Heather Receives IEDC 2025 Future Leader Award
Vorys is pleased to announce that Justin Heather, of counsel in the firm’s Houston office, has received the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) 2025 Future Leader Award. Heather accepted the award at the IEDC’s 2026 Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. on March 2.
The award recognizes professionals with five to ten years of experience in economic development who have positively impacted their communities, introduced innovative ideas and strategies, taken on leadership roles and have demonstrated a commitment to furthering their professional development. According to the IEDC, the award honors “an individual poised to make a significant and lasting impact on the field in the years to come.”
Heather is a certified economic developer with significant experience in business attraction, expansion and retention. He also regularly advises clients on corporate governance, entity formation and a wide range of contractual arrangements. Heather’s government relations background includes drafting legislative proposals, testifying before governmental bodies, analyzing policy and serving as a liaison to government officials on issues including tax increment zones and infrastructure improvements.
He has been active in numerous community organizations, including the Laredo Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Laredo Economic Development Corporation and as chair for the Downtown Laredo Business Improvement District. He is also a member of the Texas Economic Development Council.
About Vorys: Vorys was established in 1909 with just four attorneys and has grown to nearly 375 attorneys in 10 offices in Ohio, Washington, D.C., Texas, Pennsylvania, California, London and Berlin. Vorys currently ranks as one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States according to American Lawyer magazine. Learn more about the firm’s economic development incentives practice.
About the International Economic Development Council: The International Economic Development Council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization serving economic developers, which was founded in 2001 by a merger of the American Economic Development Council and the Council for Urban Economic Development. It has more than 4,500 members.
