Heffner Receives Professional Economic Development Certification

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Deb Heffner, Economic Development Coordinator, Berks Economic Partnership (BEP), earned the Professional Economic Development Certification for the year of 2010.  The certification is administered by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA).

The PEDA Certification program ensures that Pennsylvania practitioners possess the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the demands from business and the community in today’s global business environment.  The certification process includes a five year minimum experience requirement in the economic development field and a minimum of twenty professional development hours annually.

Jon Scott, President and CEO, Berks Economic Partnership said, “The certification process does two things;  first it ensures that BEP staff is current in its practices, knowledge and skills, and second, it confirms to partners and potential prospects that BEP is knowledgeable and maintains the highest level of professional standards.  We are very proud of Deb for this achievement.”
 
PEDA is the statewide association of local, state, corporate and non-profit economic development professionals.  PEDA's mission is to promote sound economic development policies, provide leading-edge economic development education and nurture an effective statewide economic development network to foster the economic health of the Commonwealth.

PEDA's Membership is comprised of county and regional economic developers, state government economic development employees, utility and transportation executives, industrial development authority directors, operators of industrial and technology incubators, chamber of commerce executives, municipal directors of community and economic development, engineering and construction executives, economic development finance professionals, commercial and industrial developers, and local, county and state elected officials.