Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation Appoints New Executive Director Paula Hazlewood

Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation (ASWIC) (www.advancesouthwestiowa.com), a partner of the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, has appointed Paula Hazlewood as its next executive director. Effective Sept. 1, she is now responsible for promoting economic vitality and job creation in Southwest Iowa and throughout the region.

Hazlewood previously served as senior director of business retention and expansion for the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership. Appointed to that position in August 2013, she spent the ten years prior serving as executive director of Gateway Development Corporation, a Partnership affiliate.

In her new position, Hazlewood will focus on retaining existing businesses, attracting new businesses, creating new jobs and expanding current business and industry in Southwest Iowa. She will also: Collaborate with investors, partners, community leaders and economic development allies, including the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development; Serve as project manager and point of contact for new-to-market and expansion projects in Council Bluffs; and Participate in economic development activities and projects throughout the greater Omaha region.

A graduate of Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute and the inaugural classes of Leadership Nebraska and Leadership Washington County, Hazlewood is also a past-president of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association and a member of PDI and MAEDC. She was awarded the inaugural “Professional of the Year” award from the Nebraska Economic Developers Association in May 2010.