Brenda Hicks-Sorensen currently serves as the Assistant Director with the City of Fort Worth, Texas, Economic Development Department. As Assistant Director, she is responsible for a team focused on small business and entrepreneurship, as well as strategic development and revitalization, which includes existing business development, business recruitment, tax increment financing districts and revitalization efforts. She is also the project manager for the City’s economic development strategic plan.
Prior to her time in Texas, Brenda served in various economic and community development leadership roles, including as the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development; president and founder of Economic and Community Development Solutions; vice president of Economic and Community Development with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; and president of the Fond du Lac County (Wisconsin) Economic Development Corporation.
Brenda earned her certified economic developer designation in 2005. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and a Master of Science degree in Urban Studies with an emphasis in Public Policy and Economic Development from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Brenda has served on numerous boards throughout her career and has earned several prestigious awards and designations for her work in the economic and community development field. These include the Outstanding New Economic Developer of the Year from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Outstanding Young Alumni from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, and the President’s Award from the Site Selector’s Guild.