Heidi Gilmond

I attribute my success to a combination of energy, curiosity, hard work, and the example set by my father. In high school, I was nicknamed "Spaz" because I always had so much energy and was constantly involved in something. Looking back, that enthusiasm has served me well throughout my career. Paired with my dad's incredible work ethic and servant leadership, it gave me a strong foundation for approaching every opportunity with a positive attitude and a willingness to do the work.

I've also learned that success is never achieved alone. Every challenge I've faced, every new experience I've embraced, and every person I've had the privilege to work alongside has helped shape who I am today. I've always believed that growth comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward, even when things don't go as planned.

One of my personal mottos has always been: "Get up, dress up, and show up." It sounds simple, but showing up consistently—with energy, professionalism, and a commitment to doing your best—creates opportunities, builds relationships, and ultimately leads to success. For me, success isn't about reaching a destination; it's about continuing to learn, serve others, and make a positive impact wherever you are.

One of the best pieces of career advice I ever received was, "Never give up—cream always rises to the top." A former boss and mentor shared that with me early in my career, and it has stayed with me ever since. The message was simple: give your best effort every day, even when things aren't going your way, because hard work, integrity, and perseverance eventually get noticed.

I've also learned that every experience has value if you're willing to learn from it. The successes build your confidence, but the setbacks often teach the most important lessons. I've tried to approach every challenge, every opportunity, and every disappointment as a chance to grow and become better.

Success doesn't happen overnight. It comes from showing up consistently, maintaining a positive attitude, staying open to learning, and trusting that the work you're putting in today will pay off tomorrow. As my mentor reminded me, cream always rises to the top.

My advice to young women entering this industry is simple: You are more powerful than you realize—use that power for good. Women often bring unique strengths to leadership and problem-solving. We tend to see situations from multiple perspectives, build meaningful relationships, and find ways to bring people together around a common goal. Those qualities are invaluable in any profession.

Invest in building a strong network of mentors, colleagues, and supporters. Be just as willing to offer help as you are to accept it. Some of the greatest opportunities in my career have come through relationships, collaboration, and people who believed in me along the way. Success is rarely a solo journey.

Most importantly, operate with integrity. Work hard, keep learning, show up prepared, and treat people with respect. Not every opportunity will go your way, and not every challenge will feel fair, but there is value in every experience if you're willing to learn from it. Stay curious, stay resilient, and remember that your reputation is built one interaction at a time.

I've always believed in the idea of "Get up, dress up, and show up." Show up consistently, bring your best self to the table, and don't be afraid to take up space. Your voice matters, your perspective matters, and your ability to make a positive impact is greater than you may know.

One of the biggest challenges in economic development today is that local communities are increasingly affected by forces far beyond their control. Global markets, inflation, interest rates, workforce trends, and politics all have a direct impact on local businesses and investment decisions. What happens on the other side of the world can influence whether a small business owner here decides to expand, hire, or invest.

At the same time, I see that challenge as a tremendous opportunity. The United States was built by hardworking individuals who identified needs, found solutions, created products, offered services, and weren't afraid to take risks. History has shown that difficult economic times often spark innovation. Some of the most successful businesses and industries were born because someone saw a problem and decided to solve it. That entrepreneurial spirit remains one of our greatest strengths.

For communities like ours, the opportunity lies in finding ways to support and grow small and medium-sized businesses, because they are often the backbone of our local economy. We need to create environments where entrepreneurs can succeed, where investment is encouraged, and where people feel confident taking that next step.

I also believe that community development is just as important as economic development. Businesses are more likely to invest in places where people want to live, work, and spend time. Creating vibrant downtowns, fostering community pride, supporting arts and culture, and building strong relationships all contribute to long-term economic success. The strongest communities understand that economic development and community development go hand in hand.

I believe we need to be building each other up and supporting each other, and really recognizing our stories. When you feel like your life, especially for women, we do a lot of things that we don't really feel are big deals, we just do them. But our stories are amazing, and I think that it's important that we share them and lift each other up. Through all my years working in different industries and with different people, I learned that my passions were really about serving people through servant leadership, and helping people realize how amazing and special they truly are. That's what drives everything I do now.