BEDFORD, Ind. (June 12, 2017) – Radius Indiana is proud to announce that Chief Operating Officer Joe Timbrook graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute May 4, 2017 at the OU EDI Spring session held in San Antonio, Texas.

The OU EDI Spring session is an intensive week long, three-tier program that provides a broad spectrum of advanced education for the economic development professional. It is the final education installment for students who have completed a total of 117 hours of instruction with curriculum selected from more than 50 seminars, workshops and discussion groups.

Timbrook becomes one of only three area leaders to graduate from the esteemed program. Bedford Mayor Shawna Girgis and Martin County Alliance Executive Director Tim Kinder have also completed the program. Timbrook will now prepare to test for the economic development industry’s nationally recognized designation as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).

“Completing this program is no small undertaking and is a true testament to Joe’s commitment to economic development,” said Radius Indiana President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “We are so fortunate to have Joe as part of our team — his enthusiasm and dedication for the region are evident in all he does at Radius.”

OU EDI classes focus on three major core areas including: Business Retention and Expansion, Real Estate, and Finance, as well as areas of concentration in Marketing, Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurship, and Managing Economic Development Organizations.

OU EDI Dean Peter Abramo said, “As the premier organization dedicated to training economic development professionals, I am very pleased with this year’s graduates. They represent some of the finest economic development practitioners in the U.S. working to support their local communities. My congratulations to them.”

Beginning in 1962, OU EDI is celebrating its 54thyear of service to the economic development community. Fully accredited by the International Economic Development Council, the program has trained over 4,000 graduates and remains the world’s leading economic development teacher.

ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Support Activity Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.