The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) has elected two new members and re-elected five members to its board of directors. 

The new board members representing rural Arizona are:  Bobby Davis, AZED Pro, economic development specialist for the town of Payson, and Casey Rooney, economic development director for the city of Cottonwood.

Victor Gonzales, CEcD, economic development manager for the town of Sahuarita; Kristen Howard, business development for IMEG Corp.; Kelly Patton, senior economic development consultant for Arizona Public Service; and Angela Talbot, vice president, JE Dunn Construction; were re-elected to represent metro Arizona communities, while Tom Pitts, an economic development consultant in Yavapai County, was re-elected to represent rural Arizona.

Each was elected for a two-year term.

Newly appointed to one-year terms as advisory directors were: Sarah Murley, a partner with Applied Economics; Michelle Schwartz, an associate with RSP Architects; and Keith Watkins, senior vice president, economic/rural development for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Re-appointed as advisory directors were:  Caryn Gose, AZED Pro, senior project manager for Salt River Project;  Jim Rounds, president of Rounds Consulting Group, Inc.; and Holly Schor, manager, business associations for Goodwill Industries of Central and Northern Arizona.

The new board members were approved at AAED’s general membership meeting held in conjunction with the organization’s spring conference in Lake Havasu City.

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.