Becky Nolan Completes Second Session at Prestigious University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute
5/5/2009
Becky Nolan, Economic Development Research and Program Manager at the MetroHartford Alliance, has completed her second session at the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute (OU/EDI) with support from the CEDAS Lisa Kolodziej Scholarship.
Along with 169 other economic development professionals from all over the United States, Nolan participated in an intensive 39-hour session in Oklahoma City, OK, April 18-23. OU/EDI is recognized as the leading global provider of core and continuing education for economic development professionals. The comprehensive curriculum is delivered by nationally recognized economic developers, site selectors, academics and private sector specialists.
OU/EDI classes focus on the three major core areas: Business Retention & Expansion, Real Estate and Finance, as well as areas of concentration in Marketing, Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurship, and Managing Economic Development Organizations. Students complete 117 hours of instruction selected from more than 50 seminars, workshops and discussion groups.
After completing three sessions, candidates are eligible to sit for a final exam for attainment of the CEcD designation. CEcD accreditation is rare, held by approximately 1500 individuals in the United States. Started in 1962, OU/EDI now has over 3400 graduates.
Ms. Nolan was the first recipient of the newly renamed CEDAS Lisa Kolodziej Scholarship Fund, a special tribute to Lisa Kolodziej, a treasured friend and former CEDAS Board Member, who we sadly lost this past December. Lisa was a dedicated economic development professional and was involved in a number of CEDAS committees, including serving as treasurer. Her work in Connecticut included the Capitol Region Growth Council and most recently Lisa was the Executive Director of the Smaller Manufacturers Association of Naugatuck. She always brought joy and energy to her efforts and was treasured by all who working with her. The CEDAS Scholarship Fund was renamed to assure that continued good will in the economic development community will be coupled with remembering Lisa for all the goodness and grace she epitomized.
