Sometimes the most impactful career paths aren’t the ones we originally planned. Jennifer Daniels, Columbia County’s Economic Development Director, recently achieved something significant – earning her Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council.
Jennifer’s story is about resilience, finding purpose, and dedicating yourself to building something meaningful for your community.
An Unexpected Career Shift
Jennifer spent 18 years in leadership development within the call center industry, building valuable skills in training and organizational management. When her position was eliminated, she saw an opportunity to redirect those leadership skills toward something she was passionate about: her home community of Columbia County, Florida.
Coming Home
Growing up as the daughter of a local farmer, Jennifer was raised with rural values and a deep connection to her community. Earlier in her career, she had to move out of state to find advancement opportunities – a common challenge for many rural communities.
When the chance came to serve Columbia County directly, she embraced it.
Learning the Field
In 2019, Jennifer joined Columbia County’s Economic Development Department, where she apprenticed under the previous director. She learned the history of the county’s founders, studied strategic development plans, and gained expertise in balancing economic growth with preserving the rural character that makes the area special.
The Achievement
The CEcD certification isn’t easily earned. It requires passing a rigorous two-day examination covering eleven critical areas of economic development:
- Strategic planning and business development
- Workforce development and entrepreneurship
- Real estate development and community strategies
- Finance, marketing, and international investment
Only about 1,250 professionals worldwide currently hold this designation, making it a mark of serious expertise in the field.
Real Impact
Jennifer’s certification represents more than professional development. As she explains, it’s “a deepened commitment to driving sustainable economic prosperity in Columbia County as well as rural North Florida.”
Her enhanced skills position Columbia County to:
- Attract quality employment opportunities – the kind of career-focused, higher-wage jobs that can meaningfully impact families
- Foster innovation while maintaining the small-town appeal residents value
- Build strategic partnerships that create lasting economic benefits
- Plan thoughtfully for growth that serves the entire community
Personal Investment
What makes Jennifer’s commitment particularly meaningful is her personal stake in the outcome. As a wife and mother, she understands that today’s economic development decisions will shape the opportunities available to the next generation.
She’s working to address a challenge many rural communities face: creating excellent career opportunities without losing the identity that makes a place special.
Professional Network
With this certification, Jennifer joins an elite network of economic development professionals who’ve proven their expertise in creating sustainable economic growth. This credential provides credibility when working with potential employers, investors, and state-level partners.
Looking Forward
Jennifer’s journey from corporate leadership to certified economic development professional demonstrates what’s possible when experience meets genuine community commitment.
For Columbia County, having CEcD-certified leadership means having someone with both the passion and proven expertise to deliver meaningful economic development results.
It’s a significant achievement that strengthens the county’s position in attracting the kind of growth that benefits everyone.
