Jonathan Jank is wearing a new pin, one that shows his designation as one of just 1,200 Certified Economic Developers in the world.
Jank serves as president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership. He earned the certification from the International Economic Development Council in September.
“I’m honored and humbled to be part of this group of practitioners,” Jank said.
According to the council, the designation represents a mastery of skills in economic development and a dedication to personal and professional growth.
“This milestone marks a significant achievement and underscores Jonathan’s commitment to excellence in the field of economic development,” the council said in a press release.
Jank said he began the international certification process on Jan. 2.
He spent nine months studying and memorizing six different manuals before taking a three-part exam Sept. 16-17 in Dallas, Texas.
“Forty-three (people) sat for it, and there were only 10 that passed,” Jank said. “I feel very privileged to be a part of that.”
He arrived for the first day of testing at 6:45 a.m., then waited all day to see if he scored well enough to continue to the third section.
“I’m so grateful to be on the other side of it,” Jank said. “It was a very interesting process.”
The exams measure a candidate’s knowledge, judgement and critical thinking ability across 11 areas:
• business retention and expansion
• finance and credit analysis
• marketing and attraction
• strategic planning
• entrepreneurial and small business development
• managing economic development organizations
• neighborhood development strategies
• real estate development and reuse
• technology-led economic development
• workforce development strategies
• foreign direct investment and exporting
Jank, a graduate of Concordia University Nebraska, has worked in economic development for nearly 12 years.
“Jonathan has exemplified vision and determination in his role as president and CEO, leading Seward County to be the ninth-fastest growing county in Nebraska over the past decade,” the council said. “This has been accomplished through multiple public-private sector partnerships including business, housing, childcare, and broadband development projects that have led to hundreds of millions of dollars in new countywide investments and hundreds of new local jobs being created and retained.”
Jank earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business Administration from CU and his Executive Development Certificate through the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.
He also completed training at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management and was named the Nebraska Economic Developers Association’s 2019 Professional of the Year in the community category.
In 2021, Jank led the SCCDP to become an Accredited Chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is one of only six Accredited Chambers in Nebraska and one of less than 200 in the U.S. out of approximately 7,000.
In 2022, Jank was named CU’s Young Alumnus of the Year.
“Thank you for the SCCDP board’s and staff’s support throughout my nine months of studying and testing,” Jank said. “I’m also thankful for my faithful support system across the country and especially at home who encouraged me throughout the process.”
Jank said he was overwhelmed by the amount of support he received from fellow developers and colleagues.
“That’s what I love about the industry, it really feels like a family,” he said. “We’re all here to support each other and help grow the state together.”
