Golden Triangle LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said in his profession, a Certified Economic Developer designation from the International Economic Development Council is “kind of the holy grail.”

Counting his own, Higgins has three such “holy grails” in his office.

This week the LINK announced that Chief Operating Officer Meryl Fisackerly and Vice President of Economic Development Betsy Young both earned their CEcDs.

“I think when you’re dealing with site consultants and they see that credential, it brings a whole new level of credibility to it,” Higgins said.

The process of obtaining a CEcD designation requires substantial professional experience, as well as completing extensive coursework and several rounds of tests, including both written and oral components.

According to the CEcD’s website, about 1,200 people worldwide have earned the certification. Only 16 of those are in Mississippi, meaning the LINK holds almost 20% of them.

That’s not an accident, Higgins said.

“Everybody that works for (the LINK) has a personal development plan,” Higgins said. “When you start here, we sit down with you and outline a plan and what courses you’re going to take and when you’re going to take them, the whole nine yards.”

Working toward a CEcD is “absolutely” part of that roadmap, Higgins said.

“That level of expertise is what people expect (from the LINK),” Higgins said. “I think it brings more legitimacy to us as an organization.”

According to the IEDC’s website, the certification provides designees with, on average, $25,000 more in annual compensation, as well as an edge in the hiring process.

Higgins agreed.

“If you go look at job descriptions, they will say the ideal candidate has a four-year degree in one of several different disciplines, and under that it will say preference will be given to candidates with a CEcD,” Higgins said.

Aspirants must have at least four years of job experience in the field, Higgins said, and must work their way through coursework offered by partner universities and the IEDC itself. Classes cover finance, marketing, strategic planning, real estate and business retention and expansion.

After completing the coursework, candidates take a two-part written test, consisting of one part multiple choice and short answer and an essay component.

Once the candidate passes both portions, they advance to an oral exam. Successful completion of all three levels nets the certification, which must be renewed every three years.

Fisackerly told The Dispatch she thought the certification was the best way to be the best at her job.

“As soon as I learned about the certification I knew it was something I wanted to pursue,” Fisackerly said. “I know I want to stay in this field, and so I wanted to make sure I checked that box. Lawyers have the bar, accountants have the CPA, economic developers have the CEcD.”

Young said the process of pursuing the certification was a great way to learn more about a field that was relatively new to her.

“When I started at the LINK, I had mostly worked in marketing,” Young said. “The networking, the going to other places around the country and learning about what other people are doing and hearing their ideas about developing their own communities was hugely helpful.”

Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.