With over 20 years of industry experience, Ken Chapa is a seasoned Economic Development professional. He has led successful programs in multiple communities throughout the country. Highly regarded for his strategic planning and business development skills, Chapa has worked alongside many well-known brands including: General Motors, Bridgestone North America, Haas Automation, Las Vegas Raiders, Amazon, Kroger, Barclaycard, Levi’s, and Google to assist in their relocation and/or expansion needs. Now leading the charge as Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Avondale, Ken’s focus on recruitment, retention and creative marketing have allowed him to attract major players to the Southwest Valley while also championing the small business community that is the heart of Avondale.

Cheryl has 17 years of municipal development experience and currently leads the Business Development Management Team to develop and implement the department’s strategic goals and attraction efforts. Cheryl conceptualized and implemented Avondale’s Health-Tech Corridor in 2014 which has generated hundreds of high-wage jobs and actively recruits projects in the office, retail, and hospitality sectors.

Cheryl is dedicated to her community by serving on several nonprofit boards, including, Co-Chair for WESTMARC’s Healthcare Committee and President for Leadership West. She was the recipient of the 2018 WESTMARC President’s Choice Award, the 2017 Economic Development Chairman’s Recognition Award, and most recently the 2021 Arizona Association of Economic Development Workforce Practitioner of the Year.

For over two decades, Jaime has forged organizations forward by building strong relationships, mutually beneficial connections, and renowned brands exceeding business and community goals. As a proud west valley native, Jaime brings vast regional expertise to the city and is passionate about sharing why Avondale is ‘the place to be.’ She’s a seasoned professional with diverse experiences across industries and sectors, including private development, higher education, workforce development, and engaging community relations. She loves helping businesses and communities thrive.

With a focus on economic and social development across distinct communities locally and globally, Jaime’s innovative efforts have been recognized by valley municipalities, school districts, universities, developers, nonprofits, the Clinton Global Initiatives University, Arizona State University’s Innovation Challenge, The Arizona We Want Institute, WESTMARC, and Leadership West. She was also named one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 leaders for her community development work in the west valley. Jaime also serves the region through volunteerism, nonprofit boards, and community leadership programs.

A two-time graduate of Arizona State University, Jaime holds a degree in Economics and Certificate of International Business, as well as a graduate degree achieved with honors.

Liesl is a new Arizona resident. She was raised in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, UT where she attended the University of Utah for her BA and MS in Public Policy. After complete a graduate fellowship for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Liesl began her career as a Project Coordinator for Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development. She was later made the Foreign Trade Zone Administrator and Acting Manager of Corporate Recruitment and Retention. After 3.5 years with Salt Lake City, she decided it was time for a change of scenery and accepted a Business Development Manager position with Avondale City. Liesl enjoys working as an economic developer because it gives her an opportunity to have a positive impact on her local community. She loves working with businesses that provide quality jobs to an area and strive to be good community partners. In her free time, she enjoys physical fitness activities and enjoying the great outdoors. She is also a self-designated donut connoisseur

Sussely Morales-Chmielewski joins the team with a decade of marketing and event planning experience. As a member of the Economic Development Local EDGE team, Sussely will be combining her passion for community and creative marketing to serve Avondale’s new and existing business community. As a bilingual professional, she is excited to work with the rich and diverse population that makes up Avondale and provide services and resources to all. In addition to Local EDGE, Sussely will oversee the online branding for Avondale EDGE including marketing collateral, website and social media. Sussely is a proud Sun Devil, having earned her B.S. in Business Management and Certificate in Special Event Management from Arizona State University. She then went on to earn her MBA in Marketing from Grand Canyon University. Go Lopes!

Stephanie has been employed with various divisions within the City of Avondale including: Police, Development and Engineering Services, City Manager, City Clerks, and the Southwest Family Advocacy Center. She is excited to take the skills she has learned in those departments and apply them to assist the Economic Development team.

Stephanie moved back to the Phoenix area after living in Seattle for 20 years where she worked as a Facility Sales Manager and Event Planner at the prestigious Benaroya Hall. She planned events there such as world-broadcast video game tournaments, sold-out concerts for the likes of Jason Mraz and Jackson Browne, and even the International Festival of Cheese! She is a volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and served on the board of several non-profits in the Seattle area.

She has lived in Avondale for the past several years and is excited to both live and work in our thriving and growing community.