[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF DEANNA WEEKS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2010

  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the retirement 
of Ms. Deanna Weeks from the East County Economic Development Council 
(ECEDC), located in my congressional district in East San Diego County. 
For 25 years, Deanna has provided inexhaustible service and dedication 
to the people and businesses of San Diego's East County. Both as a 
person and a professional, Deanna will be sorely missed.
  One does not have to search very long to find the positive results of 
Deanna's work, sacrifice and leadership in our community. Like the rest 
of the nation, our region is going through difficult economic times. I 
firmly believe, however, it could be much worse for East County if it 
were not for the significant contributions Deanna made during her time 
and leadership with the ECEDC. Prior to joining ECEDC Deanna worked at 
the Center on Aging at San Diego State University followed by 
Greenwald/McDonald commercial developers. In the early 1990s after 
joining the ECEDC, Deanna pioneered a grant effort from the Department 
of Defense that studied the needs of small defense-related firms in the 
East County, resulting in Connectory.com, an internet connectivity tool 
that allowed for many San Diego companies to gain business with the 
U.S. Federal Government and expand and grow into new and exciting 
areas.
  Aside from creating Connectory.com and managing its development and 
growth from a sub-regional marketing tool into a nationally recognized 
asset, Deanna was also the leading force behind forming the San Diego 
Space and Defense Consortium, which provided vital resources to local 
companies enabling them to compete with large defense contractors. She 
created and supported the East County Economic Development Foundation 
and the Supporting Education and Economic Development partnership, both 
of which work to create and strengthen career and technical education 
opportunities in our local high schools and community colleges. Deanna 
has served in other capacities such as the Boards of the Downtown El 
Cajon Partnership and the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and 
is currently serving on the Board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community 
College District where she has been a key member of the East County K-
16 Collaborative, a joint effort between community education and 
business that focuses on improving student transition between grade 
levels and curriculums.
  Madam Speaker, in a time when the needs of our community usually 
score low on our list of priorities, I am always encouraged by the 
efforts of Deanna and her unending determination and sacrifice to make 
East San Diego County the special place it is to live. While she will 
be greatly missed, she has provided us all with a great example of 
service to the community. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Deanna Weeks on her retirement, I wish her all the best 
in her future endeavors and thank her for her many years of unyielding 
dedication to guiding the economic prosperity of San Diego's East 
County. We will miss you Deanna, enjoy those grandkids!

                          ____________________