UT Center for Industrial Services Certifies New Economic Developers

Pictured left to right:
Adina Chumley, Helene Singer Cash, Scottie Tudor, Carol Jones, Justin Snow, Aaron Frazier (not pictured).

 

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) recently graduated class 16 of its Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Program.  This cohort brings the total number of Tennessee certified economic developers to 92.

Graduation was held at the IPS Polk Avenue Training Suite in Nashville. During the session, the graduates presented their Capstone projects, the final requirement for certification. TCED candidates completed a week-long Basic Economic Development Course in addition to a series of six core courses pertinent to economic and community development. The TCED Program gives participants a broad-based knowledge of economic trends, tools and core components required to compete in today’s global economy.

The Fall TCED graduates are:

• Helene Singer Cash, real estate agent-land development, Agee & Johnson Realty and Auction. Her Capstone title was Medical Expansion Zones – Asset-Based Community Development.
• Adina Chumley, director, Wilson Works. Her Capstone Title was Growing a Workforce Development Program Amid a Contracting Labor Force, a Pandemic and Shifting Approaches to Work.
• Aaron Frazier, county commissioner, Carter County. His Capstone title was Education and Rehabilitation in ALICE Communities for Workforce Development.
• Carol A. Jones, administrative specialist for UT CIS. Her Capstone title was Serving Customers: Professional Development for Economic Developers.
• Justin Snow, vice president of economic development, The Roane Alliance. His Capstone Title was The Transformation of a Site to Capitalize on Missed Opportunities.
• Scottie McCormick Tudor, business development consultant, Tennessee Economic and Community Development. Her Capstone title was The Value of Technical College Graduates in Tennessee.

“All of our Tennessee certified economic developers made a serious commitment to achieve this designation,” said Kim Denton, director of the TCED Program.  “They now will be able to use this in-depth knowledge to benefit their communities and regions.”

New graduates will be invited to join the TCED Alumni Group, which provides continuing education and networking opportunities several times throughout the year.

Contact: Kim Denton, CEcD, CIS, (865) 974-8464 or kim.denton@tennessee.edu