UT Center for Industrial Services Certifies New Economic Developers

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) recently graduated class 17 of its Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCEcD) Program.  This cohort brings the total number of Tennessee certified economic developers to 97!

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 Spring 2023 TCED graduates are:

• Shannon Cantrell, CEO of the Livingston Overton County Chamber of Commerce. Her Capstone topic was Public Art as an Economic Driver in Rural Tennessee.
• Lauren Fletcher, executive director of the Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce. Her Capstone topic was the Benefits of a United Approach for a County in Economic & Community Development Efforts.
• Michael Foster, Anderson County commissioner. His Capstone topic was Economic Development of Rural Communities through Tourism and Downtown Revitalization.
• Trevor Hobbs, assistant to the town administrator in Farragut. His Capstone topic was Developing the Town of Farragut’s Economic Development Strategic Plan.
• Tara Wilson, assistant director of the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee. Her Capstone topic was Employability Counts: Implementing Workforce Development in Grades 3-12.

“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