TAWANNA RPBINSON - INTENSIVE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT October 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.

Tawanna Howard currently serves as the Project Manager for the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship. Ms. Robinson is a graduate of Intensive Class 2024 - The 40^th Class.

Q & A with Tawanna

Career highlights since graduating Intensive:

• I just completed the class in September of 2024, but the knowledge I gained through the Intensive course has already given me a fresh perspective on my role as a project manager. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to be more effective in my work, and I look forward to building relationships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration with the connections I made during the course.

Favorite thing about the Intensive course:

• Learning how the work that we all do is connected and impacts economic development.

Biggest lesson you learned through Intensive:

• The biggest lesson I learned, or rather had reinforced during the Intensive, is that relationships are crucial. Being connected to community organizations, local and state leaders, legislators, government agencies, and educational systems is essential to fostering a strong economic ecosystem. To achieve this, we must understand how each of these pieces fits together, recognize the value they bring, and collaborate effectively to move Alabama forward.
  
  As a recent graduate, I haven't had the chance to fully apply everything I've learned just yet. However, I'm already seeing the impact that a deeper understanding of economic development has on our work, especially in shaping our programs and the policies that guide them.

How do you plan to leverage the contacts you made during the program?

• I recently completed the class and had the opportunity to connect with incredible individuals from various community, education, and government organizations. I've already started setting up meetings to explore how we can collaborate and become valuable resources for one another as we work to positively impact the lives of our citizens and the communities they live in. I know that these connections will prove to be invaluable as we look for ways to partner and enhance our efforts.

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

• The time and financial commitment to the Intensive Economic Development Training Course is absolutely worth it. The knowledge you gain, the connections you make, and the understanding of how various sectors—community, government, and education—work together to drive economic growth are invaluable. It equips you with tools and insights that will make you more effective in your role and opens doors for collaboration that can greatly benefit your career and the communities you serve. The long-term impact far outweighs the initial investment.

We know you’re a recent graduate and haven’t had much time to incorporate everything you’ve learned. Do you have any other take aways or final thoughts about the time you spent completing the Intensive program at Auburn University?

• The Intensive Economic Development Training Course at Auburn University has given me a fresh perspective on my role as a Project Manager with the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship. The program reinforced the importance of building relationships with community organizations, government agencies, and educational systems to create a thriving economic ecosystem. I’ve already begun applying what I learned by collaborating with the incredible connections I made during the course. The training has empowered me to be more effective in my work, and I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for partnering to positively impact Alabama’s communities.