MADISON – Brenda Hicks-Sorensen, vice president of economic and community development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, has been selected to receive the President’s Award from the Site Selectors Guild to recognize her leadership in economic development.
The membership of The Site Selectors Guild today announced the winners of the first annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards. The Guild awards recognize individuals and organizations for their contributions to investment attraction and job creation in their respective communities.
Hicks-Sorensen joined the WEDC in June 2011. Prior to joining the WEDC, she was the President of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation from 2006-2011. Hicks-Sorensen serves on the Wisconsin Economic Development Association Board of Directors, including as past president-elect, and has served on various economic and workforce development Boards and Committees.
“We are thrilled at this opportunity to formally recognize economic development professionals that are important to the site selection field,” said Don Schjeldahl of The Austin Company and Guild Award Committee Chair. “Without the efforts of economic development professionals, it would be virtually impossible for site selectors to do our job.”
“Economic development project partners sometimes go far beyond the call of duty,” added Schjeldahl. “When this occurs, goods things generally result for the community, the site selector and corporate clients. It’s time site selectors acknowledge these good works, and that is the intent of the awards.”
“Guild members believe these folks don’t get the credit they deserve,” said Robert Ady of Ady International Company and president of the Guild. “This is an extremely competitive industry, so when we come across organizations and teams who do extraordinary work, we truly appreciate their professionalism.”
The Guild Awards are comprised of five categories defined using a formula involving population size and jurisdictional responsibilities. The Awards recognize best practice work in the following segments; Small Town EDO (economic development organization), County EDO, Metropolitan Area EDO, State EDO, and Special Jurisdiction EDO.
Hicks-Sorensen will be presented the award at the awards dinner taking place in conjunction with the Site Selectors Guild Conference January 22-24 in Orlando, Fla.
About The Site Selectors Guild
The Site Selectors Guild is a professional association comprised of the world’s most respected site selection consultants. The mission of The Site Selectors Guild is to advance the profession of international corporate site selection by promoting the profession and providing education, networking and other services to those involved in the industry.
All members of The Site Selectors Guild have been nominated and approved by their industry peers. As the first and only group of its kind, the Site Selectors Guild brings together a dynamic network of site selectors from around the world, combining their talent and expertise to create an invaluable resource, unmatched in its quality, for both corporations seeking site selection assistance and economic development organizations.
Founded in 2010 by 12 internationally acclaimed site selectors, The Guild facilitates direct contact between corporations seeking guidance in facility placement and qualified site selection practitioners. For more information, see www.siteselectorsguild.com.
The WEDC is Wisconsin’s lead economic development agency.
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