The Pennsylvania Economic Development Association has named Jaime Marie Whalen, Vice President and Chief of Staff at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), to its Board of Directors. 

The association, known as PEDA, advocates to state legislators and other policymakers about economic development-related issues and provides its 400 members with resources and opportunities that position Pennsylvania to retain, grow, and attract businesses and jobs.

“I am pleased to be chosen to join the PEDA board of Directors. I look forward in working together with other economic development professionals across the state to work on common initiatives and policy that strengthens our profession and contributes to the growth and prosperity of the Lehigh Valley and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Whalen said.

Whalen joined LVEDC in 2013. She is responsible for developing organizational strategy, providing leadership, and building relationships to ensure LVEDC’s operations align with its mission.

She works with the President & CEO in developing and executing LVEDC’s fundraising strategy and managing investor relations, as well as Board of Directors relations and corporate governance. She manages operations including human resources, information systems, and financial functions, and LVEDC’s finance group. 

PEDA’s membership is comprised of county and regional economic developers, state government economic development employees, utility and transportation executives, industrial development authority directors, operators of industrial and technology incubators, chamber of commerce executives, municipal directors of community and economic development, engineering and construction executives, economic development finance professionals, commercial and industrial developers, and local, county, and state elected officials.

The association hosts conferences, seminars, workshops, and other educational opportunities for economic development professionals and their partners to enhance their professional knowledge and expertise, and to network and share best practices. 

Whalen will serve on the PEDA Board of Directors through the end of 2027.