Kenny McDonald, president and CEO of One Columbus, the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus, Ohio, Region, was recently elected chair of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) at the organization’s Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. McDonald will serve in the position starting January 2020 for a one-year term.
IEDC’s mission is to help economic developers do their jobs more effectively, and to raise the profile of the profession. The organization provides information on best practices and trends, professional development, networking opportunities and more. With more than 5,000 members from communities around the world, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind.
“We look forward to Kenny’s leadership as chairman and are confident that his deep experience in economic development and his diverse business background will ensure great accomplishments in 2020 and beyond,” said Jeffrey Finkle, CEcD, president and CEO of IEDC. “Kenny has served the organization and profession for many years and his election to chairman is well earned.”
McDonald currently serves as the vice chair of IEDC and served as chair of external member relations on IEDC’s Governance Committee prior to that. In this new role he will focus on supporting IEDC’s core mission of professional excellence, resilient communities and diversity within the economic development profession.
“Economic Development is not just a profession, but a personal passion. The membership of the IEDC consists of thousands of talented people across the world who are changing lives and transforming their communities in positive and tangible ways,” said Kenny McDonald, president and CEO of One Columbus. “I am honored to serve as the chairman of such an important organization.”
McDonald has served as president and chief economic officer of One Columbus, formerly Columbus 2020, since the organization’s inception in 2010. He has helped lead the Columbus Region’s regional overall strategy for growth and prosperity. With more than 25 years of economic development and site selection consulting experience, he has held positions in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Mexico and, most recently, Columbus, Ohio. In addition, he was also a principal consultant at Fluor’s Global Locations Strategies unit, working with companies to evaluate locations across North America, China and Europe for seven years.
McDonald holds the professional designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), and serves on several boards in the Columbus Region, including the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Collaboratory, Experience Columbus, SciTech and Transportation Research Center. He resides with his wife and three children in New Albany, Ohio.
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