Developing Tomorrow’s Economic Leaders: MEDA’s CEcD Mentorship Program
MEDA offers Mentorship support to members who are interested in pursuing their Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation. MEDA’s Mentorship Program offers the opportunity for those who are new to economic development or looking to take their career to the next level to seek guidance from others within the industry. The program matches mentors and mentees based on expertise, needs, and geographic location. MEDA’s mentors also offer tips, guidance, and practice exam questions for those planning to take the CEcD exam.
Economic development has evolved far beyond traditional recruitment and business attraction. Practitioners now navigate workforce shortages, housing constraints, broadband expansion, entrepreneurship ecosystems, redevelopment, and regional competitiveness. The profession demands leaders with technical expertise and strategic insight, which is why the CEcD credential from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) stands as the benchmark for excellence.
The CEcD is the most widely recognized professional certification in the field and reflects mastery across core competencies such as business retention and expansion, real estate redevelopment, finance and credit analysis, marketing and attraction, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and organizational management. Candidates complete prerequisite coursework and pass a rigorous two-day examination that tests applied knowledge, strategic thinking, and professional judgment. The credential demonstrates commitment to the profession and to the communities served.
Certification matters because the CEcD establishes professional credibility, signaling mastery of essential knowledge and the ability to work effectively across a multidisciplinary environment. The credential also supports career advancement, as Director-level economic development positions across the country frequently list CEcD as preferred, reflecting its role as a standard of readiness and expertise. CEcDs often earn higher salaries than non-certified peers because employers recognize and reward advanced training and demonstrated competency. Communities benefit as well, gaining strategists trained in national best practices, leaders capable of managing complex projects, and representatives who bring credibility to regional, state, and federal partnerships, strengths that enhance competitiveness for grants, investment, and business attraction. Certification functions as both a professional achievement and a community asset.
“The CEcD is the profession’s gold-standard credential, demonstrating mastery of the broad and complex knowledge required in economic development. Earning it reflects a deep commitment to the field and the ability to meet rigorous national standards that few achieve. Certification matters because it signals proven expertise, credibility, and readiness to lead communities toward meaningful economic progress,” said Jonathan Horowitz, Director of Business and Economic Development, Washington County.
Economic development grows more competitive each year. Communities must differentiate themselves, respond to rapid economic shifts, and demonstrate readiness to investors and partners. A CEcD at the helm signals professionalism, competency, commitment, and credibility, clear indicators that a community invests in leadership aligned with national standards.
Maryland’s CEcDs serve in city, county, state, and quasi-governmental roles, demonstrating the credential’s relevance across diverse organizational settings. These professionals may also be found within regional councils, utilities, chambers of commerce, private consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations, reinforcing that the CEcD extends well beyond government and remains valuable across the full spectrum of the economic development ecosystem.
Maryland has a strong cohort of CEcDs within MEDA, and this is where you’ll find the professionals who actively shape economic development across the state.
- Baltimore City
- Carroll County
- Charles County
- City of Frederick
- City of Gaithersburg
- City of Greenbelt
- Eastport Partners
- Economic Development Initiatives Group
- First Energy/Potomac Edison
- Foundation of Hope
- Frederick County
- Howard County
- Kent County
- Maryland Clean Energy Center
- Maryland Department of Commerce
- MEDCO
- Montgomery County
- PPR Strategies
- Prince George’s County
- Talbot County
- Washington County
“I earned my CEcD 20 years ago”, said Laurie Babb, Director of Strategic Projects at MEDCO and MEDA Past President. “The certification has helped me get pay raises, interviews for job promotions and new opportunities, and has led to great networking with fellow CEcDs across the country through IEDC. If you plan to stay in the economic development industry, I strongly encourage you to follow the path for certification.”
We encourage you to use your MEDA membership to help advance your economic development career. Not a member, join here https://www.medamd.com/membership/. For more information about MEDA, visit https://www.medamd.com/ or call Pam Ruff, Executive Director, 410-347-1246.
