Developer of the Year."
The Professional Economic Developer of the Year award winner is selected by the Counselors of MEDC, which is an elected group of professionals who have achieved great success in their economic development careers. "I am truly honored to receive this award from my peers in economic development around the state," Devine said. "Being nominated by Greg Foss, my counterpart at the City of Lee's Summit, is indicative of the strong public-private partnership and mutual respect LSEDC enjoys with the City."
Jim Devine joined LSEDC in 1999. With more than 30 years of experience as a consultant or chief executive, he has worked for cities, counties, states, chambers of commerce, management consulting and real estate firms in 22 states in the U.S. Devine has managed multi-million dollar marketing and public relations campaigns in the United States and Europe; industrial parks; labor force studies; foreign trade zones; enterprise zones; downtown and redevelopment programs and strategic plans for communities throughout the west. Nationally recognized, Devine served as the chairman of Washington, DC based International Economic Development Council (IEDC), representing over 4,000 economic development professionals. He is a Ford Foundation Scholar, holds a Masters in Public Administration from Syracuse University and a BA cum laude from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. Devine is a graduate of the Japan Business Institute in Tokyo; the Economic Development Institute in Norman Okla. and the Institute for Participatory Management and Planning in Monterey, Calif.
About LSEDC
The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), a public-private sector partnership, is the city's designated marketing and product development arm to retain and attract business. LSEDC is devoted to improving the economic well-being of residents and businesses in Lee's Summit. For more information, visit www.leessummit.org
About MEDC
The Missouri Economic Development Council is a statewide, not-for-profit association of economic development professionals and community leaders. Created in 1979 to provide a unified voice for economic development, MEDC offers its members programs in professional education, legislation and marketing. For more information, visit www.showme.org.
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