May 21, 2009

Convention Center Director Recognized as Economic Developer of the Year

Phoenix Convention Center Interim Director John Chan was selected as the 2009 Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association of Economic Development (AAED). Chan received this distinguished honor in the large community category for having made a significant contribution to Arizona's economic development as a result of his leadership of the Phoenix Downtown Development Office (DDO).

Under Chan’s leadership, DDO received a 2009 DREAMER award from the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and an Outstanding Organization Award for being the driving force behind the development of the Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix campus, Phoenix Biomedical Campus and the University of Arizona Phoenix College of Medicine, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel and the CityScape project.

Chan has been a member of AAED since 1994 and served on the Board of Directors from 2001- 2009.

As of May 1, 2009, John Chan became the interim director of the Phoenix Convention Center. Under his leadership, the Convention Center hosted the NRA Convention, the largest convention in Phoenix Convention Center history. Chan came to the Convention Center from the city’s Downtown Development Office where he was appointed director in 2006. Since beginning his career with the city of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department in 1992, Chan has been involved in a variety of city initiatives including several community and economic development programs and downtown redevelopment projects. He assisted more than 180 companies in expanding or relocating to Phoenix, creating more than 35,000 new jobs.

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