Community Development Institute (CDI)
The mission of CDI is to empower leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve their communities, thereby increasing the quality of life for all.
CDI can effectively and positively impact economic and social development by building the capacity of individuals and communities through practical, interactive, and comprehensive training designed to meet the needs of economic and community development professionals working in a fast paced environment.
The program consists of completing three training sessions (Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3), which can be completed in subsequent years at the same site location or by fast tracking to multiple sites within the CDI network. Participants are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to community and economic development. In addition to learning from successful practitioners, CDI also offers valuable networking, peer‐to‐peer learning opportunities, case studies, and simulation-based learning.
Who Should Attend?
Participants include: community and economic development practitioners, city, county and state officials, community volunteers, non-profit staff and board members, chamber staff, private industry, educators, healthcare professionals, and other leaders who are passionate about making their community a better place. Attendees will expand their ability to identify community assets, set goals, encourage collaboration, and respond to a broad range of economic and quality of life issues.
CDI Across the Nation
CDI is a national network of training sites endorsed by the Community Development Council (CDC), a nationally-recognized, non-profit organization with the mission of advancing the practice and profession of community development.
CDI Central
Director: Shelby Fiegel
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Brewer-Hegeman 102
Conway, AR 72035
Email: sfiegel@uca.edu
Phone: 501.450.5269
2026 Training Dates:
July 27-31
Brewer Hegeman Conference Center
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
2025 PCED Exam Date(s):
October 15 (2 p.m. CST)
Beaver Water District
301 N. Primrose Road
Lowell, AR 72745
October 23 (1 p.m. CST)
Brewer Hegeman Conference Center
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
2026 PCED Exam Date:
July 31 (1 p.m. CST)
Brewer Hegeman Conference Center
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
CDI Central in Bossier City
Co-Directors: Jessica Hemingway, PCED and Lisa Johnson
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
710 Benton Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
Email: cdila@bossierchamber.com
Phone: 318.746.0252
2025 Training Dates:
February 18-21 (Year 1)
June 16-19 (Year 2)
September 29-October 2 (Year 3)
Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 E. Texas Street, Building H
Bossier City, LA 71111
2026 Training Dates:
February 24-27 (Year 1)
June 8-11 (Year 2)
September 28-October 1 (Year 3)
Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 E. Texas Street, Building H
Bossier City, LA 71111
2025 PCED Exam Dates:
October 3 (10 a.m. CST)
Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 E. Texas Street, Building H
Bossier City, LA 71111
December 5 (10 a.m. CST)
Bossier Parish Libraries Central Library
7204 Hutchison Drive
Bossier City, LA 7111
2026 PCED Exam Date:
October 2 (10 a.m. CST)
Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 E. Texas Street, Building H
Bossier City, LA 71111
CDI Mid-Atlantic
Director: Roger Hesketh
University of Delaware
Biden School of Public Policy & Administration
100 W. 10th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Email: rogergh@udel.edu
Phone: 302.573.4422
2026 Training Dates:
March 23-26
Sheraton Suites Wilmington Downtown
422 Delaware Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19801
2026 PCED Exam Dates:
TBD
CDI Midwest
Co-Directors: Christopher Merrett and Sandy Wittig
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
Western Illinois University
518 Stipes Hall 1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
Phone: 309.298.2281
Email: info@midwestcdi.org
2026 Training Dates:
August 10-13
Abraham Lincoln Hotel
701 E. Adams Street
Springfield, IL 62701
2026 PCED Exam Dates:
February 26
August 13
Abraham Lincoln Hotel
701 E. Adams Street
Springfield, IL 62701
CDI Northwest
Director: Jerry Miller
Idaho Commerce
700 West State Street, Boise, ID 83702
Email: jerry.miller@commerce.idaho.gov
Phone: 208.287.0780
2026 Training Dates:
July 20-24
The Riverside Hotel
2900 W. Chinden Boulevard
Garden City, ID 83714
2026 PCED Exam Dates:
July 24
The Riverside Hotel
2900 W. Chinden Boulevard
Garden City, ID 83714
CDI Southeast
Director: Mary Patterson, CPA, SHRM-CP, PCED
Teaching Innovation and Digital Education
The University of Alabama
Box 870388
3304 University Hall
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Email: mepatterson1@ua.edu
Phone: 205.348.704
2026 Training Dates:
June 8-11
Bryant Conference Center
The University of Alabama
240 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
2026 PCED Exam Date:
June 12
Bryant Conference Center
The University of Alabama
240 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
CDI Texas
Director: Kay Fitzsimons
Lone Star College
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
Email: kay.l.fitzsimons@lonestar.edu
Phone: 832.813.6623
2026 Training Dates:
March 2-5
Lone Star Community Building
Lone Star College-System Office The Woodlands
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
2025 PCED Exam Date:
September 29 (9:30 a.m. CST)
Lone Star Community Building
Lone Star College-System Office The Woodlands
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
2026 PCED Exam Date:
March 6 (9:30 a.m. CST)
Lone Star Community Building
Lone Star College-System Office The Woodlands
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
