Laith Wardi, CEcD

After serving on the boards of both ECDRA and EDCEC, Laith joined the organization as an economic and business development specialist in 2025. In this role, he puts his vast experience to work to create and maintain a thriving economic environment for businesses and residents—helping to make Erie County more dynamic and resilient.

In the mid-1990s, Laith led the development and launch of ExecutivePulse, which has become the industry’s leading online system for business retention. He received his economic development certification through the International Economic Development Council in 2002. He was a certification instructor for that organization from 1996 to 2025.

Laith is a speaker— both nationally and internationally — on various economic development topics, and he regularly conducts state-level certification training throughout the country. He’s a long-term instructor with Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute.

Laith enjoys music, photography, gardening, cooking, home improvement projects, and spending time on Lake Erie with his wife, Carla.