CHRISTOPHER BONTRAGER - INTENSIVE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT September 2024

Jennifer Ryan

As GEDI celebrates its 40th class of the Intensive Economic Development Training Course, we have been chatting with some of our course alumni to learn where they are now and how their participation in the program has impacted their professional careers.

Christopher Bontrager currently serves as the Vice President of Retail Development for the East Montgomery County Texas Improvement District. Mr. Bontrager is a graduate of Intensive Class 2015.

Q & A with Christopher

Job while attending the Intensive Program?

• I was a graduate student within the Auburn Public Administration program. My degree focus was in economic development, which provided the opportunity to attend the Intensive Course.

Career highlights since graduating Intensive?

• Since graduating the Intensive course, I have served in many local and regional economic development capacities, and as a retail focused economic development consultant. As a consultant I worked with communities across the country to bolster their quality of life and placemaking initiatives. Most recently, I have moved back into the public sector to assume the role of Vice President of Retail Development for the East Montgomery County Improvement District located in Montgomery County, TX. The District is comprised of 158 square miles just north of the City of Houston and is charged with fostering economic and community development throughout the area of operations.

Favorite thing about the Intensive course?

• Meeting a diverse range of professionals in economic development as well as those that affect economic development from other professional fields.

Biggest lesson you learned through Intensive?

• The magnitude of effort that it takes to ensure the positive growth of the communities that we love.

Concepts learned in Intensive that you still use today?

• Strategic planning, land use strategies, assembling incentive packages, building consensus among stakeholders to create positive growth.

Are you still in contact with people you met through Intensive?

• I am in contact with people that I met through the course almost on a weekly basis. The professional and personal bonds that were formed through the program have propelled my career in ways that I could have never imagined.

What would you tell someone who is considering going through Intensive but not sure if they can make the time or financial commitment?

• The program is absolutely worth the time and expense. I would not be where I am today without the opportunity I had to attend the Intensive Course and the mentorship from Dr. Joe Sumners and Amelia Stehouwer.