Lander, Wyo. – The Wyoming Economic Development Association (WEDA) board elections were held during the association’s recent Winter Economic Development Conference in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Pat Robbins, South Central Regional Director, WY Business Council, and Lisa Johnson, Goshen County Economic Development Corporation were both elected as new board members to serve on the WEDA Board of Directors. They were elected by the WEDA general membership to serve three-year terms effective immediately, along with re-elected board member Phil Christopherson of Riverton’s Idea, Inc./Manufacturing-Works.
Pat Robbins has been in community and economic development for over twenty years, as a former Director for the Green River Chamber of Commerce and the Sweetwater Economic Development Association Director, and is currently the South Central Regional Director for the Wyoming Business Council covering Sweetwater and Carbon counties. Pat has completed the Economic Development Institute, the National Development Council’s Economic Development Finance Professional course and Housing Development course. She currently serves as the Chair of the Sweetwater Travel and Tourism Board.
Lisa Johnson is the Executive Director of Goshen County Economic Development Corporation in Torrington. Prior to taking that position in 2008, she owned a marketing firm. Johnson has worked in the economic development field in Colorado and New Mexico and is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute. Her husband Matt ranches with his family near LaGrange, where her daughter Kenna attends LaGrange Elementary.
At the WEDA Board Officer elections that were held in February Randy Bruns of Cheyenne LEADS was elected as President, and Craig Nelson of Rocky Mountain Power was elected as Vice-President. Pat Robbins, WY Business Council South West Regional Director was elected as Secretary, and James Klessens, Forward Cody, was elected as Treasurer. All will serve as part of the 13-member Board of Directors for the Wyoming Economic Development Association.
“WEDA brings economic development interests together from all across this great state under the philosophy that the effective practice of economic development helps every community. I am pleased to have a part to play in that,” said new WEDA President Randy Bruns.
The following WEDA board members make up the remaining roster: Linda Harris, North East Wyoming Economic Development Coalition (NEWEDC) and Bruce Brown, Bruce Brown, CPA, Inc. The ex-officio members include Bob Jensen and Ben Avery, Wyoming Business Council; Julie Simon, President of the Wyoming Chamber Partnership; and Paula McCormick, WEDA Coordinator.
Established in 1985, WEDA is a non-profit professional association representing nearly 200 economic development members and organizations, in addition to thousands of Wyoming businesses, who support economic development through their local economic development groups. WEDA’s mission is to “Provide leadership and support to foster economic development in Wyoming.” WEDA supports its members with the necessary tools used to create, retain and expand jobs, attract businesses, and develop a skilled workforce. WEDA offers professional development scholarships, training conferences, newsletters and publications, a reference library, list-serves, networking opportunities, a website, and lobbying efforts. For more information visit http://www.wyomingeda.org.
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Paula McCormick, 307-332-5546
Wyoming Economic Development Association
[email protected]