ONE EAST KENTUCKY’S IVY STANLEY GRADUATES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Stanley Recently Promoted to Director, Regional Development for Nine County Region

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 16, 2020) – One East Kentucky’s Ivy Stanley graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute on November 5. OU EDI is an intensive 117-hour certificate program providing advanced education opportunities for economic development professionals across the world. OU EDI began in 1962 and is fully accredited by the International Economic Development Council.

“OU EDI is the premier organization dedicated to training economic development professionals,” said OU EDI Dean Mark James. “These graduates represent some of the finest economic development practitioners in the U.S. working to support their local communities. My congratulations to them.”

“As a graduate of this program myself, I can attest to the value it brings our local professionals,” said Chuck Sexton, President and CEO of One East Kentucky.  “We are very proud of Ivy’s accomplishment and know that it will only continue to strengthen our team.”

OU EDI courses focus on three major core areas including: Business Retention and Expansion, Real Estate, and Credit Analysis, as well as areas of concentration in Workforce Development, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurship and Managing Economic Development Organizations.

In October, Stanley was promoted to Director of Regional Development for One East Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky’s first-ever 100-percent privately funded regional economic development organization responsible for spearheading the growth and diversification of eastern Kentucky’s economic base through recruiting new industry, jobs and investment to Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Perry and Pike counties.

“I am proud to be a part of a program that has certified over 5,500 economic development professionals since its founding,” said Stanley. “I am especially proud to have seen so many Eastern Kentuckians take advantage of the course offerings through OU EDI. This year has been a trying time for everyone as we work to pivot our day-to-day lives. Economic development is no different and the work we all are doing will help ensure the country’s economic resiliency and recovery over the next several years.”

Out of eight Kentuckians attending OU EDI this fall, five were from Eastern Kentucky. In addition to Stanley, Josh Ball (SOAR), Joe Jacobs (Big Sandy Area Development District), Colby Kirk (One Harlan County), and Bob Shurtleff (AEP – Kentucky Power) attended the virtual institute. One Harlan County’s Colby Kirk also graduated from OU EDI this fall.

For more information about One East Kentucky, please visit www.oneeastky.com.

About One East Kentucky:

Established in 2015 as east Kentucky’s Center of Economic Development Excellence, One East Kentucky is a 501(c)3 regional economic development organization responsible for spearheading the growth and diversification of eastern Kentucky’s economic base through recruiting new industry, jobs and investment to the heart of Appalachia. Since 2016, One East Kentucky has announced over 1,000 new jobs and $154.6 million in capital investment. For more information about One East Kentucky, the nine-county region, industrial properties, workforce development, incentives or other economic development resources, visit www.oneeastky.com. Follow One East Kentucky at facebook.com/oneeastky, on Twitter @OneEastKY and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Ivy Stanley
Director, Regional Development
606-889-4789
ivy@oneeastky.com