City’s long-time economic development consultant tapped for Rhode Island job

The phase out of one of the city’s original consultants, Ioanna Morfessis, will take place five months ahead of schedule.

Last week Rhode Island’s Economic Development Corporation, which is led by the state’s Governor Donald Carcieri, voted unanimously to offer the consultant a three-year contract as the organization’s executive director.

“Ioanna is considered one of the best economic development executives in the country, with a proven track record in attracting and retaining businesses, as well as helping businesses – small and large – find success. I am confident she will achieve the same results here,” Carcieri said in an issued statement.

Morfessis was originally selected to be the city of Maricopa’s economic development consultant in late 2005.

However, during her last contract renewal in June her annual salary was lowered to $90,000 as part of a planned phase out of the consultant. “In a time of economic hardship we need to continue to focus on economic development,” said councilman Joe Estes, during the meeting.

That contract was supposed to run through June 2010, but the new engagement will see Morfessis departing from the city by the end of January.

“I feel both humble and fortunate to have worked with a city from its infancy; it is with a heavy heart that my relationship with Maricopa must come to an end,” she said.

Morfessis said that she has several large projects in the pipeline for the city, which are nearing the finish line, and City Manager Kevin Evans and Economic Development Manager Danielle Casey will fully be handed the reins to these projects.

“I will be leaving these projects in some great hands,” Morfessis said.

“This community (Maricopa) has its act together,” she added. “With strong leadership and a commitment to economic development it has positioned itself for the recovery better than any other community in the state.”

Morfessis ran the Greater Phoenix Economic Council until 1997, when she was named CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore.

In 2004 she returned to Arizona and launched the consulting firm IO Inc.

Morfessis’s appointment was made last Friday and will go before the Rhode Island Senate for approval in January.

“We were focusing on the transition to more centralized economic development; it is now just happening sooner,” Casey said. “We are very happy for her and wish her the best of luck.”

Photo by Michael K. Rich