HEDC Leader Earns Prestigious Credential

The International Economic Development Council Proudly Awards Erica Adams the Certified Economic Developer Designation

After months of studying, coursework, a written exam and oral interview, an economic development leader is now even more prepared to help Hancock County prosper.

Erica Adams, Community Development Manager for the Hancock Economic Development Council, has earned her Certified Economic Developer credential, denoting a mastery of skills in economic development and a dedication to personal and professional growth. This milestone marks a significant achievement and underscores Adams’ commitment to excellence in the field of economic development.

Adams joined the HEDC’s staff in October 2023, continuing an active career in community development.

“I fell in love with economic development when I came into Hancock County,” she said. “But a lot of my previous work experience was on the community development side, and so I wanted to expand my knowledge and understanding of the differences and make sure that I had a full comprehensive understanding of economic development–setting myself up for success in this role and making sure that I could help Hancock County as best as possible.”

A Rigorous Benchmark of Excellence

Established by the International Economic Development Council, the Certified Economic Developer credential is a prestigious acknowledgement of skilled and committed professionals in the field of economic development, establishing a benchmark of excellence within the industry. To attain this designation, candidates must successfully complete a rigorous and comprehensive examination, consisting of three parts and spanning two days. This examination assesses a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency, judgement, and critical thinking abilities in the various areas of economic development.

The certification requires at least four consecutive years of paid full-time economic development work experience within the past six years. It also calls for attendance at four Core Competency Courses: a Basic Economic Development Course as well as courses on Business Retention and Expansion, Economic Development Credit Analysis, and Real Estate Development and Reuse.

Adams completed the Basic Course in Muncie in May 2024 and later that fall started online courses in Business Retention and Expansion as well as Real Estate Development and Reuse. She attended the Credit Analysis course and a Certified Economic Developer Exam Essentials Workshop in person at Oklahoma University.

Certification applicants must also attend two elective training courses, and Adams chose Managing Economic Development Organizations and Workforce Development Strategies.

“I was excited about the opportunity to broaden my knowledge around economic development and my understanding of the greater role that it plays within a community,” she said. “And I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of knowledge and access to understanding different tools that we can utilize.”

The exam for the certification is made up of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions drawn from the courses’ extensive training manuals.

Adams read those manuals cover to cover while taking copious notes in preparation for the test, studied with flashcards, and even uploaded digital versions of the manuals into an artificial intelligence platform that created study tools for her. She also wrote timed practice essays, and was able to fit her studies into her busy schedule of full-time work and being a mom.

“Basically anywhere I went, if I had five minutes I was opening my phone and doing a few flash cards,” she said.

Adams is also grateful for support from an economic development colleague with an electric power provider who became a Certified Economic Developer last year and provided her with study guidance as well as feedback on her practice essays.

With a pass rate around 40%, Adams admitted she was nervous awaiting her exam results, but was ultimately delighted to learn she’d passed. She wasn’t done yet, however, as she needed to pass an interview by a panel of Certified Economic Developers before joining their ranks.

The panel that interviewed Adams was made up of three Certified Economic Developers from different communities across the country and at different stages in their careers. Their questions sought insights into the HEDC’s role in the community as well as the county’s economic base and how it impacts the HEDC’s mission.

“They were very detailed and were wanting to understand both our organization’s role but also specifically my own actions and experience,” Adams said.

HEDC Executive Director Randy Sorrell noted Adams is the second HEDC employee to earn the certification in the organization's history after the late Skip Kuker, who led the HEDC from 2012 to 2018.

“It’s fantastic work on her part, and it raises the level of professionalism in our office,” Sorrell said.

Certified Economic Developers operate as highly skilled economic development professionals and collaborate with public officials, business leaders, and community members to establish astute leadership and serve as a driving force in the economic development landscape. Their commitment to excellence translates into a profound impact on well-being, elevating the quality of life and unlocking myriad opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities alike.

A Select Cohort

Adams was among 37 individuals to earn the certification following an examination process conducted in July 2025, and is now one of over 1,250 Certified Economic Developers worldwide.

“Becoming a Certified Economic Developer isn’t just a credential, it’s a career-defining milestone that demonstrates a professional’s dedication to elevating their expertise and their community impact,” said International Economic Development Council President and CEO Nathan Ohle. “Certified Economic Developers possess deep technical knowledge and bring trust and credibility to stakeholders, investors, and peers. We are thrilled to celebrate Erica Adams on achieving this accomplishment and joining our network of professionals driving economic progress around the world.”

Adams looks forward to applying the knowledge she gained about economic development in Hancock County and noted the international nature of her certification means the tools she learned about are fairly broad in order to apply to a wide range of communities.

“I’m excited to see how we can dig in and help take some of these broader ideas and shape them into something that is workable and helpful for Hancock County specifically,” she said.

Learn more about Adams' approach to community and economic development in Episode 5 of the Hancock on the Horizon podcast, “How to Human, with Erica Adams.”