Associate Director of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Mary frequently serves the Heartland Center as an on-site trainer for leadership, community development and planning. Previously Dr. Emery was the director of the Institute for Community Development at Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho. Mary has worked in rural economic and community development for more than 20 years. She is interested in strategies that assist rural communities with small business development and new technologies. Starting in 1988, Mary worked with the Idaho Department of Commerce in implementing its Gem Communities Program. As part of this work, she facilitated community strategic planning regarding economic and community development. She also developed and implemented a training program for Gem Community volunteers on Business Retention and Expansion. Mary has worked with the regional SBDC to conduct workshops and group counseling sessions on marketing, business start-up, web marketing and Internet use. She has helped small rural manufacturers successfully procure government contracts and has also worked to expand entrepreneurship and small businesses on the Nez Perce Reservation. She is currently a board member of the International Community Development Society and is the coordinator for the Rural Community College Initiative.