Mark Brown, vice president of business retention and expansion for the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), recently graduated from the prestigious University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OU EDI) at the OU EDI spring session in Indianapolis, Ind.

OU EDI is an intensive 117-hour, two-year certificate program which provides a broad spectrum of advanced education for economic development professionals. Classes focus on three major core areas, including business retention and expansion, real estate and credit analysis, as well as areas of concentration in marketing, strategic planning, entrepreneurship and managing economic development organizations.

“We are extremely proud of Mark and his graduation from OU EDI,” said BBA Interim President and CEO Fred McCallum. “Those that graduate from OU EDI represent the best and brightest economic development professionals in the nation. Mark is a tremendous asset to the BBA and to the entire Birmingham region.”