PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dr. Ioanna Morfessis was recognized last evening by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) with the Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The honor recognizes Dr. Morfessis for an esteemed career of empowering communities and companies to prosper and cites among her many accomplishments the founding of three best-of-class economic development organizations in the U.S.: Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Montgomery County (Maryland) Department of Economic Development.
“This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development,” says Jeff Finkle, IEDC President and CEO.
Dr. Morfessis currently leads an international consulting firm, IO.INC, which provides growth strategies to companies and communities.
In 1985, she was recruited to Phoenix to serve as the founding executive director of the Phoenix Economic Growth Corporation, the city’s first public-private partnership for economic development. She implemented Phoenix’s first formal economic development program, personally participating in attracting 42 new companies to the city, generating more than $2 billion in private capital investments and 8,000 new jobs.
During the economic recession of the early 1990s, she worked with private and public sector leaders to unify economic development efforts, founding the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. She led efforts to turn around Phoenix’s economy and helped retain and recruit 200 companies, which, combined, created over 165,000 new jobs.
“Many of us in the economic development have benefited from Ioanna’s contributions and innovations to our profession,” said Barry Broome, current GPEC president and CEO. “The impact of her work goes well beyond the markets she’s served. She created programs and tools adopted by communities in the U.S. as models for contemporary urban economic development.”
Prior to Phoenix, Dr. Morfessis guided the business expansion and location decision of more than 35 companies, creating more than 30,000 new direct jobs as the inaugural director of the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development. In 1997, she was recruited from Phoenix to serve as the first president of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore. In this role, she participated in the relocation, expansion or retention of 34 companies that generated $5.2 billion of new economic activity in Baltimore’s economy.
The IEDC is recognizing her collaborative spirit and accomplishments in economic development with the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in honor of Edward deLuca, a founder of the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED), a predecessor of IECD, who served as its first chair.
The International Economic Development Council represents the largest network of economic development professionals in the world, serving more than 4,500 members. Dr. Morfessis previously served as the chairman and is an honorary lifetime member.