Elgin IL – On October 30, 2020, Ivan Baker, CEcD, AICP, FM retired as Director of the Illinois Basic Economic Development Course (IL BEDC) and appointed Chris Manheim to take over the BEDC Director responsibilities. The IL BEDC is administered through the Office of Online and Education Outreach at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUe) and is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
The BEDC provides a solid foundation for entry-level economic development practitioners, Basic Economic Development Courses serve as the equivalent to IEDC’s Introduction to Economic Development course in preparation for the IEDC Certification exam. Accreditation by IEDC ensures that each BEDC covers subject areas determined to be the core building blocks in any economic development organization. These courses are run independently from IEDC and independently from one another.
According to Ivan, “Chris is perfect to take over the directorship of the Illinois BEDC. No one is better prepared or qualified:
Chris Manheim’s biography –