Robert Van Geons, former executive director of RowanWorks, has been named to a list of top economic developers.

Consultant Connect, a Michigan consulting agency that works with economic developers and site consultants, recently released its 2017 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The people selected for the list were nominated by colleagues in the economic development industry and site consultant community for their practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve.

Van Geons left RowanWorks at the end of December to become president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp.

Also named to the list was Juawana Colbert Williams, economic developer for the Fayetteville agency.

The top 50 will be interviewed for an ebook to share their expertise in the field and leadership insights they’ve learned along the way. Consultant Connect strives to lift up the economic development industry by recognizing those the entire economic development community could learn from.

Ron Kitchens, managing partner of Consultant Connect. each of the people on the list “are beyond deserving of this recognition for their efforts in building our communities.”

A native of Waterbury, Conn., Van Geons graduated from Catawba College. He joined the Rowan County Economic Development Corp. in early 2008.