CEDA is excited to announce two promotions of team members Courtney Bergey Swanson and Mary
Kennedy to new roles within the organization.
Courtney Bergey Swanson has been promoted to CEDA Vice President of Development and
Collaborative Services and will serve on the CEDA Management Team along with Ron Zeigler,
CEO/President; Cris Gastner, Senior Vice President; Chris Giesen, Vice President Government Relations;
Jason Passmore, Vice President of Iowa Operations; and Joya Stetson, Vice President of Marketing and
Business Development.
“We could not be more excited to have Courtney join our management team,” says CEDA
President/CEO Ron Zeigler. “Courtney has taken everything that we have asked of her to a new level.
She has taken the role of Director of Community Engagement and has led the grants department to a
very high level of success.” Bergey Swanson will continue to lead the grants department, coordinating
efforts for CEDA and communities. Her role will expand into developing strategic partnerships and
representing CEDA in relevant collaborative efforts. Bergey Swanson joined the CEDA team in 2016.
Mary Kennedy will join the CEDA Leadership Team in the capacity of CEDA Director of Training and
Professional Development.
“We are extremely excited to have Mary join our leadership team,” Zeigler states. “Mary has taken on
the role of training for our team. She is building a structure for onboarding new team members and has
renewed the priority of training and professional development within the organization.” Kennedy joined
the CEDA team in 2018.
Zeigler continues, “CEDA’s greatest resource is our team members. We have 30 self-motivated, high-
energy, professional people with a passion for rural America working with and for you. Together we
can make a difference.”