Research Assistants
About CED » Research Assistants
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Dave Armstrong, Student Research Assistant
Dave Armstrong grew up in Orland, CA on a small ranch. After high school, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Camden based out of Bremerton, Washington. After four years of enlistment, Dave moved back to Northern California and enrolled in Butte College. After two years working toward a degree in architecture, he dropped out and went back to work as an electrician and telecommunications installer. However, a knee injury forced him to choose a different career path, and he returned to school in 2009. Currently at CSU, Chico, Dave has chosen an economics major. Dave is currently a senior at CSU, Chico, and is an active member of the Chico State Economics Club where he has held many positions including Treasurer and President. After earning his BA in economics, Dave will attend graduate school to receive a MS in Economics. Dave was hired by the Center for Economic Development in August of 2011. Dave’s primary duties are compiling and formatting data for the Economic and Demographic Profile Series. From his work as a research assistant, he strives to gain real world experience in the field of economics and deeper understanding of economic concepts in practice. In his free time, Dave enjoys scuba diving, basketball, disc golf, and music.
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Nick Billeci, Student Research Assistant
Nick Billeci grew up in Antioch, CA, located in Contra Costa County. In 2008, he graduated from high school and moved to Chico, CA to attend California State University, Chico (CSUC). He is currently finishing his third year at the university and is working towards completing his major in international economics as well as a minor in business administration. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, he is planning on attending graduate school to further his education in the field of international economics. Nick was hired by the Center for Economic Development (CED) in February 2011 as a research assistant with the responsibility of data research and analysis on the 2010-2011 Economic and Demographic Profile Series and other applied research projects. From his work as a research assistant he hopes to gain insight on how economics affects the lives of local people along with skills that will help him begin his career in economics. Along with school and his work at CED, Nick is an economics tutor at the CSUC Student Learning Center. In his free time he likes to snowboard, run, read and spend time with his friends.
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Collin Blower, Student Research Assistant
Collin Blower is currently a freshman enrolled at California State University, Chico and is originally from the beautiful city of San Diego, California. He plans to graduate from Chico State with his bachelor’s degree in legal studies to pursue his career in law. Collin plans to attend a post-grad law school to get his law degree to become an Entertainment Lawyer and eventually start his own law firm. He started working for the Center for Economic Development (CED) in October of 2011 but this is not his first experience within this line of work. In the summer of 2010 Collin tackled a month long internship in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration all the way in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Working here at CED as a research assistant requires Collin to compile data by researching, work on the profile series, and take on other applied research projects that are assigned to him. Being from Southern California he enjoys the many diverse activities that Chico has to offer such as biking, swimming, and even fishing. In his spare time he loves to make music and play instruments such as the guitar and drums. For a recreational sport he enjoys playing dodge ball every week with his friends at the Chico State Recreation center. But what Collin really enjoys most is spending time with his family and hanging out with his friends.
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Jonny Clark, Student Research Assistant
Jonny Clark grew up in different places ranging from Newport, RI to San Diego, CA. Earning an Associate of Science degree in computer science from Mendocino Community College in the summer of 2005, he is currently working on getting his Bachelor of Science degree in management information systems at California State University, Chico (CSUC). Clark started at the Center for Economic Development in February 2010, and supports the CED and Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) staff with technical issues. Reporting to the Information Technology-Project Specialist on various IT projects, Clark currently is cleaning up a complex database of client information, Help Desk assistance, and is in charge of producing the monthly NECSBDC newsletter. Clark has gained valuable experience on how computers function in a business environment. Outside of work he likes to fix computers, play video games and spend time with his wife, Alicia.
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Kayla Combs, Student Research Assistant
Growing up in El Dorado Hills, CA, Kayla has always had a passion for design, fashion, and photography. Now a Senior at CSU Chico, she uses her Communication Design major as an advantage to learn as much as she can with work involving media, TV & Radio, graphic design, film, and web development. Starting work at CED in December 2011, she hopes to satisfy needs by using her talent and skills with web design. During her college career, Kayla was a member of the CSU Chico Wakeboard team as well as a Disc Jockey for KCSC Radio. When not working or stuck in the library, Kayla enjoys bike rides, taking pictures, traveling, golf, and outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting or swimming. Being a bay area sports lover, Kayla hopes to find a career in San Francisco after she graduates in May 2012.
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Danny Greenwood, Student Research Assistant
Danny Greenwood is a junior working towards an environmental economics degree at California State University, Chico. Growing up in Northern California has given him a unique perspective on the environmental resources important for the viability of the state. While Attending Yuba City High School Danny was active in all four years of golf as well as obtaining honors in Spanish while active in the Rotary Club. Danny attended both Yuba and Butte Community Colleges to obtain his general education. Greenwood started working at the Center for Economic Development (CED) in February 2011. In his spare time Danny enjoys everything outdoors from hiking, camping, biking, swimming and running. He has been working at Chico Sports Club since September of 2007 and is very active within the athletic community. He enjoys participating in local running events and is soon to complete his first triathlon. After graduating Danny is hopeful to acquire a position to utilize his knowledge obtained from CSU, Chico and the CED as well as continue on to graduate school.
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Jordan Hofer, Student Research Assistant
Jordan Hofer is a junior at CSU, Chico and is working towards his degree in environmental economics. He was born and raised in Durham, CA; a small farming town just seven miles south of Chico. He started working at the Center for Economic Development (CED) in October 2011, working on the Economic Scorecard analyzing the economic activity of the local counties, and the larger cities in the middle and northern regions of California. In his free time he enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing soccer.
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Amanda Leonis, Student Research Assistant
Amanda Leonis grew up in San Jose, California. Leonis graduated high school in 2008 and moved to Chico to start her first year of college. Currently she is in her 4th year and pursuing a major in business administration with an option in marketing and a minor in managing for sustainability. Leonis started working with the Center for Economic Development (CED) in October 2011, and hopes to gain insight in a working environment as well as face new challenges to help develop her career experience. Along with school and work with CED, she is also co-director of S.C.O.O.P.(Sustainable Consultation of Office Practices), an organization at CSU, Chico. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, spending quality time with friends and family, exercising, and enjoying the outdoors.
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Marcy McCormick, Student Research Assistant
Marcy McCormick spent her freshman year at the University of California, San Diego, and decided to return to her hometown to complete her undergraduate degree at California State University, Chico. Ultimately choosing economics, McCormick intends to graduate in May 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She has been working as a Research Assistant at the Center for Economic Development (CED) since March of 2010, concentrating on producing the 2010-11 Economic and Demographic Profile Series, completing technical assistance and market intelligence requests, and compiling data for grant applications. In addition, McCormick acts as the office’s Social Events Coordinator, planning gatherings to promote collaboration and cohesion in and out of the workplace. From her position here, she hopes to gain experience and connections she can build on for the rest of her career. When she’s not working, Marcy spends her time at dog shows, playing roller derby, or enjoying Chico’s many attractions.
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Ryan Miller, Student Research Assistant
Ryan Miller is a senior working on degrees in geography and economics at California State University, Chico. He is a Butte County native: he was born and raised in the agricultural hinterlands of Chico and later attended high school in Paradise. Ryan is interested in urban and resource planning, and specifically the role that transportation infrastructure plays in shaping rural and urban communities. After completing a summer internship with the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of Caifornia at Davis, Ryan comes back to Chico with a focused interest on using geographic data to shed light on economic questions. Ryan was hired as a Research Assistant in September 2011 to work on the Broadband Deployment Project, an initiative to analyze and address the lack of high-speed internet access in many rural California communities. Ryan hopes that working for the CED will provide a wide variety of learning experiences and allow for a more intimate understanding of the economic problems California's cities and businesses face. When he is not studying or thinking about graduate school applications, Ryan enjoys exploring Chico via bicycle, reading, and the occasional weekend trip to San Francisco.