Heather McDaniel will join the IEDC Board in January, representing economic development professionals throughout the U.S. and the world.
ITHACA, N.Y. – December 1, 2020 – Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) announced that President, Heather D. McDaniel, has been appointed to a seat on the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Board of Directors. IEDC is a nonprofit organization representing economic development professionals throughout the world. IAED is the economic development organization for Ithaca and Tompkins County, NY. IAED’s mission is to build a thriving and sustainable economy that improves the quality of life in Tompkins County by fostering the growth of business and employment.
The Nominations Committee of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) elected Heather McDaniel, CEcD, AICP, EDFP, President of Ithaca Area Economic Development, to serve on the IEDC Board of Directors during IEDC’s 2020 Annual Conference, which ran from October 13 -16, 2020. Ms. McDaniel’s term begins on January 1, 2021.
“Ms. McDaniel has been an invaluable part of IEDC’s member community,” said Kenny McDonald, CEcD, President and Chief Economic Officer of One Columbus and 2020 Chair of the IEDC Board of Directors, of her new position. “As Chair of IEDC’s Membership Development Advisory Committee she’s provided critical direction to IEDC’s outreach and new member recruitment strategy.”
Heather McDaniel has been President of IAED since 2018, with a total of 13 years at the organization. She is the administrative director of the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) and the Tompkins County Development Corporation (TCDC). Ms. McDaniel is a Certified Planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She also holds the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) designation from the National Development Council and the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council.
“I am honored to join the IEDC Board of Directors. Economic development practices are always adapting to meet the needs of our communities and I look forward to aiding IEDC’s members address future challenges and opportunities,” said Ms. McDaniel.
“We look forward to her leadership in this new role,” Jeffrey Finkle, President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council said. “As a longtime economic development leader in Tompkins County, Ms. McDaniel will continue to help IEDC expand its service offerings to meet the needs of its diverse base.”
About Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED)
Ithaca Area Economic Development (formerly Tompkins County Area Development) is a private not for profit economic development organization serving Ithaca and Tompkins County. It is New York State’s first and only Accredited Economic Development Organization, one of only 71 across North America. The mission of IAED is to build a thriving and sustainable economy by fostering business growth and employment. Since 1964, IAED has worked tirelessly to grow, retain, and attract companies that provide high-quality employment opportunities and strives to create a supportive environment for entrepreneurship and business development. For more information, visit IAED at IthacaAreaED.org.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 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. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. www.iedcONLINE.org.
