Jonathan Smith

About Jonathan Smith

Certified economic developer with a track record for recruiting international companies. Experience creating and delivering community marketing materials at trade shows, to site selectors, and to targeted businesses. Proven ability to coordinate workforce development programs between businesses and educational institutions. Have implemented successful business retention and expansion programs resulting in the formation of new community initiatives. Developed and funded a five-year strategic plan that grew the organizations budget by fifty-five percent and engaged the community and investors at a higher level.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Yakima County Development Association

   Oct 2015 — Present · Yakima, WA, US

   Jonathan is a Certified Economic Developer with ten years of economic development experience. His key accomplishments include successful recruitment of national and international companies. He has also assisted local businesses with expansions and exporting projects. In total, Smith has helped with over a dozen companies locate or expand new operations. These companies have invested over $1.5 billion in facilities and equipment and have created approximately 1,100 jobs.Jon also has experience with infrastructure development and has helped secure over $25 million of grant and loan funding for needed infrastructure for job creating projects. This includes, rail, water, sewer, roads, electrical infrastructure and fiber optics. Some of Jon\'s most rewarding work has been coordinating workforce development programs between businesses and educational institutions. These training programs result in hundreds of local residents receiving the training and skills they need to be successful in local family wage jobs. Additionally Jon has worked with small businesses and rural communities to help develop main streets, and spur business growth in distressed areas.Smith is currently the Chair-Elect of the Washington Economic Development Association and a board member of the Washington Aerospace Partnership. He has a Master\'s Degree in Communication & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor\'s Degree in Public Communication with a minor in Economics from the University of Idaho.

Education

• Gonzaga University

  Masters of Communication & Leadership Studies, Communication, Leadership

  2008 — 2010

• Gonzaga University

  Master's degree, Communication and Leadership Studies

• University of Idaho

  Communication and Media Studies

• University of Idaho

  Bachelor of Science: Public Communication, Minor: Economics, Communication, Economics

  2000 — 2004

Skills

• Grants
• Event Planning
• Microsoft Office
• Fundraising
• Workforce Development
• Rural Development
• Main Street Programs
• Community Master Planning
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Program Management
• Video
• Graphic Design
• Foreign Trade Zone
• Business Planning
• Event Management
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Legislative Affairs
• Gis Systems
• Research
• Recruiting
• Staff Development
• Small Business Development
• Public Relations
• Project Management
• Marketing
• Budgets
• Community Development
• Public Speaking
• Public Works
• Strategic Planning
• Multimedia
• Budgeting
• Entrepreneurship
• Economic Development
• Proposal Writing
• Social Media
• Business Development