OAKLAND — Oakland Area Chamber Director Linda Ross Aldy was one of 45 participants to complete the True South Basic Economic Development Course through the University of Southern Mississippi’s Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship in partnership with the International Economic Development Council.
Participants came from Florida, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
“The course was intense. Our sessions and project work started early and ended late. We were divided into teams to try to recruit a specific industry. All the course work was geared toward teaching us the process of being ready to recruit, identifying businesses and industry to recruit, and going through the steps of negotiating and working with recruits,” Aldy said. “The instructors were excellent. The judges for the team recruitment were honest and tough. The course is geared for those who have less than five years of experience. I look forward to using this new knowledge to work with and through the town’s leadership, the county Board of Supervisors and the Yalobusha County Economic Development District.”
Aldy was awarded a full- tuition scholarship to attend by the Mississippi Economic Development Council, of which she is a member.
She also has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation through the American Society of Association Executives, a designation earned by roughly 5% of executives in the United States. There are only eight CAEs in Mississippi.
