Jessica Erickson named CEO of Longmont Area Economic Council

LONGMONT – Jessica L. Erickson, a longtime leader in economic-development efforts in the region, has been named president and chief executive of the Longmont Area Economic Council.

LAEC board chairman Dave Humenik, who made the announcement on Thursday, said Erickson’s first day on the job will be Feb. 17.

Erickson has been senior industry development manager for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and previously worked in economic-development roles with the city of Thornton and the Broomfield Economic Development Corp. She left the Broomfield post for Thornton in 2011. A certified economic developer, she recently served on the Economic Development Council of Colorado’s board of directors.

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“I am excited to serve the Longmont community as president and CEO of LAEC,” said Erickson in a media statement. “The city, LAEC, and all of its stakeholders have positioned the community very well for success through investments in infrastructure and planning, and I look forward to working with the board and all of our partners to leverage these investments into long-term economic development opportunities for Longmont, its businesses and its citizens.”

LAEC vice president Wendi Nafziger, who has worked for 33 years for the organization, has been serving as interim director since the resignation of John Cody in 2013.

Erickson’s appointment is the second major hire for LAEC this month. Late last week it announced that it named Janine Ledingham to fill its newly created post of small-business director. She worked most recently at the Boulder Small Business Development Center, and will head up the small-business operations that the LAEC is taking over from the city of Longmont when she begins her new job on Jan. 26.

The LAEC is a nonprofit, public/private organization founded in 1981 and formerly known as the Economic Development Association of Longmont. Governed by a 15-member board of directors, its funders include the city of Longmont, Boulder County and Platte River Power Authority as well as more than 150 private-sector partners.