Cd'A Area EDC's annual meeting on Tuesday

COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, formerly Jobs Plus, will hold its annual meeting Tuesday at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

The meeting comes at a time of transition for the 39-year-old economic development organization. Mysty Rusk, who became executive director in August, will be formally introduced and will share an early look at the organization’s direction and priorities for the coming year.

“This is an important moment for the EDC,” Rusk said. “We have an opportunity to be very intentional about what comes next for our organization and our region.”

The meeting will also include the election of officers, recognition of outgoing board leadership and several announcements involving the EDC and its regional partners.

“For nearly four decades, this organization has brought people together around the economic future of this region,” said Brad Marshall, Cd'A Area EDC board chair. “We have a strong foundation of success, committed investors and partners, and tremendous opportunities ahead of us. This meeting is both a chance to recognize that history and to begin looking forward.”

A featured portion of the program will bring together leaders from five regional colleges and universities for a conversation about the changing relationship between higher education, employers and the workforce.

Panelists will include Nick Swayne, president, North Idaho College; Kevin Brockbank, chancellor, Spokane Colleges; Katia Passerini, president, Gonzaga University; C. Scott Green, president, University of Idaho; Andrew Hanson, vice president for Student Affairs, Lewis-Clark State College.

Mike Kennedy, president and CEO of Intermax Networks, will moderate the discussion.

“The relationship between education and work is changing quickly,” Kennedy said. “This is an opportunity to hear directly from the people leading our regional institutions about what they are seeing and where employers and educators can work more effectively together.”

The program will also include an announcement from Spokane International Airport, and one attendee will receive two round-trip tickets from Spokane to Honolulu courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

The meeting is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.cdaedc.org.