Marty Wieder

Biography: Marty Wieder is the City of Grand Prairie’s Economic Development Director. Prior to joining Grand Prairie in May 2016, he served as Director, Economic Development with the City of Colleyville for almost 7 years. Marty also previously worked with GSBS Architects’ Texas Office (where he earned his American Institute of Certified Planners credentials) as Director of Marketing, Planning & Project Development, as well as in economic development-related positions with the City of North Richland Hills (NRH), the Northeast Tarrant and Arlington Chambers of Commerce and at the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Marty grew up in Arlington, Texas—where he observed the work (and very early in his career got the opportunity to work with) historic Mayor Tom Vandergriff. Marty attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication (1983) and later a Master’s Degree in Urban Affairs (1988). Marty is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the American Planning Association and its Economic Development Division, the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers (which tapped him as a Delegate on their P3 Retail Program Advisory Committee in 2015). He is a Director on the North Texas Commission Board and is a Class 4 (2012-13) graduate of the North Texas Commission’s Leadership North Texas program. He is a Service Lead Deacon at the Gateway Church NRH campus. Fort Worth Business selected Marty to be among its first “Top 40 under 40” List in 1994. The Texas Career and Technology Council & Vocational-Technical Education Foundation of Texas recognized him and other NRH officials in 1999 as "Best in Texas" for backing the Birdville Independent School District. The Northeast Tarrant Chamber granted him Chairman’s Awards in 1994 and 2001 for fostering economic development programs (which the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives recognized in 2001 as “Best in the State”) and its Gertrude Tarpley Director of the Year Award in 2003. The University of Texas at Arlington selected him to be among the Recognized Alumni of the School of Urban & Public Affairs in 2013 and the Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce granted him their Leadership Award in 2015. Marty and his wife Bonnie have four children—Casey (who's married Tracie Calhoun Wieder and has one daughter named McKenzie), Carleigh (who's married Scott Long), Collin (who recently married Jillian England) and Christian.