CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) honored City of Chandler employee, Chandler Escalante, with the prestigious Workforce Practitioner of the Year award. The Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards were established nearly 50 years ago to recognize the outstanding work of AAED members and were presented at the annual Spring Conference, held last week in Tucson, Arizona.
The Workforce Practitioner of the Year award recognizes an individual’s overall impact on the community workforce, the development of strong relationships and community support, innovation and creativity, and contributions to the workforce development profession.
Escalante serves as Workforce Development Project Manager for the City of Chandler's Economic Development Division and is the architect of the Chandler Career Center, a city-sponsored workforce platform launched in April 2024 that has rapidly grown to serve more than 125 Chandler-based employers and more than 1,200 local job seekers. His signature "white glove" service model — personally posting positions on behalf of employers to reduce their administrative burden — has driven strong adoption, particularly among small and mid-sized businesses, with 1,200 positions manually posted to date.
Beyond the platform, Escalante provides weekly in-person workforce support at the Downtown Chandler Public Library Job Center, assisting job seekers with resumes, cover letters, and career navigation, and has facilitated or participated in more than 20 workforce events, trainings, and employer engagement activities during the year. He also serves on the AAED Workforce Committee, the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board's Youth Committee, and the Chandler Unified School District–University of Arizona CTE Semiconductor Manufacturing Pathway Steering Committee.
"I am incredibly honored to have received the 2026 Arizona Association for Economic Development Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) award for Workforce Practitioner of the Year,” said Chandler Escalante. “This recognition reflects the work our team at the City of Chandler Economic Development Division is doing to better connect Chandler-based employers with our local educational institutions and the talent they develop. We remain committed to strengthening our workforce initiatives and continuing to serve the Chandler community in meaningful and impactful ways."
About the City of Chandler
Chandler, Arizona has built a reputation as a Community of Innovation. Life in Chandler goes beyond a thriving and dynamic business community with progressive entrepreneurship. Known for its rich diversity, the city offers an outstanding quality of life for all generations with great schools and recreational opportunities. Chandler has grown to become the state's fifth-largest city with a population of more than 291,000. Chandler has been named one of the nation's Best Places to Find a Job and Best Cities for Women in Tech. The city also is one of the safest communities in the nation and boasts AAA bond ratings from all three national rating agencies, one of a select few cities and towns nationally to receive this prestigious designation. For more information, visit chandleraz.gov, or connect with Chandler on social media.
About the Arizona Association for Economic Development
AAED, founded in 1974, has a mission to serve as Arizona’s unified voice for responsible economic development through professional education, public policy, and collaboration. For more information, visit AAED or call 602-240-2233.
Media contact:
Stephanie Romero
Public Information Officer, City of Chandler
480-782-2231
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