Christa Ouderkirk Franzi, Cecd Email & Phone Number

Right to Start fights to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all. We drive civic change through: grassroots organizing and mobilizing, policy advocacy and engagement, and lifting the voices of entrepreneurs through media and storytelling.

Glens Falls, New York, United States

I believe that for the economy to truly thrive, economic development must expand to boundlessly include and support entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business owners from all backgrounds, neighborhoods, and cultures. Every person has the right — even a responsibility — to be entrepreneurial. I facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship by building on-ramps to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, wherever on-ramps are needed.At Camoin Associates, I help clients from state-level organizations to local municipalities identify, connect with, understand, and strengthen their entrepreneurial ecosystems, as well as develop, implement, and optimize their entrepreneurial ecosystem strategy.

Glens Falls, New York, United States

Successful economic development initiatives require an interdisciplinary perspective to understand the system, which is just what I bring to the Camoin team. I study the complex relationships between economic growth, land use, workforce, quality of place, social equity, and environmental sustainability to devise economic development strategies that will be financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable for years to come.With a unique talent for creative problem solving, I pride myself on helping communities capitalize on otherwise “hidden” opportunities. My deep roots in upstate New York drive my passion for working with small cities and rural communities. I have an intuitive sense for marketing, communications, and engagement for creating and strengthening networks for economic development and, specifically, entrepreneurial ecosystems. I'm the editor of Camoin's monthly newsletter, the Economic Development Navigator, and as the company "marketing cheerleader" I work with our staff to promote the company via social media and develop unique traffic capturing strategies for each conference we attend.

Saratoga Springs, Ny

Project manager for complex interdisciplinary economic development projects: strategic plans, targeted industry analysis, marketing strategies, and real estate market studies.• Specialize in entrepreneurial ecosystem assessment and strategy; building networks for economic development; engagement, communications, and marketing; and placemaking and downtownrevitalization.• Skilled public speaker and group facilitator.• Leads development and oversees implementation of Camoin’s marketing and business development strategy including digital media and event/conference strategy—natural networker and connector.• Implementing marketing initiatives to promote company acquisition of 310 Ltd.• Responsible for knowledge sharing among Camoin-staff and leads development of internal training programs.• Developed client-feedback survey and monthly marketing metrics system to track company performance and drive improvement.

Saratoga Springs, Ny

Data-analyst to support economic development planning, economic and fiscal impact analysis, and market research work.• Crafted strategies for urban brownfield properties to capitalize on financially feasible, market-driven redevelopment opportunities.• Established Camoin’s digital marketing strategy including content development, eNewsletter, and social media.• Supported grants with strategy, market research, and review.

Albany County, New York, United States

• Preparation of planning docuements in accordance with SEQRA and NEPA regulations; including environmental impact statemetns (EIS) and environmetnal assessments (EA).• Experience with commercial, industrial, and residential projects. • Assisted in preparing technical studies, including fiscal impact analyses, visual impact assessments, noise studies, transportation studies, and various engineering reports. • Conducted land use, community character, demographic, economic, and utility/public service research. • Contributed to the development of mitigation strategies to reduce potential impacts on the environment resulting from land development projects. • Managed the preparation of a Best Management Practice/Low Impact Design manual for the Hudson River Estuary.

• Development of Geographic Information System (GIS) maps for towns in the Tug Hill region in addition to providing assistance with community development/sustainability projects.• Held GIS and Global Positioning System (GPS) training sessions for local officials. • Prepared maps for river navigation, zoning, and water/wastewater infrastructure.

Oswego, New York

• Summer environmental science internship with a GIS focus.• Conducted research on Brownfield projects in the county and assisted in preparing community presentation.

Masters, Geography - Natural Resource Conservation

Activities and Societies: National Honor Society, Teaching Assistant, Graduate Assistant• Thesis work on the effect of upland exurban.

Bachelor Of Applied Science - Basc, Geographic Information Science And Cartography

Bachelors, Geography, Planning

Activities and Societies: Intramural Volleyball, Softball, etc.Dual Bachelor of Science Degrees: • Geography Major with a concentration.