10:00am APWA Arizona Board of Directors Meeting (Open to all Members)
11:30:am Registration and Networking
11:50am Welcome by APWA President Nancy Cole
12:00pm Update on projects from municipalities
12:10pm Program
1:00pm Adjourn
One Professional Development Hour will be provided.
$35/Members and $45/Non Members through March 15th.
**Prices increase $20.00 after March 15th**
Pay at the door option available
Speakers
Nick Juszczak
Nick Juszczak joined the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development in January 2021 and currently serves as Project Manager. Nick is responsible for management and site management at the City of Mesa’s Arizona Laboratories for Security & Defense Research facility, including business attraction, expansion, and lease negotiations. In addition, he works with developers to bring new product to Mesa and helps to move them through the entitlement process. Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Nick worked with CBRE Labor Analytics as a Site Selection Consultant. He specialized in labor market analysis, including workforce longevity, scalability, and development strategies for corporations. Former clients include Alorica, Bank of America, Charter/Spectrum, General Motors, Hyatt, Kohls, MetLife, and Royal Bank of Canada. Nick is a native of Arizona and graduated from University of Arizona in Tucson with a B.S. in Business Management. He also played golf collegiately and pursued his dream of playing professionally after graduation. Today, he continues playing golf competitively at an amateur level and can often be found competing in Arizona Golf Association events around the State. Working in Downtown Mesa allows Nick access to some local restaurants that have excellent desserts. Main Street Sweets and Novel Ice Cream are two of his favorites.
Doreen Cott
Town of Queen Creek, an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO)
Economic Development Director
Professional Information: Doreen Cott is the Economic Development Director for the Town of Queen Creek. She actively works to diversify and strengthen Queen Creek’s economic base through business attraction, a focus on small business development, support of entrepreneurs in the community and a robust tourism program. In addition to Economic Development, Doreen oversees Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre. Doreen has been with the Town over seventeen years, and has been working in the economic development field for 25 years.
Professional History: Prior to joining Queen Creek, Doreen worked for eight years in the Town of Gilbert’s Economic Development Department as a Business Development Specialist.
Activities and Achievements: She is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and is a member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED, International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). She currently serves on the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Queen Creek Cultural Foundation and Positive Paths Executive Board.
Education: Doreen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University, a Masters in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a MBA from Benedictine University.
Wendy Bridges
With nearly three decades of experience in county and municipal government, Wendy Bridges has served communities throughout Arizona.
Wendy was honored as the 2018 Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), and won Golden Prospector awards for Marketing, Website, and Deal of the Year.
In addition to active memberships with key industry associations, Wendy is a board member for Greater Maricopa Foreign Trade Zone (GMFTZ) and serves on the President’s Community Advisory Council for Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC). She is currently serving as the Past President for AAED and has a seat on its Governmental Affairs committee. Past leadership roles included the Economic Development Council for Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), Yavapai County Workforce Development Board, two terms as chair of AAED Northern Committee, chair of the AAED Finance Committee, chair of the NACOG Tourism Committee, Prescott Area Leadership Board of Directors, and founding Board member for Prescott Area Young Professionals.
Wendy is designated as an Arizona Economic Development Professional (AZED Pro) from AAED, licensed in real estate, holds a degree in Management from Yavapai College, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with B.A. in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University.
