Scottsdale Shines With Pair of Prestigious EDDE Awards
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Oct. 29, 2020) – Scottsdale resident Karla Moran, AZED Pro, economic development analyst, Salt River Project, and Crystal Pierce, business development representative for Scottsdale-headquartered CCS Presentation Systems, have been named winners of the Arizona Association for Economic Development’s (AAED) Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) awards.
The Member of the Year award, sponsored by Pat Davis Design Group, Inc., was awarded to Moran and the New Member of the Year award, sponsored by CCS Presentation Systems, was given to Pierce.
The prestigious EDDE Awards honor individuals and companies that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the organization and to economic growth within the state of Arizona. Recipients were selected from a pool of nominations made by members of AAED.
Moran, who serves on the AAED board of directors, is also active on several committees, including membership and governmental affairs, where she has coordinated the AAED Policy Impact Celebrations for the last three years. She has also chaired AAED’s Golden Prospector Awards Committee. In 2019, Consultant Connect named Moran as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers as the only economic developer in Arizona to be recognized.
Pierce, in her first year as an AAED member, has served on both the organization’s membership and events committees and will chair AAED’s annual corn hole tournament in 2021. Her efforts over the last year have helped bring in several new members to AAED as she has become an advocate for the organization and for economic development statewide.
Overall, 10 EDDEs were presented during a virtual awards ceremony at the AAED Fall Forum. The other winners are:
- Greg Tilque, CEcD, the William Lampkin Award for Long Term Excellence in Economic Development, presented by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
- Jennifer Graves, CEcD, deputy director, Gilbert Office of Economic Development, Economic Developer of the Year, Large Community, presented by Sigma Contracting.
- Tami Ursenbach, economic development director for Mohave County, Economic Developer of the Year, Medium Community, presented by Concord General Contracting.
- Tom Doyle, economic development manager for the city of El Mirage, Economic Developer of the Year, Small Community, presented by Speedie & Associates, Inc.
- Aaron Moon, business development coordinator, ARIZONA@WORK Pinal County, Workforce Practitioner of the Year, presented by Newbridge Technology Solutions.
- Pinal County, Large Organization of the Year, presented by the Salt River Project.
- Town of Queen Creek, Medium Organization of the Year, presented by the Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation.
- Price Corridor, Best of Arizona Award, presented by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
“The EDDEs showcase the best in economic development for all of Arizona,” said Carrie Kelly, AAED’s executive director. “Without the work of these individuals and organizations, the economic vitality we see across the state would be nowhere near the high level that we see today. They truly have a role in the growth of their individual communities and we are pleased to recognize them and their accomplishments.”
AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice advocating for responsible economic development through an effective program of professional education, public policy and collaboration. For more information on AAED, visit www.aaed.com or call (602) 240-2233.
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