Retiring Research Assistants 
Here at the NECSBC/CED we are sad to say goodbye to some of our graduating research assistants. Graduating this year are Jonny Clark, David Armstrong, Ryan Miller, Kayla Combs, and Marcy McCormick.
Jonny Clark
I started at the Center for Economic Development (CED) in February 2010, and support the CED and Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) staff with technical issues. In my time at the NECSBDC/CED I have had many responsibilities including building the California SBIR website, helpdesk assistance, helping SBDC personnel with WebCATs issues, and producing the monthly NECSBDC newsletter. I recently gave a sold out presentation at the Redding Tech Conference on how to use web-based tools to help businesses. I have gained valuable experience on how computers function in a business environment.
I am excited about graduation, but I am also going to miss working at the NECSBDC/CED. The people that I have met and worked with were wonderful and I will miss working with them.
David Armstrong
In August of 2011, I began working at the Center for Economic Development as a student research assistant. I am currently a graduating senior at California State University, Chico. As an Environmental Economics major, the internship was a perfect opportunity to learn about my field, first-hand. I have been given many responsibilities at the CED, mostly dealing with Economic Profile Series and FQHC applications. Interestingly, I was honored with the responsibility of leading the profile project in the absence of our supervisor when he, Warren Jensen, left to adopt his second child from China. A few months later, Warren went on paternity leave for eight weeks and again I was privileged to manage his team in his stead. It was a great opportunity to use my leadership skills I've honed in the military and get a taste for project management. My experience here at CED has been amazing. I enjoy the people I work with, the work I do, and, most of all, the experiences I have each day. Having this opportunity to apply what I am learning in college to real life office situations has allowed me to have a once in a lifetime learning experience.
Ryan Miller
It is with mixed emotions that I approach graduation here at CSU Chico. Although I begin graduate studies in Urban Planning at the University of Washington this fall, I am already beginning to miss the academic environment of Chico State, as well as the professional environment of the Center for Economic Development. The analysis of broadband service coverage and subscription data that I have been performing here at CED has been an illuminating experience, and it has given me technical and professional skills that I will carry with me into the future.
Kayla Combs
My name is Kayla Combs and in May, I will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in mass 
communication design from California State University, Chico with an emphasis in broadcasting/film, and instructional design. I have learned and acquired many skills during my academic career. After applying myself to achieve this goal, I feel very accomplished to say that I have joined a hard-working, welcoming team at the Center for Economic Development this past December. Throughout my work experience here, I have significantly contributed to the design and the development of high-quality technological projects.
My work history at the Center for Economic Development ranges from an IT assistant to the 2012 Economic Forecast Conference to the contribution of marketing materials for the Redding Tech Conference that was held on February 9th. Because of my experience at CED, I have adapted to social settings, media outlets, and professional networking. My job experience has also expanded critically on my leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills allowing me to feel comfortable in any setting.
Marcy McCormick
Hello, I'm Marcy McCormick and I'm in my final semester as an undergraduate at Chico State and just finishing up my second year as a Research Assistant here at the Center for Economic Development. As an economics major, my position at the CED is the perfect complement to my education.
I was hired in March of 2010 to help collect data for the 2010 Economic and Demographic Profile Series, where I became quite adept in using Microsoft Excel and Adobe InDesign. My interest in entrepreneurship and assisting small businesses landed me as the head Research Assistant for CED's Business and Industry Assistance Program. As part of BIAP, I've had the opportunity to attend two national conferences and even instruct Small Business Development Center counselors on how to utilize data provided through BIAP.
Overall, the skills I've gained working at the CED go above and beyond what I expected from an undergraduate internship. I am very grateful to have spent my last two years at Chico State as part of the close-knit and encouraging team at the CED.
