Betsy Galloway Young Named 2021 MEDC Heidel Award Winner

02/03/2022

The Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) announced at their 2022 Legislative Conference that Betsy Galloway Young has won the 2021 Jimmy and Ray Heidel Economic Development Leadership Award.

Young is the Project Manager for the Golden Triangle Development LINK, having joined the organization in 2019. Her scope of work includes industrial recruitment and retention, economic research and analysis, and graphic design.

“The day she walked in the door at the LINK we were a better team. Its not often you find someone with the broad skill set that she possesses,” said Joe Max Higgins, Jr., CEO of the Golden Triangle Development LINK. “In her time at the LINK I have not found any task that she could not do, plus she is a joy to work with, the world needs more Betsys!”

The Ray Heidel Leadership Award was established in 1995 by the Mississippi Economic Development Council to honor the life and contributions to the profession by Ray Heidel.  In 1999 the name was changed to the Jimmy and Ray Heidel Economic Development Leadership Award to recognize Jimmy Heidel’s contributions to the profession on both the local and statewide levels. The Jimmy and Ray Heidel Economic Development Leadership Award is presented during True South Basic Economic Development Course at the University of Southern MS. The purpose of the award is to foster further economic development practitioner leadership skills.

Young received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The University of Mississippi.  Prior to her position with the GTR LINK, Young worked in industrial and construction marketing.  Young is an FAA-certified remote pilot and is currently pursuing designation as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).  Young resides in Columbus, Miss., with her husband and two sons.