James L. “Jim” Youngquist, executive director of the Institute for Economic Advancement in the UALR College of Business, has received the 2010 President’s Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) at its annual conference in San Diego.

The award recognized Youngquist’s years of leadership, excellence, and dedication to promoting regional solutions, partnerships, and strategies that advance the economic and community competitiveness of America’s local communities. NADO presents only one of these awards each year, selected by the association’s board president.

Youngquist oversees the statewide work of 43 economic and community development professionals and 11 graduate assistants.

He was selected for the President’s Award based on his long history of working with the nation’s regional planning and development organizations, from his days as an executive director to his distinguished service at the University of Georgia where he headed the SouthEast Regional Directors Institute.

The award also honors his current work at UALR, including assistance with the Arkansas Planning and Development Districts, the governor’s office, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, and the Austin regional office of the Economic Development Administration.