APEX's Matt Shermoen Receives 2019 Bob Ady Scholarship

COLUMBUS, OH, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019:  The Mid-America Economic Development Council recently selected the 2019 recipients for the semi-annual Bob Ady Scholarship Program.  The scholarship program is named in memory of Bob Ady, a champion for economic development in the U.S. and especially the Mid-America region. 

This scholarship program is available for Mid-America Economic Development Council members and non-members.  Applicants were evaluated based on their interest in economic development overall, as well as their interest in the Mid-America Economic Development Council organization.  This year’s scholarship program is designed to assist with attendance to both of Mid-America EDC’s 2019 Conferences – the Best Practices Conference to be held July 17-19 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Mid-America Competitiveness Conference & Site Selector Forum to be held December 8-10 in Chicago, Illinois. 

“Each Bob Ady Scholarship award winner brings new thinking and a fresh perspective to the field of economic development.  These are exactly the qualities that keep the field relevant and pertinent even in times of sweeping economic, political, technical, and social change,” said Janet Ady, Bob’s daughter and President and CEO of Ady Advantage.  “Over 50 promising economic development professionals have now been awarded scholarships to attend Mid-America Economic Development Association conferences, bringing what they learn back to their home states and communities to help advance economic development across the country.”

As stated by Keith Gillenwater, Mid-America EDC board member and Chair of the 2019 Bob Ady Scholarship committee.  “Mid-America EDC is thrilled to continue our partnership with Janet and the entire Ady family who graciously support professional development in our economic development field by underwriting the Bob Ady Scholarship program.  This scholarship allows us to support economic development professionals from across the Midwest as they strive to improve their knowledge and skills in our field while simultaneously networking with peers from across our region.”

Congratulations to the 2019 Bob Ady Scholarship Recipients for the Competitiveness Conference!

Jenilee Haynes Peterson, Economic Development Manager, Economic Development Corporation Michigan City - Indiana

Jessica Hightower, Economic Development Director, Linn County, Kansas

Rachel Pruitt, Economic Development Director, City of Fort Scott, Kansas

Marie Pflipsen, Community Development Director, City of Becker, Minnesota

Matt Shermoen, Business Developer, APEX – Duluth, Minnesota

Jennifer Serkiz, Executive Director, Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council

Alex Gauding, Research Associate, Team Northeast Ohio – Cleveland, Ohio

Amy Greil, Community Development Educator, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison Extension

Rebecca Goodmanson, Manager, Corporate Attraction and Development, Milwaukee 7 - Wisconsin

These scholarship recipients receive registration to the 2019 Competitiveness Conference, along with reimbursement of some travel expenses. Bob Ady Scholarship information for the 2020 program will be released in early 2020 and will be posted on the Mid-America EDC website. The Mid-America Economic Development Council is a multi-state association dedicated to being the leading resource for education, making connections, and sharing best practices for economic development professionals. Ady Advantage is a specialized site selection and economic development consultancy that has helped more than 500 economic development organization grow and diversify their economies by providing a suite of integrated research, marketing, and planning services. 

For more information about the Mid-America Economic Development Council, please visit www.midamericaedc.org. If you would like to learn more about Ady Advantage, visit www.Adyadvantage.com.