The Network
The SEDE Network is a forum for top State economic development and commerce officials — including secretaries, commissioners, agency CEOs and executive directors — and their deputies to exchange information, learn from one another, and advance the practice and impact of economic development across the nation. This website is built to support the work of these executives.
Click below for a full list of leaders across the country.
The Steering Committee
The Network’s activities and direction are governed informally by a Steering Committee of State executives.
Sandra Watson
SEDE Chair
CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority
Clint O’Neal
SEDE Vice Chair
Executive Director, Arkansas Inc.
Quentin Messer
Chief Executive Officer
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Michelle Hataway
Director
Missouri Department of Economic Development
Kevin McKinnon
Deputy Commissioner of Economic Dev.
MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development
Thomas Burns
Executive Director
Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Hope Knight
President, CEO, and Commissioner
Empire State Development
Christopher Chung
Chief Executive Officer
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Sophorn Cheang
Director
Business Oregon
Ashely Teasdel
Deputy Secretary of Commerce
South Carolina Department of Commerce
Andrew Deye
Vice President
JobsOhio
Adriana Cruz
Executive Director
Texas Economic Development & Tourism – Office of the Governor
The SEDE Network engages in regular activities and events throughout the year to include:
- In-person meetings
- Periodic webinars
- Producing white papers on relevant topics
- Commenting as a group on federal regulatory or other policy proposals
- Tracking the impact on states of federal policies
- Other activities determined to be of interest to network members