The International Economic Development Council recognized the EDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization in 2001, the organization’s first such honor though the second time Paul has led an organization to this distinction (the only one in the US).

A Certified Economic Developer, Paul is the Chair-elect of the California Association for Local Economic Development and previously served on the Board of Directors for the American Economic Development Council (AEDC), where his leadership and involvement resulted in receiving the Chairman’s Distinguished Service Award in 1999. Paul serves as President of the six-county Central Valley Economic Development Corporation, Chair’s the State EDC Network and has provided professional advice and testimony to the State Legislature and Administration Officials on economic development policy. Paul is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Governor’s Commission on Jobs & Economic Growth.

Paul is an instructor at the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute and the CETYS University Economic Development Course in Baja California and has been a featured speaker at state, national and international conferences. Paul was a founding Board Member of the California Community Colleges Economic Development Network (ED>Net) and served on the Board of Directors (Vice President) of the California Employer Advisory Council. Paul currently serves on the Advisory Board for Southern California Gas Company (Sempra Energy).

Paul has been involved in a variety of projects and activities that has resulted in the receipt of 12 state and national economic development awards and personal recognition by the Kern Council of Governments for which he received the “Local Government Innovation” award. Paul is also the recipient of the 2004 Hispanic Heritage Award for Leadership in Community Development.