Jaye O'Donnell Named Economic Developer of the Year by AAED

Jaye O'Donnell Named Economic Developer of the Year by AAED

Jaye O'Donnell, Mesa Economic Development Director, has been named Economic Developer of the Year, Large Community, by the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), recognizing her leadership, results and service to the profession in Arizona. AAED's Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to economic growth in the state.

O'Donnell leads Mesa's Office of Economic Development and a 17-person team focused on business attraction, retention and expansion, redevelopment, entrepreneurship and workforce development. Under her leadership, Mesa outperformed its Fiscal Year 2025 economic development goals, securing 47 relocation and expansion projects, generating more than 5 million square feet of commercial development, $3.49 billion in capital investment and 3,370 new jobs with average annual wages above $65,000.

"Jaye O'Donnell's leadership has helped position Mesa as one of the most competitive and forward-looking cities in Arizona," said Mayor Mark Freeman. "This recognition from AAED reflects not only her professional excellence, but the lasting impact of her work to attract quality jobs, support local businesses and strengthen opportunity for Mesa residents."

O'Donnell's work has helped advance major business attraction and expansion wins across advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, aviation and technology, while also supporting retail placemaking, redevelopment and small-business growth. Her team's work included support for projects involving employers such as Google, Niagara Water, Metso Outotec, FlightSafety International, Gifthealth, Strive Pharmacy, DSV and others. Mesa's small-business support efforts also delivered 2,680 hours of consulting assistance to 151 businesses and drew more than 5,400 attendees to workshops and events at Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios.

"Jaye brings strategic vision, strong execution and a collaborative leadership style that elevates everyone around her," said City Manager Scott Butler. "She has built a culture of performance and partnership that continues to deliver meaningful results for Mesa's economy and for the businesses and residents we serve."

Beyond project delivery, O'Donnell has played an active role in advancing the economic development profession. She serves on the AAED Board of Directors, has taught AAED Basic Training, and supports professional development across her team. She also serves in regional leadership roles that help align economic development strategy across Greater Phoenix and Arizona.

Before becoming Economic Development Director, O'Donnell served as Mesa's Assistant Economic Development Director, where she led initiatives including the Mesa CARES Small Business Reemergence Program, higher education recruitment strategy and brand development for the Falcon and Asian Districts. Prior to joining Mesa, she served in economic development, tourism, and marketing leadership roles for the State of Arizona and began her public-sector career with the City of Glendale.

O'Donnell holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University and a certificate in Global Leadership from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

About the Arizona Association for Economic Development
AAED, founded in 1974, serves as Arizona's unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy and collaboration.

About City of Mesa Office of Economic Development
Mesa's Office of Economic Development (OED) works to enhance Mesa's economy by promoting a culture of quality, supporting the creation of higher wage jobs, promoting direct investment, and increasing prosperity of our residents. OED focuses on four lines of service to accomplish its mission: business attraction, retention, and expansion; entrepreneurship and small business development; redevelopment and revitalization and workforce development and talent attraction. OED is the primary point of contact for existing businesses and prospective businesses, site selectors, developers and community stakeholders to obtain technical expertise and support services necessary to properly evaluate business opportunities in Mesa.