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MEDA is a professional society-style membership association for individual members to build their skills and abilities in economic development. Click here to visit our Join MEDA page.

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EDO's with at least one MEDA member have the opportunity to receive about 50 hours of digital education, training, and networking opportunities via MEDA's Webinar Subscription Service. Subscribers pay a single fee for their entire staff to register for upcoming webinars, access on-demand recordings of webinars, and access hours of recorded bonus material. Click here to become a subscriber.

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MEDA Mentorship Connection

MEDA's Emerging Leaders Network is pleased to offer the MEDA Mentorship Connection program.

Through the program, emerging leaders with an active interest in a career in economic development will have the opportunity to spend time with a mentor, learning about economic development in Michigan. Early-career economic developers can explore other areas within the field to gain a better understanding of how to create successful partnerships with them. The goal of this volunteer program is to be mutually beneficial for both parties and to foster long-term relationships.

Why Participate?

Benefits of participating for the mentor:

• Renews enthusiasm for the economic development profession
• Obtain a greater understanding of the different challenges and barriers experienced with emerging leaders entering the economic development profession
• Enhances skills in coaching, counseling, listening, and leadership
• Demonstrates expertise and shares knowledge of the core economic development competencies
• Helps identify and correct generational issues
• Because it is our duty to help the next generational workforce!  

Benefits of participating for the mentee:

• Gain career development opportunities
• Help with the transition to a full-time career
• Opportunity to share new and different perspectives
• Be inspired to pursue a career in economic development
• Get a better understanding of what additional knowledge, skills or training is needed to pursue a career in economic development

You Get a Coupon!

Because it is important to further introduce emerging leaders to the profession and reward mentors for their time, all mentor and mentee participants will get a coupon to attend one of our day programs - Capitol Day, either Toolbox or the Emerging Leaders Spring Training. The coupon can also be used for a discount off of the Annual Meeting or the Economic Development Basic Course.

Who Can Participate

Anyone with an active interest in an economic development career can participate.

Typical candidates include, but are not limited to, the following:

• college students
• those in the early stages of their career in economic development that want a better feel for work in other areas of the industry

When You Can Participate

This program is open all year.

How to Participate

I want to be a mentor.

Connect me to a mentor!

Questions?

Conact the MEDA office at 517-241-0011 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Michigan Economic Development Links

Whether you are looking to start a business, take a vacation, hire an environmental firm, or find talent, MEDA's members and partners have got you covered! If you cannot find what you need, please contact the MEDA staff.

Airport-Based Organizations

Architecture/Engineering Firms

Business Finance Organizations

Business Incubators

Chambers of Commerce

Cities

Community Development 

Convention and Visitors Bureaus

Councils of Governments

Counties

Data/Research

Downtown Development Organizations

Economic Development Consultants

Economic Development Organizations

Educational Institutions

Environmental Firms

Foreign Trade Zones

Foundations

Law Firms

Local Development Finance Authorities

Marketing Firms

Planning Commissions

Port Authorities

Publications

Railroads

Real Estate/Property Development Companies

SmartZones

Statewide Agencies and Organizations

Townships

Tribal Organizations

Utilities and Infrastructure Companies

Villages

Workforce and Talent Development Organizations

Others Involved in Economic Development

MEDA Mentorship Connection - Mentors

There are emerging leaders that are eager to learn from you!

Help build a future leader so they can gain the knowledge and insight that is needed for success in the field.

Ideas for Connecting With a Mentee

Being a mentor does not have to take up a large amount of your time.

Here are some ideas:

• Allow them to job shadow with you for a day
• Connect on LinkedIn and chat
• Meet for lunch
• Schedule a phone call

What to Know First

• The program must facilitate a mutually fulfilling relationship between the mentees and the mentors wherein both parties serve as beneficiary and contributor.
• Act as an advocate for promoting and recruiting other professionals.
• There must be direct interaction with mentees. Sitting behind a desk processing paperwork is not an acceptable Mentorship Connection program activity.

How to Become a Mentor

Email Cassandra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to express your interest in being a mentor. We will contact you when there are candidates in your area and provide their resume. You can accept or decline the mentee at that time. Declines will be confidential.

After the Connection

MEDA will reach out to you about a month after the initial connection is made. We may ask you to complete a short survey or write a paragraph about your experience.