A dynamic, strategic and innovative economic development leader, Stéphane joined NEI to serve as President and CEO in October 2021. Stéphane is responsible for leading the economic development strategy for the 11-county region represented by the organization, including the task of increasing business investment and regional prosperity through ongoing collaboration with local, regional, private, and public partners and organizations.
For over 10 years, Stéphane honed his craft in the fast-paced, competitive and politically complex environment at one of the top economic development organizations in the country. In his previous role as the senior vice president of strategy for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, he attracted billions in new investment and thousands of new jobs to the region.
He has served as an advisor to c-suite and policymakers regarding market intelligence, public relations, international relations, policy and foreign direct investments.
Stéphane was responsible for continually improving internal processes to gain actionable market and industry intelligence, to drive traditional deal-flow and economic diversification. He has a proven track record for developing and managing regional cluster-based industrial attraction strategies to catalyze investment into new industrial parks across the region.
Additionally, Stéphane led the creation of new consortia of public, private, university and community partners to create a new smart region framework to develop and help scale solutions rooted in connectivity, mobility, equity and sustainability.
Stéphane earned a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning and a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Management Technology from Arizona State University.
He was recognized in 2019 as top 40 under 40 in the economic development industry by Development Counsellors International (DCI), a national leader in marketing places.
Stéphane’s top five strengths in CliftonStrengths are:
- Achiever
- Learner
- Individualization
- Analytical
- Context
Did You Know?
- Stéphane grew up in southern Italy, in the middle of olives groves and vineyards.
- The pursuit of his aviation dreams brought Stéphane to Arizona where he met his wife Anita and started a family.
- When he is not working on a business development deal, you will find him in the kitchen cooking a traditional Italian meal or tackling a home improvement project.
