After Months of Interviews A Guy Named Bopp Gets Welcomed to Be Deputy Director, Strategic Services

Late yesterday here's a press release from the City of Mesa Newsroom Mesa Now Mr. Bopp is seen in the image to the left taken from his page on Twitter just now. He has 36 followers and joined in March 2014 listing his employment with the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance. No dates are given in the press release below on his hire with the City of Phoenix. He and his wife and three children live in Gilbert in a home they purchased in January 2015 for $308,000. There are no details either in the city's press release for what salary and/or benefits were agreed to nor the length of his employment contract. City of Mesa Economic Development welcomes new deputy director 08-18-2016 at 3:27:43 PM City of Mesa Office of Economic Development is pleased to announce the recent hire of Aric H. Bopp, CEcD, who joined the team as the Deputy Director, Strategic Initiatives. He will focus on development priorities related to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, southeast Mesa, and other economic development projects of strategic importance to the City. Prior to joining Mesa, Bopp worked for the City of Phoenix as the Program Manager for Business Retention and Expansion in the Community and Economic Development Department. Previous to joining the City of Phoenix, Bopp served as the Executive Director of the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, a regional economic development organization based in Blacksburg, Virginia. During his 12-year tenure, he helped bring national and international companies to the region creating thousands of jobs and more than $1 billion in investment. "Aric's depth of experience will be a tremendous asset for our office and the City of Mesa," Bill Jabjiniak, City of Mesa Economic Development Director said. "Aric will play a key role in moving forward important initiatives critical to creating quality jobs in our community." Bopp is actively involved with economic development organizations throughout Arizona including the Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Black Chamber of Arizona, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Arizona Association of Economic Development, and many others. Bopp received a bachelor's degree in economics from Johns Hopkins University, attended graduate school at the University of Virginia, and received his economic development certification (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Office of Economic Development Contact: Kim Lofgreen Tel. 480-644-3962 kim.lofgreen@mesaaz.gov