DON SMITH - INTENSIVE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT July 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.

Don Smith is currently the St. Clair County Economic Development Council, Executive Director. Mr. Smith is a graduate of Intensive Class 2005.

Q & A with Don

Job while attending the Intensive Program?

• Assistant Director of Economic Development, City of Auburn

Career highlights since graduating Intensive?

• Because of the knowledge I obtained from the class I was able to join the St. Clair County EDC team in 2007 as Assistant Director. In 2009, I was selected to lead this award-winning organization as the Executive Director. Since joining the EDC, we have announced over $1.3 billion in new project investments, 5,500 new jobs, and $160 million in new wages. We have also recently launched a new tourism initiative and grant resource center. Both recent programs have generated millions of new dollars in the form of grants and lodging tax for our communities.

Favorite thing about the Intensive course?

• Meeting other professionals in the field of economic development and learning from their experiences and their best practices.

Biggest lesson you learned through Intensive?

• The biggest lesson I learned was exposure to different ways organizations are successful in economic development and how to access that information. This would include the relationships with other professionals in the field.

Concepts learned in Intensive that you still use today?

• Deal structuring weekly and park development annually, but everything I learned from the course is used monthly.

How valuable were the connections you made during Intensive?

• I would not be in the position I am currently without the connections I made by attending the course. I am still in contact with many of those who attended the class with me and the speakers and instructors. I work with some of them monthly. I absolutely recommend attending the Intensive course to anyone considering it.