Speakers

John A. Adams, Jr., PhD, CEcD
President & CEO
Enterprise Florida, Inc.
Orlando, FL

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law on February 17, 2009. With the nation facing its worst recession in generations, the law was intended to stimulate the economy and create and retain jobs. This session will examine the impact of the law on economic development and the economy almost one year later.

Charles S. Alvey, CEcD
President & CEO
Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada
Reno, NV

In September of 1998 Chuck Alvey was selected to be President/CEO of EDAWN (Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada) a private not-for-profit corporation and public-private partnership in the region. Since that time EDAWN has grown operating revenues from $700,000 (for 2006 and 2007 it was $3.2 million) and annual economic impact from about $125 million to $402 million per year. EDAWN has completed a very extensive analysis of the Greater Reno-Tahoe market. The result is an additional effort to focus on six key industries and niches within to attract, expand and help start-up companies that are high-yield to and sustainable within the market. The effort includes a strong brand/marketing and national public relations campaign to attract those top companies and related skilled workers. Mr. Alvey received his CEcD in 2003. Prior to EDAWN he spent 31 years in television management, programming and production, the final eight as General Manager of KOLO-TV/ABC in Reno. He has twice been selected by the Nevada Business Journal as one of Nevada’s most respected CEO’s and has twice been selected Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association/Reno Chapter.

Angelos G. Angelou
Principal Executive Officer
AngelouEconomics
Austin, TX

Angelos Angelou is the Founder and Principal Executive Officer of AngelouEconomics, a renowned Economic Development and Site Selection Consultancy based in Austin, Texas. In its thirteen-year history, AngelouEconomics has become the largest independent economic development consulting firm in the US. The firm’s areas of expertise include economic development strategic planning, feasibility studies for technology parks, entrepreneurial strategies and technology assessments, economic impact studies, site selection and marketing.

AngelouEconomics has provided economic development consulting services to some of the most prominent regions of the world, including the States of Texas, New Mexico, New York, and North Carolina; Portugal; the Czech Republic; Austria; Brazil; Kehl/Strasbourg, Germany; and Puerto Rico. Corporate clients include high impact companies such as Dell, Oracle, Sulzer Medica, Citgo, M&W Zander, The Cleveland Clinic, AMD, ConocoPhillips, Sematech, Intel, and Heliovolt.

Prior to forming AngelouEconomics, Angelos was Vice President of Economic Development at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. During his 11-year career with the chamber, he played a major role in bringing more than 400 corporations employing over 70,000 people to Austin. A highly visible leader in the field of economic development across the US, Angelos is widely regarded as the chief architect in the establishment of Austin as another Silicon Valley.

William E. Best, FM
Senior Vice President, Manager Community Development Banking
PNC Bank
East Brunswick, NJ

William Best joined PNC Bank in September, 2003 as Senior Vice President, Northeast Territory Manager, Community Development Banking in its East Brunswick, N. J. office. In this role, he is responsible for the Bank’s commitment towards the growth and prosperity of the low-moderate income segments and its communities, with a focus on economic development, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. He comes to PNC from his position of Executive Director of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. Under his leadership, the agency leveraged over $1.3 billion in economic development. investments. His twenty plus years experience in banking and business were acquired through an executive banking career whereby he developed, managed, and supervised lending programs for the major financial services institutions.

Mr. Best has been recognized with several awards. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, he did graduate studies with Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Banking Program, and completed the Executive Program at Harvard University’s J. F. K. School of Government. He has been affiliated for many years with the New Jersey Urban Bankers Association.

He presently serves on the board of New Jersey Future, New Jersey Regional Plan Association, the Newark Regional Business Partnership, and the IEDC.

Nelda Luce Blair
Chairman of the Board
The Woodlands Township
The Woodlands, TX

Nelda Luce Blair is the Chairman of the Board of The Woodlands Township, the local governing body of a town with nearly 100,000 residents and 2,000 businesses. The role as Chairman is similar to the role of a mayor in cities. In addition to her Township duties, Mrs. Blair is also Chairman of the Board of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Mrs. Blair is the owner of The Blair Law Firm, PC. She serves The Woodlands area in a variety of capacities and is involved with numerous organizations. She is the Past Chairman of the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Blair also serves as President of the Conroe ISD Education Foundation and serves on the Board for the Center for Houston’s Future. In 2008, Governor Rick Perry appointed Mrs. Blair to the University of Houston System Board of Regents.

In addition to her over 25-year legal career, Mrs. Blair has been involved in hundreds of community and charitable projects and political campaigns. She has written over 100 legal articles, published in various venues, and is a popular public speaker. In her "spare time," Mrs. Blair appears as a legal commentator for CNN and FOXNews. A lifetime resident of Montgomery County, Mrs. Blair graduated from Conroe High School, Baylor University and the University of Houston Law Center.

Susan Blansett, CEcD
Principal
R&M Resource Development
Golden, CO

Susan Blansett has more than 20 years of experience in economic development, and has been consulting in community, economic and workforce development since joining R&M Resource Development in 1999. R&M is an innovator in economic development fund-raising, strategy and impact analysis, and has won a reputation for helping E.D. organizations across the U.S. reinvent themselves for greater effectiveness and impact. Among R&M’s recent clients are:

• Upstate Colorado Economic Development (Greeley/Weld County)
• McHenry County EDC (Suburban Chicago, IL)
• Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp. (TX)
• City of Sault Ste. Marie (MI)
• Global Partnership
• Rockford Area Economic Development Council (IL)
• Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce (IL)
• Colorado Rural Development Council
• City of Fort Collins (CO) strategy related to target industry clusters
• Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.
• Obion County Chamber of Commerce (TN)
• Will County Economic Development Council (Joliet, IL)
• State of Colorado Workforce Development Council (Denver, CO)

As a Principal at R&M, Blansett specializes in strategy, fund-raising and investor/client relations for economic development agencies, and has made more than 2,000 direct solicitations. She also has considerable experience in workforce development and small community/rural development. She is an experienced facilitator, clinician and she is on the faculty of the Colorado Basic Economic Development Course. In 2008 she earned credentials as a PULSE Institute professional trainer in mediation.

Blansett honed her community/economic development skills in increasingly responsible positions with the Illinois rural electric cooperatives, the Colorado Governor’s office, the Aurora Economic Development Council and the DIA Partnership in Colorado. Clients praise her professionalism, creativity and dedication to customer satisfaction. She earned her MBA from the University of Colorado and her Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. She is a recipient of the Special Recognition Award conferred by the Economic Developers’ Council of Colorado for contributions to the profession. She enjoys living in Golden, Colorado with husband Mark, three golden retrievers and her horse, Seguin.

Cheryl Brandenburgh, CEcD
Business Recruitment Manager
State of Nebraska - Department of Economic Development
Lincoln, NE

Cheryl Brandenburgh is business recruitment manager for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. In her role, Brandenburgh directs efforts to attract new and expanding businesses by gathering marketing leads and referrals, helping plan and execute special events, meeting with consultants and making cold calls to businesses. The department’s recruitment activities are done in partnership with officials from various utilities, financial institutions and communities statewide.

Previously Brandenburgh served as economic development director for the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and senior market coordinator for Vishay in Columbus, Neb. and Norfolk, Neb.

She is a member of the Industrial Asset Management Council, International Economic Development Council, Nebraska Economic Development Association, American Humane Society, Nebraska Columbus Morning Rotary, Flatland Hog Chapter, and St. Peter’s Church in Bellwood, Neb.

Brandenburgh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She also is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, and is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council.

Dyan Lingle Brasington, CEcD, FM
Vice President for Economic and Community Outreach
Towson University
Towson, Maryland

Dyan Brasington is the Vice President for Economic and Community Outreach (DECO) at Townson University. In her capacity as Vice President, Dyan leads an initiative to create relationships and expand engagement opportunities for the University to meet the needs of community, private sector and government organizations, and to foster economic development in the region. Brasington has more than 30 years combined experience in economic development.

Prior to joining the University, Dyan served as the President of the Technology Council of Maryland, an organization that advocated for the development of technology driven companies. Dyan has developed and led government and private sector economic development agencies at the state, regional and local levels. Her experience including being the Director of Economic Development for the State of West Virginia, the Director in Howard and Montgomery Counties, Maryland, and in Prince William County, Virginia and as an Industrial Representative for the Florida Department of Commerce.

Stacey Brayboy
Special Assistant of Community Development
US Department of Agriculture
Office of Rural Development
Washington, DC

Ian Bromley, MA, MBA, FMIEDC, FRSA
Immediate Past Chair
International Economic Development Council
Toronto, Ontario

In September 2006, Ian Bromley was appointed as the first Chief Executive of Creative Sheffield, in Sheffield, England). Creative Sheffield is a City Development Company encompassing the activities of predecessors, Sheffield One (City Centre Regeneration Company) and Sheffield First for Investment (Inward Investment Agency) and building new capacities in marketing and branding, innovation and the knowledge economy, and regional economic development to create a comprehensive and effective company to transform Sheffield’s economy.

Mr. Bromley joined Creative Sheffield from Toronto, Canada where he held a number of progressively senior positions in Management Consulting (Boston Consulting Group), Economic Development, Communication, Marketing and Innovation development in the private and public sectors. Most recently, Mr Bromley served the Government of Ontario, Canada as Director of Urban Economic Development, Director of Economic Development Strategy and Director of Infrastructure and Innovation.

Mr. Bromley has also worked as a consultant, advisor and teacher in urban and economic development in Japan, China, New Zealand, Brazil, the United States and Canada.

Mr. Bromley currently serves as Chair of the International Economic Development Council. He has been a long standing board member with the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, the Ottawa Partnership, the Waterloo Accelerator Centre, the Economic Development Council of Ontario, and the Innovation Systems Research Network.

Ronnie L. Bryant, CEcD, FM
President & CEO
Charlotte Regional Partnership
Charlotte, NC

As President and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Ronnie Bryant leads the economic development organization that promotes the 16-county Charlotte region as a premier location for businesses considering expansion or relocation. Bryant is nationally known for his proven track record of establishing and implementing successful economic development programs, with a strong emphasis on existing industry expansion and retention, regionalism and marketing.

Prior to joining CRP, Bryant served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Pittsburgh Regional, Senior Vice President of the Economic Development Division for the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association and led the development team at the Shreveport, LA., Chamber of Commerce.

Bryant is a graduate of Louisiana State University in Shreveport and the Economic Development Institute (EDI). He is a recipient of the American Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Robert B. Cassell Leadership Award for excellence in leadership and scholarship. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and currently serves as a member of EDI’s Board of Directors and is immediate past president of that organization. Bryant is actively involved with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), where he has been designated as a Fellow Member (FM) and currently serves as Past Chairman of the Board.

Brad Burke
Managing Director
Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
Rice University
Houston, TX

Brad is responsible for leading the nationally acclaimed Rice Alliance in its mission to support entrepreneurship education, technology commercialization, and the launch of early stage technology companies in the Houston region. Under his watch, the Rice Alliance has achieved the ranking of the #5 graduate entrepreneurship program in the country (Princeton Review) and as Houston’s Greatest Economic Development Ally (Greater Houston Partnership).

Brad joined the Rice Alliance from Viant, an internet start-up company founded in 1996 which went public in 1999. Viant grew to become one of the world’s leading internet consulting firms with offices around the world. Brad founded and launched the Houston office. Viant was funded by Kleiner Perkins, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, went public in June 1999, and was later acquired in 2002..

Prior to Viant, Brad was a Principal with CSC Index, the management consulting division of Computer Sciences Corporation. He led multi-million dollar consulting projects for Fortune 500 energy companies that included BP, Mobil, Arco, and Petro-Canada.

Earlier, Brad was an Exxon executive, where he held management positions in finance, marketing, sales, and strategic planning, including General Manager for an $80 million Specialty Products business unit. He received his MBA from Northwestern (Kellogg) as an Austin Scholar and B.S. from Vanderbilt University in Computer Science and Business Administration (magna cum laude).

Rob Camoin, CEcD
Principal
Camoin Associates, Inc.
Saratoga Springs, New York

Over the past 27 years, Rob Camoin has developed a comprehensive understanding of the business investment decision making process and the important role that public and quasi-public sector organizations play in creating healthy business environments. In 1999, Rob formed Camoin Associates to assist businesses and developers in pursuing public financing and tax incentives for expansion and industrial development projects and to help economic development organizations and local governments foster private investment. Since then, Camoin Associates has assisted hundreds of private businesses in securing millions of dollars in financing and tax credits, and has guided more than 30 local communities through strategic planning processes with the goal of strengthening their competitiveness in an increasingly global economy.

Rob has a BBA in Finance and Economics from St. Bonaventure University and a Masters of Planning degree from SUNY @ Buffalo. Prior to establishing Camoin Associates, Rob worked in the equity and currency markets in New York City, becoming Series 7 and 63 licensed. He began his economic development and planning career as the Development Director for Saranac Lake, New York.

With offices in New York City and the Albany area, Camoin Associates provides consulting services to economic development organizations, businesses, developers and municipalities. These services include formulating economic development strategies that identify opportunities for commercial and industrial development, providing market and financial feasibility studies used in the investment decision process, identifying and pursuing financing and tax incentive packages necessary to induce private investment, and cost/benefit studies that measure the impact a public or private investment will have on a local economy and taxing jurisdiction.

Richard Carpenter, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Lone Star College System
Houston, Texas

A nationally acclaimed and highly respected higher education leader, Dr. Richard Carpenter currently serves as Chancellor at Lone Star College System in Texas, recognized nationally and ranked #1 by the Houston Business Journal as the largest College or University in the Houston, Texas area with 59,000 credit students, 16,000 on-line students, and 17,000 non-credit students. As of 2008, the Lone Star College System is ranked as the largest producer of Associate Degrees in the state of Texas.

Dr. Carpenter began his career as President at Somerset Community College in Kentucky at the age of 29 as the youngest college president in the country. Because of his visionary and aggressive leadership skills in education, economic and workforce development, and fundraising, Dr. Carpenter was subsequently recruited to college presidencies in the states of Minnesota, California, and Alabama, before serving as President and CEO of the 16-college Wisconsin Community and Technical College System which enrolled over 400,000 students with a $1 billion annual budget. Most recently, he served as President of the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, and as State Director for Nevada’s Community Colleges.

Richard Carpenter has served as a Board Member of the American Association of Community Colleges, on the Board of the Nevada Economic Development Authority, and on the State Workforce Investment Board in three states. He has served as Chair of the AACC Commission on Global Education, Chair of the Presidents Advisory Group to the American Association of Community College Trustees, a Mentor for the American Council on Education Fellows Program and as a member of the Global Education Committee of the American Council on Education. He was also Commissioner of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission, Commissioner for the Midwest Higher Education Commission, Co-Chair of the Governor’s Statewide Healthcare Taskforce (Wisconsin), Co-Chair of the State PK-16 Council (Wisconsin), Advisor for The College Board (New York) and a Delegate for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for 17 years.

He received his A.A from Southwest Mississippi Community College, B.A and M.Ed. from Northwestern University, and his Doctorate in community college leadership from North Carolina State University.

Drew Casani
Director
Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center
University of Texas at Arlington, Fort Worth Campus
Fort Worth, TX

Drew Casani is the Director of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC). TMAC is an affiliate of the US Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). The organization works with manufacturers to improve their competitiveness, productivity, and profitability.

He is Group Manager for the Small Integrated Manufacturing Enterprise Group (SIME) at the Automation & Robotics Research Institute of The University of Texas at Arlington. SIME is comprised of three centers working together on behalf of small business.

Drew has extensive experience in strategic planning, quality management, new business development, domestic and international marketing, supply chain management, and overhaul and modernization. He has had profit and loss responsibility for the marketing, engineering, manufacturing and sales for major aircraft structure programs.

Tim Chase, CEcD, FM
President & CEO
Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Wichita Falls, TX

Mr. Chase was named President and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2001 after having served as its Vice President of Economic Development since 1998. Included in the Chamber’s missions are economic development, workforce development, and military affairs for the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, trade area 387,000.

Serving as the Director of the Dixon, Illinois, Industrial Development Association (DIDA) for ten years Mr. Chase spent 12 years in retail management and four years in the Navy.

Mr. Chase is Dean for the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. He is a nationally recognized speaker on the topics of economic & community development, strategic planning, infrastructure, sales, and marketing. He chairs Team Texas, a marketing organization of 55 Texas communities.

An International Economic Development Council (IEDC) member since 1988 Mr Chase was presented with the first Outstanding New Economic Developer award in 1993. He became a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in 1994, and for his work in the field of training and education related to economic development. Mr. Chase received his Fellow Member (FM) in May of 2001.

Tedra Cheatham, CEcD
COO/Vice President of Economic Development
Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Alpharetta, GA

Tedra Cheatham serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. She has been employed by GNFCC since June 2003. Mrs. Cheatham has almost 15 years of experience in economic development in Texas and Georgia. Prior to her career in economic development, Mrs. Cheatham served as an analyst for the Louisiana State Senate and worked in government relations in the private sector, lobbying all levels of government. Mrs. Cheatham received her Masters in Public Administration from the University of New Orleans and her Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University. She serves on numerous charitable, professional and community boards and was selected as one of the 2009 10 Phenomenal Women of North Fulton by the American Business Women’s Association.

Burt Chojnowski
Founder & General Manager
BrainBelt Consulting
Fairfield, IA

Burt Chojnowski is the Founder and Managing Partners of BrainBelt Consulting, Inc. based in Fairfield, Iowa. BrainBelt Consulting is the premier entrepreneurial development consulting firm in the US. The firm’s areas of expertise include peer-networking entrepreneurial development planning and economic gardening strategies, taking the “entrepreneurial pulse” across a region, creating local living economies, entrepreneurial community branding and grass-root strategic planning services utilizing “asset quilting”. The firm also provides strategic advice and consulting service to start-up companies in digital media and clean technologies.

BrainBelt Consulting has provided entrepreneurial development consulting services to rural and urban communities in the states of Georgia, Louisiana, Alaska, Michigan, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. He has made presentations on Creating Entrepreneurial Communities and Local Living Economies across the country.

Burt Chojnowski is the former president of the Fairfield Entrepreneurs Association and played a major role in attracting $275 million of investment in over sixty startup companies in a community less than 10,000. Burt has created innovative, low cost strategies to support an entrepreneurial culture. Burt helped brand Fairfield, Iowa as the entrepreneurial capital of rural America and “Silicorn Valley”. Burt has senior management and capital formation experience with dozens of startup companies in California and Iowa.

Burt serves on the boards of the National Network of Technology, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (N2TEC), the Community Vitality Center (CVC) and Fairfield First! Burt is also a screener and mentor for World’s Best Technology Showcase. Burt hosts a Rural Entrepreneurial Gathering and an Economic Gardening Boot Camp, annually.

Christopher Chung
Chief Executive Officer
The Missouri Partnership
St. Louis, Missouri

In 2007, Christopher Chung joined the newly formed Missouri Partnership as the public-private, non-profit corporation’s first Chief Executive Officer. In addition to having built the organization from its initial start-up status, Chris directs the Partnership’s efforts to market Missouri for new business investment and recruit new employers to the state. The Missouri Partnership, in close collaboration with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and regional and local economic development organizations around the state, strives to spearhead Missouri’s global efforts to attract new industry, jobs, and prosperity to the state’s communities. In March 2009, Chris was appointed by Missouri Governor Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon to chair the Automotive Jobs Task Force, a 20-member statewide task force of business, academic, and labor leaders responsible for recommending policies to improve Missouri’s competitiveness in retaining and attracting automotive investment and employment. Prior to moving to Missouri, Chris served in both Republican and Democratic administrations as Manager of the State of Ohio’s Office of Business Development, leading Ohio’s “front-line sales force” of 20 professionals dedicated to attracting new business investment and job creation to the state. The Office of Business Development generates economic opportunities in Ohio’s business community by helping companies to locate or expand in the state, and houses economic development funding programs of over $80 million annually in financial assistance to Ohio’s companies and communities. Chris is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council, and has served as a guest speaker and writer on economic incentives and business tax policy for CoreNet Global and its national chapters in Chicago, Michigan, Atlanta, and Arizona. Chris attended The Ohio State University (OSU), graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with a dual degree in Japanese and economics. He is near completion of a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management, to be awarded from the OSU John Glenn School of Public Affairs. Additionally, Chris currently serves on the board of directors for the Coro Leadership Center of St. Louis, a non-profit institution providing nationally recognized, experiential leadership training.

John Cody, CED
President and CEO
Longmont Area Economic Council
Longmont, Colorado

John is a Certified Economic Developer (CED) with more than 25 years of economic development experience. John holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Mississippi and has worked in the states of Louisiana, Wyoming and Colorado. Prior to joining the Longmont Area Economic Council in March of 1999, John spent seven years as the Vice President/CIO of Adams County (Colorado) Economic Development.

He is Past Chair of the Metro Denver Network (MDN) Professionals, Past President of the Economic Developers' Council of Colorado and a member of the International Economic Development Council. He is a past Chair of Workforce Boulder County, a former Board member of the Colorado Software and Photonics Associations and is a member of the Metro Denver WIRED Leadership Council. He is also a member of the Longmont Rotary Club.

John was chosen Board Member of the Year in 1995 by the Adams County Private Industry Council, Economic Developer of the Year for 2002 by the Economic Developers' Council of Colorado, Colorado's Financial Services Advocate for 2004 by the US Small Business Administration and received the Business Partnership award in 2006 from the Colorado Workforce Council.

Dennis G. Coleman, CEcD, FM
President & CEO
Saint Louis County Economic Council
Saint Louis, MO

Dennis G. (Denny) Coleman is the president & CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council. Prior to his present position, Coleman was director of development for the City of St. Louis, being in charge of the city’s neighborhood, housing and economic development efforts. He also has served as vice-president for community development at Mercantile Bank when the bank’s community development corporation won national Fair Housing awards and a Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House. He also was the founding director of the DeSales Housing Corporation, a non-profit, neighborhood-based organization. St. Louis County Economic Council is a not-for-profit economic development organization responsible for creating high quality business and employment opportunities for long-term diversified growth throughout St. Louis County and the St. Louis region. Mr. Coleman has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree in urban geography from St. Louis University. He also has completed the Senior Executives Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serves on the national board of directors of the International Economic Development Council.

Hilary Coman, CEcD
President
The Coman Company
Charlotte, North Carolina

Coman Company founder and president Hilary Coman has broad experience in business and marketing, locally, nationally and internationally. Ms. Coman, a Charlotte, N.C., native, earned her undergraduate degree from Davidson College and holds graduate degrees in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University and Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Through Coman Company, Ms. Coman helps clients to improve performance against their financial and social goals. Working with both business and governmental clients to identify opportunities, she assists them in market analysis, organizational assessment and strategic planning. Her expertise includes design and delivery of market research, using fact-based research to develop strategic plans, business performance improvement and development and implementation of growth strategies.

Ms. Coman is an alumna of the international consulting firm McKinsey and Company, and has considerable experience working overseas in foreign environments and cultures.

J. Vann Cunningham
Assistant Vice President, Economic Development
BNSF Railway Company
Fort Worth, Texas

Vann Cunningham is Assistant Vice President – Economic Development for BNSF Railway Co. He leads programs that encourage industries to locate or expand facilities on BNSF. He also has responsibility for development of various rail-served industrial, intermodal and transload facilities throughout BNSF’s franchise. BNSF, headquartered in Fort Worth, operates on 32,500 route miles of track covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces. In his role, he has written and spoken extensively on the impact of transportation, logistics and the evolving global supply chain on corporate site selection, economic development and real estate development.

Cunningham has over 35 years' corporate site selection and economic development experience including major domestic and international projects in the public and private sectors. His Economic Development career began at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), where he initially engaged in power plant siting and subsequently, served as Chief of Regional Planning, Manager of Economic and Community Development, and Senior Manager of Industrial Development. At TVA, he worked with major manufacturing companies on corporate siting projects locating in the region.

In 1996, Cunningham joined Lockwood Greene, a global engineering and consulting firm. He was responsible for directing the Economic Development and Corporate Site Selection Consulting practice. Clients included Fortune 1000 and major international firms.

Gene DePrez
Chief Innovation Officer
Creative Sheffield City Development Company
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
United Kingdom

Gene DePrez is Chief Innovation Officer for Creative Sheffield, the City Development Company which integrates the activities of several merged predecessors including city and regional regeneration, business and inward investment, enterprise and skills development and expanded initiatives, innovation and the knowledge economy. Its mission is to effectively transform Sheffield’s regional economy. Gene collaborates with a wide spectrum of global, national and regional organizations to champion innovation and collaboration in fulfillment of Sheffield’s Economic Master Plan.

Prior to coming to Sheffield, Gene was a member of IBM’s Global Innovation Team and was based in New York as Co-Global Leader for Business Location and Economic Development Strategy in IBM’s Strategy and Change management consultant practice. He led a similar role at PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Management Consultancy prior to its acquisition by IBM. He has over 30 years’ experience in corporate location strategy and economic development and has helped hundreds of the world’s leading companies to relocate. Gene has directed economic development strategy projects for both North American and UK regions and has led the development of innovation and collaboration of best practice growth models for a number of universities and technology parks.

Kim Didier
Executive Director
Iowa Innovation Gateway
Director, Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Des Moines, IA

Kimberly (Kim) Didier recently became the Executive Director, for the Iowa Innovation Gateway and Director, Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development at the Iowa Association of Business & Industry. The Executive Director position is a new role resulting from an innovative 7-county regional collaborative planning process funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s first in the nation regional innovation grant (RIG).

Prior to her new role, Kim was Executive Director, Newton Development Corporation (NDC) for over 3 years. Only a few months on the job, Kim’s role of marketing new businesses to Newton took on a new definition as Newton’s Fortune 500 Company, Maytag Corporation, announced in April, 2006 that it was sold to Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, Michigan and by the end of October of 2007, all of the 1,900 jobs (office and factory) would be relocated completely out of Newton.

Within a year of the Maytag plant closure, over 1,000 of the jobs lost were reclaimed through the recruitment of several advanced manufacturing and high-tech companies and the development of a model support system for entrepreneurs and existing businesses. As a result of Newton’s remarkable transformation, Kim has testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and presented at several Department of Labor Conferences.

Didier holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and a M.P.A. from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Kim and her husband John, a professional photographer, live in Newton with their three children.

J. David Enloe, Jr.
Founder, President & CEO
Vivante GMP Solutions
Houston, TX

Mr. Enloe has nearly 25 years of management experience, 15 of that in biotechnology, drug development, and GMP manufacturing management. Prior to founding Vivante, he was biotechnology firm Introgen Therapeutics' first employee, and over a period of 14 years saw his responsibilities increase to the position of COO and ultimately President and CEO. From 1989 to 1995, he held various positions at Baker Hughes, Inc., a multinational energy services firm, including Region General Manager, Southeast Asia. Prior to BHI he was with Arthur Andersen, LLP. David is very active in his community, serving in a leadership capacity in numerous civic organizations. David received a BBA from the University of Texas and is a CPA.

Lloyd K. Everson, MD
Vice Chairman
US Oncology
The Woodlands, TX

Lloyd K. Everson, M.D. was president of US Oncology from November 1993 until March 2001. He was a director of US Oncology from 1993 until 1999 and again beginning in 2001. He joined the board of directors of US Oncology Holdings in 2004 and presently serves as its vice chairman. Dr. Everson received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his oncology training at Memorial Sloan Kettering and at the National Cancer Institute. He is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. Dr. Everson has published widely in the field of oncology and is a member of numerous professional associations. He also has served as president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers and as associate chairman for community programs for the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Dr Everson completed his medical education at Harvard University in 1969.

Michael A. Finney
President & CEO
Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor, MI

Michael A. Finney is the President and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK (SPARK).

SPARK is a public-private partnership whose mission is to advance innovation-based economic development in the greater Ann Arbor region. SPARK recently merged with the Washtenaw Development Council to form one integrated flagship economic development group to assist businesses at every stage, from those that are established to those working to successfully commercialize innovations.

SPARK represents all communities in the Washtenaw County region of Michigan and collaborates with business, government, academic, and not-for-profit partners.

Prior to taking the helm at Ann Arbor SPARK, Michael served as president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, Rochester, New York; he also served as Vice President for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Senior Vice President and General Manager, Thomson Saginaw; and as Assistant City Manager, Saginaw, Michigan.

Michael currently serves on the University of Michigan, Office of Technology Transfer National Advisory Council and the Life Sciences Institute National Advisory Council; Board of Directors for the State Science and Technology Institute and the Michigan Venture Capital Association; Trustee for the Washtenaw Community College Foundation and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. Michael was appointed the 2005 Minett Distinguished Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Matthew Gardner, PhD
Director
Sustainserv, Inc.
Boston, MA

Dr. Matthew Gardner is a Director of Sustainserv, Inc., a Boston Massachusetts and Zurich Switzerland based firm that works with the world’s leading companies to help them design and implement corporate sustainability strategies. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Haverford College, and his doctorate in chemistry from Michigan State University. He spent 10 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including five years as the Executive Director of the Earth System Initiative, and environmental research program.

Matt’s work takes him around the world to lecture, to teach and to work with organizations that are interested in exploring how the current environmental, social and economic challenges faced by the world can be turned into positive growth opportunities for companies, society and the planet. His expertise is in corporate sustainability, green community development and environmental science and technology.

He sits on the advisory board of several not-for-profit organizations and is currently the Chief Science Officer for the EarthQuest Institute, a new non-profit venture slated for construction in New Caney, Texas. A native of Houston, he currently resides outside of Boston, MA with his wife, and two young children.

Shari Garmise, PhD
Vice President of Knowledge Management & Development
International Economic Development Council
Washington, DC

Shari Garmise is Vice President for Knowledge Management and Development at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) where she overseas all the content for the organization. Previously, she was Assistant Professor of Economic Development at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Dr. Garmise has over 19 years of experience in economic development research, analysis and policy development in the United States and Europe. Her areas of expertise include workforce development, technology-led economic development, entrepreneurship, and many others. Dr. Garmise recently authored the book, People and the Competitive Advantage of Place: Building a 21st Century Workforce and has published work in several journals including Local Economy, Economic Development Journal and Regional and Federal Studies as well as various book chapters, working papers, and professional reports and policy analyses.

Shari got her Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and her M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Pedro Garza
Regional Director of the EDA Southwestern Region
US Department of Commerce – EDA
Austin, TX

Pedro Garza became Regional Director of the EDA Southwestern Region in January 1996. As Regional Director, Mr. Garza oversees infrastructure development, capacity building and economic adjustment assistance in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Earlier in EDA, Garza served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Operations in Washington, DC.

Previous to joining EDA, Mr. Garza was President of Policy Research Group, a public policy consulting business in Austin, concentrating on community development and competitiveness issues.

Garza also served as National President of SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc. from 1979 to 1984.

He graduated from Texas A&M University, receiving a B.A. degree with highest honors. At Princeton University, Garza received his Masters Degree in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, concentrating on economics and public policy.

A former migrant farm worker from South Texas, Garza served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army; worked for the United Nations Development Programme in New York, and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, DC.

Raymond Gilley
President & CEO
Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
Orlando, FL

Ray Gilley joined the EDC as President in April of 2001. As Chief Executive Officer, he oversees the operations of a $6.4 million regional organization with a 36-person staff that represents the four-county region of Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola, and the City of Orlando. Prior to joining the EDC, Mr. Gilley spent 15 years in operations management and professional roles with Progress Energy Corporation, the state’s second largest electric utility company, and 5 years in research and national business development roles with the Florida Department of Commerce.

Mr. Gilley served as chairman of the Board of Workforce Florida, Inc. from 2002 - 2005, appointed by then Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In that capacity, he led the development of the state’s workforce policy, programs and services. His other gubernatorial/legislative appointments included: Lake-Sumter Community College Board of Trustees and the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Space & Aeronautics in Florida. Other past leadership roles include: Orlando Regional Healthcare System Trustee - a $1 billion 7 hospital system; Orange County Jail Oversight Commission; Workforce Central Florida; Lake Industrial Development Authority. Mr. Gilley has served on two local and regional bank boards and a credit union. He is a past volunteer president of the South Lake Chamber and has served as chairman of several community based non-profit organizations over the years.

He currently is serving as past Chairman of the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC), a statewide association of industry leaders and professionals who are committed to advancing economic development professionalism, priorities and advocacy. A long time leader with FEDC, Gilley has chaired the Economic Developers’ Political Action Committee, Sustainable Funding Task Force and Legislative Affairs Committee. He also serves as board member of the following organizations: University of Central Florida Foundation; University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund; Junior Achievement; WMFE Public TV/Radio Station; myregion.org; Seminole Chamber; and Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber.

Betsy Giusto, PhD
Economic Development Director
City of Webster
Webster, TX

Since August 2000, Dr. Giusto has fostered economic development initiatives in the City of Webster, Texas, that have resulted in Webster’s renown as the medical center of the south, the retail, dining and entertainment capital of Bay Area Houston, and the aerospace capital of the southwest. For the past decade, Giusto has forged a strong, award-winning partnership with Space Center Houston that has resulted in a burgeoning tourism market for the City of Webster, which touts 17 hotels within its 6.7 square miles.

Giusto credits her economic development team members, Karen Coglianese and Chris Thrailkill, with innovative, progressive ideas and the aptitude, dedication, and fortitude to put them into practice to grow the City’s commercial tax base.

Giusto earned her Ph.D. from the University of Houston in 1997, after earning a Master of Arts in Science in 1989 and a Master of Arts in 1980 from University of Houston-Clear Lake. Giusto, a tennis enthusiast, graduated from Tulane University in 1975. During the 1980s, Giusto taught a variety of English courses at Alvin Community College.

Lynn Martin Haskin, PhD
Vice President
Development Counsellors International
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Lynn Martin Haskin is Vice President at New York-based Development Counsellors International – the leader in marketing places, and the only firm in the world that exclusively markets places for economic development and tourism. Previously, she worked at Greater Philadelphia First (GPF), the region’s private sector leadership organization now part of the Chamber, where she was associate director responsible for economic development and marketing for 12 years. Before joining GPF on a sabbatical that led to a career change, Dr. Haskin was Director of Academic Affairs at Penn State University – Delaware County Campus. Prior to that she taught journalism and was the first woman tenured in Pen State’s School of Journalism. While there, she was recruited by the president of Temple University to serve for one year as special assistant to the provost for academic planning and organization. Earlier in her career, she was a reporter and editor for daily and weekly newspapers in Greater Philadelphia.

Dr. Haskin is active in numerous professional and civic associations. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council and the External/Member Relations Committee. She previously co-chaired the Regional Marketing Committee and was Philadelphia Chair of the 2001 (CUED) Annual Conference, raising $289,

John Hofmeister
Founder & CEO
Citizens for Affordable Energy
Former President
Shell Oil Company
Houston, TX

John Hofmeister, upon retirement from Shell Oil Company in July, 2008, founded and heads the not-for-profit (501(c)(3) ), nation-wide membership association, Citizens for Affordable Energy. This Washington, D.C.-registered, public policy education firm promotes sound U.S. energy security solutions for the nation, including a range of affordable energy supplies, efficiency improvements, essential infrastructure, sustainable environmental policies and public education on energy issues.

Hofmeister was named President of Houston-based Shell Oil Company in March 2005, heading the U.S. Country Leadership Team, which included the leaders of all Shell businesses operating in the United States. He became President after serving as Group Human Resource Director of the Shell Group, based in The Hague, The Netherlands.

As Shell President, Hofmeister launched an extensive outreach program, unprecedented in the energy industry, to discuss critical global energy challenges. The program included an 18 month, 50-city tour across the country during which Hofmeister led 250 other Shell leaders to meet with more than 15,000 business, community and civic leaders, policymakers, and academics to discuss what must be done to ensure affordable, available energy for the future.

A business leader who has participated in the inner workings of multiple industries for over 35 years, Hofmeister also has held executive leadership positions in General Electric, Nortel and AlliedSignal (now Honeywell International).

Hofmeister serves as the Chairman of the National Urban League and is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee. He serves as non-executive Director of the Hunting PLC, London, UK, and the Sodexo North America Business Advisory Board. He is Senior Advisor to two energy start-ups: Liberty Power of Fort Lauderdale, Fl and NewEarth Technologies of Seattle, WA. Hofmeister also serves on the boards of the Foreign Policy Association,Strategic Partners, LLC, the Gas Technology Institute and the Center for Houston’s Future.

Hofmeister is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. He also is a past Chairman and serves as a Director of the Greater Houston Partnership. Hofmeister earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Political Science from Kansas State University.

John Hofmeister is in the midst of writing the definitive book on Strategic, Sustainable and Affordable Energy Policy for the US. It will turn a lot of the conventional wisdom about energy on its head. Stay tuned for its 2010 publication

Don A. Holbrook, CEcD, FM
President & CEO
The Vercitas Group
Lake Havasu City, AZ

Don Holbrook is a private practitioner involved in site selection for private sector investment projects and economic development consulting nationally as one of the fields most influential and recognized subject matter experts. His site selection practice specializes in public backed inducements and incentives in the tourism destination entertainment location decisions, through, the establishment of a public private partnerships in such projects. Don has specialized in creating customized incentive policies that reduce the over-all cost of the project to the clients with favorable ROI to both the private and public sector partners.

Holbrook is recognized as an early pioneer of site location and community profiling technology in web based infrastructure. He assisted in establishing the data standards utilized today as the industry standard through his role at the International Economic Development Council, IEDC. He is regarded as one of the experts in the field on technology based site selection and creative financing for public investments in attracting business catalyst private sector projects. He is the developer of the patent pending dynamic site location database model now currently licensed to the industry with the IEDC.

He has authored two books, his first the "Little Black Book of Economic Development," and his most recent book, “Who Moved My Smoke Stack.” He is a highly published and quoted subject matter experts and is a frequent keynote speaker on the "Art of the Deal Today" and "Globalization" for economic development groups, chambers of commerce and corporations.

Honorable Thomas E. Holden, OD
Mayor
City of Oxnard, California
Oxnard, CA

Dr. Thomas E. Holden was elected to serve as Mayor of Oxnard in November 2004, following nine and a half years of service as a Councilmember (1993-2002).

Dr. Holden represents the City on several Boards, Commissions and Committees, including Co-Chairing the Downtown Improvement Task Force, the Graffiti Task Force, and is Chairman of the Economic Development Corporation of Oxnard, serves as a member of the Ormond Beach Property Oversight Committee, the Utilities Task Force and the Channel Islands Harbor Taskforce. He also represents the city on county-wide boards including: serving as Chair of Gold Coast Transit, and the Ventura County Council of Governments, as boardmember on the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, and Big Independent Cities Excess Pool Joint Powers Authority.

He also is very active in community boards including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, St. John’s Regional Medical Community Board as well as its Foundation Board. In recognition of his hard work on behalf of the community, he was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Knights of Columbus. Dr. Holden received his optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry in 1986.

Mike Humpal, CEcD
Assistant City Administrator
City of Fairmont
Fairmont, MN

Mike is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He holds a B.S. in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University, and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He completed IEDC’s Economic Development Institute in 1992 and received his CEcD in 1994. Mike also is a Certified Economic Finance Professional through the National Development Council. Mike was a Community Economic Development Specialist for the Omaha Metropolitan Area Planning Agency from 1987 through 1995. Mike has been with the City of Fairmont Minnesota population 11,200 since 1995; holding the positions of Community Development Director and Assistant City Administrator. Primary responsibilities include director of the city EDA, Planning and Zoning, Housing Authority, revolving loan fund management business retention and recruitment. Mike and his wife Mary have two children ages 17 and 18. Hobbies include spending time with family, fishing, hunting, skiing and golfing.

Kevin Johns, AICP
Director, Economic Development
Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach, FL

Mr. Johns is Director of Economic Development for Palm Beach County, Florida. In this capacity he is supervising implementation of the 21st Century Palm Beach County Strategic Economic Plan. This economic plan has received national awards in 2008 and 2009 including an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Award of Excellence for its approach to Globalization. Sweeping new global economic initiatives are transforming the community. This includes development of an intermodal logistics complex (Inland Port) as the nexus South Florida Seaports seeking billions of dollars of trade from the 2014 opening of the Panama Canal super locks. Related accomplishments include the establishment of an International Finance District, Global Capital Markets Group and virtual consular corps to finance international equity projects and trade. In the area of high technology, international MOAs have been signed with World Trade Centers in Max Planck Society network cities to facilitate investment and trade with European knowledge industries. To advance global tourism and to address disinvestment a first Intracoastal Waterway Plan was developed based upon the Thames River Gateway case study for the U.K.

Previously Mr. Johns was Director of Planning for the Southeast U.S. region for the multinational Parsons Corporation. Kevin was also Director of two of the nation’s fastest growing suburbs, both in the Atlanta metro area during the 1980s and 1990s. His far seeing plans have been widely recognized in the media … including the 2009 Sports Illustrated issue on Poverty in the sports hungry Glades region of Florida, the National League of Cities book “Economic Successes in Small Cities,” NBC Atlanta’s “In Depth” television show,” the LA Times, Southern Living Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, and Atlanta Journal Constitution. Mr. Johns has a Masters Degree in City Planning from the Georgia Tech College of Architecture, and a BA from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. He is nationally recognized for economic development, strategic planning, and environmental projects. His accomplishments include national and state awards. Kevin has implemented over 200 successful public private partnerships across the U.S. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the Regional Leadership Institute of Atlanta, and the International Economic Development Council.

Barbara K. Johnson
Principal
The Johnson Group, LLC
New Orleans, LA

Barbara K. Johnson, MPA, board member and chair of the IEDC External Member Relations Committee, is principal with The Johnson Group, a New Orleans consulting firm founded in 2008.

The Johnson Group provides business solutions to corporations to help them achieve a greater return, impact and results from their community investments. As it assists organizations to rethink strategies, maximize resources and accelerate program implementation, it also brings to bear extensive knowledge, experience and networks in philanthropic, community and economic development.

Johnson has held executive positions in economic development, planning and and public policy research at Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Downtown Development District, the University of New Orleans and the Bureau of Governmental Research. She directed the 2004 organizational merger of the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce and the MetroVision Economic Development Partnership as Greater New Orleans, Inc., aligning key business and political leadership on a focused blueprint for economic development. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, Johnson led the creation and implementation of an economic roadmap for the region’s renaissance. She has established a strong workforce development track record and was instrumental in securing over $20 million in funding for colleges and universities in the New Orleans area to address the critical shortage of talent in key industries in the region.

Johnson holds a bachelor of arts in city and regional planning from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Orleans.

David R. Kolzow, PhD
President
Team Kolzow, Inc.
Franklin, TN

Dr. Dave Kolzow is currently President of Team Kolzow, Inc., an economic development consulting firm based in Franklin, Tennessee. Previously, he was Executive Director of the Tennessee Leadership Center in Nashville, Tennessee, a position that he held from 2005 to mid-2007.

From 1999 to 2003, he served as the Chair of the Department of Economic Development and Planning at the University of Southern Mississippi, and from 1997 to 1999 he was a Principal at Lockwood Greene Consulting in Greer, South Carolina. He also served as Principal in charge of Economic Development for Fluor Daniel Consulting from 1995 to 1997. From 1986 to 1995, he was President of the firm of Kolzow & Associates Inc., a site selection and economic development consulting firm based in Tucson, Arizona.

David has over thirty years of consulting experience in site selection, real estate development planning, and community economic development. His past clients include numerous communities, states, and some of the largest land developers in the nation. Since 1995, he has been the principal instructor of the IEDC course on Management. He has served on the faculty of the Economic Development Institute in Norman OK, was Course Director for the Tennessee BEDC, taught at various Basic Economic Development courses, and has conducted a wide range of economic development workshops across the country and overseas.

Dr. Kolzow received his B.S. degree from Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois; his M.S. in Geography from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb; and his Ph.D. in Geography from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Joel Kotkin
Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures, Chapman University, Orange, California
Adjunct Fellow, Legatum Institute, London, United Kingdom

An internationally-recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends, Joel Kotkin is the author of a new book, THE NEXT HUNDRED MILLION: America in 2050, to be published in February, 2010 by the Penguin Press. The book explores how the nation will evolve in the next four decades.

His previous, critically acclaimed book, THE CITY: A GLOBAL HISTORY, was published in 2006 by Random House/Modern Library, with editions published in China, Spain, UK and the British Commonwealth, Japan and Korea.

Mr Kotkin is Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University in Orange, California and an Adjunct Fellow with the Legatum Institute based in London, United Kingdom. A highly respected speaker and futurist, he consults for many leading economic development organizations, private companies, regions and cities. Joel is also a Senior Fellow with the Center for an Urban Future in New York City; and a Senior Consultant with the Praxis Strategy Group in Fargo, North Dakota.

For over three decades Mr. Kotkin has been one of the nation’s most prolific and widely published journalist. He currently writes the weekly “New Geographer” column for Forbes.com. He previously wrote the monthly "Grass Roots Business" column in The New York Times' Sunday Business section for several years. He served as West Coast Editor for Inc. Magazine for five years and continues to contribute to the publication. His work also appears in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The American and on Politico.com.

Joel has also worked extensively in television, including on documentaries for both German television and Los Angeles public television. He served as Business Trends Analyst for KTTV/Fox Television in Los Angeles, where, in 1994, he won the Golden Mike Award for Best Business Reporting on the changing dynamics of the entertainment industry.

Kotkin is also the author of THE NEW GEOGRAPHY, How the Digital Revolution is Reshaping the American Landscape (Random House, 2000); and TRIBES: How Race, Religion and Identity Determine Success In the New Global Economy, (Random House, 1993) which traces the connection between ethnicity and business success — how in-group loyalties are becoming the driving force in the new global economy.

TRIBES has been published in Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and German. He co-authored THE THIRD CENTURY — America’s Resurgence in the Asian Era, (Crown, 1988). This title was translated into Japanese and Chinese, with a special English edition published for the Pacific Rim. His first book, CALIFORNIA, INC. (Crown, 1982) dealt with California’s links to the emergent powers of the Pacific Rim. Kotkin's novel, THE VALLEY, was published in 1983 by Bantam Books.

Michael W. Krajovic
President & CEO
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council
Uniontown, PA

Mike Krajovic is president and CEO of the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, a non-profit organization located in Uniontown, PA. Under his leadership, the organization and its affiliates grew from a start-up in 1992 to having over $55 million in assets. With over 25 years of experience in community and economic development, Mike has helped attract over $1 billion in new investment in the Pittsburgh region. As a social entrepreneur, he is a champion for improving public education and other aspects of society including belief systems, tourism, the environment, economics, land use and agriculture. He is an expert in strategic visioning and planning with the ability to creatively analyze and breakdown complex issues into implementable strategies. He has served on numerous boards throughout the region and the state.

Mike is a Certified Economic Development professional and an engineering degree from Bucknell University, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters in Social Artistry from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Southbend, Indiana and has attended additional education and training courses at Harvard and Carnegie Mellon Universities.

Paul L. Krutko
Chief Development Officer
City of San Jose - Office of the City Manager
San Jose, CA

Since joining the City of San Jose in 2002, Paul Krutko has led the development and implementation of an Economic Development Strategy for one of the world’s leading center of technology and innovation. He also helped create and implement the City’s Green Vision that is creating economic growth through ten environmental sustainability goals.

Significant accomplishments include retention and expansion projects for headquarter facilities for eBay and Cisco Systems, the acquisition of 78 acres of a former FMC site for mixed use development which includes a major league soccer stadium.

Krutko has been instrumental in advocating and developing signature events, such as the biennial ZeroOne San Jose art and technology festival and the returning Amgen Tour of California. As chief development officer, Krutko leads the City of San Jose’s Community and Economic Development City Service Area coordinating a broad range of development service and facilitation activities on behalf of the City Manager.

Prior to coming to San Jose, he held various strategic economic development, downtown leadership and planning roles with the City of Jacksonville, Florida, Cleveland, Ohio and Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Krutko is a board member of the International Economic Development Council and the California Association for Local Economic Development.

Walley Lafferty
Vice President and Managing Director
Vestas Technology R&D Americas
Houston, TX

Mr. Lafferty is the Vice President and Managing Director for Vestas Technology Research and Development for North America. With Vestas Technology headquartered here in Houston, Mr. Lafferty is responsible for all engineering and scientific research activities at all four of Vestas’ R&D centers in the US: Houston, Boston, Madison, Wisconsin, and Brighton, Colorado. He is also responsible for business, government, and academic relationships with Vestas throughout North America.

Mr. Lafferty came to Vestas with more than 25 years of experience in the aerospace sector and has experience providing consulting services in agile management practices for the global headquarters of a Fortune 100 company.

Vestas is the world’s leader in wind energy. Over the last 35 years, Vestas has installed more than 38,000 utility-scale wind turbines that together produce 60 million megawatt hours of clean renewable energy to 65 countries on 5 continents. The world headquarters for Vestas is in Denmark, which has already achieved the coveted goal of generating 20% of their energy needs from the wind.

Thomas G. Long, CEcD
Economic Development Director
CPS Energy
San Antonio, TX

Tom Long is the Senior Manager of Customer Relationships and Economic Development for CPS Energy in San Antonio, TX. He has a Master’s Degree in Economic Geography from the University of North Carolina and in 2001, earned the professional designation of Certified Economic Developer from the International Economic Development Council. With over 20 years in economic development, he has worked in both the private and public sectors for local government, utilities, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

At CPS Energy, Tom serves as the liaison between the energy company and commercial customers. He and his team work with new business prospects for corporate recruitment, retention & expansion purposes. They also serve as the principal point of contact for mid-size and large commercial & industrial accounts and public sector officials; providing professional support and two-way communications to help these important customers maximize the value of the energy they receive from CPS.

Diane Lupke, CEcD, FM
President
Lupke and Associates
Evanston, Illinois

Ms. Diane Lupke, CEcD, FM is President of Lupke & Associates, Inc., Consultants in Community Economic Development. Lupke & Associates, Inc. is a consulting firm specializing in market-based solutions for communities in economic transition. Since its founding in 1990, Ms. Lupke, her Associations, and Staff have helped more than 100 communities to identify niche opportunities, build consensus, and transform lagging economies with “new economy” methods. Ms. Lupke is an authority on the use of enterprise zones and other special tools for development, and she has twenty-five years experience in designing and implementing development strategies. Lupke & Associates has earned distinction for its work with distressed communities that face particular challenges: urban neighborhoods, struggling downtowns, and isolated rural economies. Ms. Lupke has been an active member of IEDC and its predecessor organization CUED since the mid-1980s and has served on the Board of Directors of both organizations. Ms. Lupke holds a BA from Earlham College and the MPA degree from Indiana University. She is on the Board of Advisors for the Local Policy Journal based in the United Kingdom and co-author of the OECD publication “Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Urban Regeneration”.

Barry I. Matherly, CEcD
Executive Director
Lincoln Economic Development Association
Lincolnton, NC

Barry Matherly, CEcD is the executive director of the Lincoln Economic Development Association, a private, non-profit corporation charged with facilitating industrial, office and commercial development in Lincolnton and Lincoln County, NC. Previously, Barry was the Director of Economic Development for the communities of Goochland and Pulaski, Virginia and the Special Projects Manager at the Economic Development Assistance Center at Virginia Tech University. Mr. Matherly has a bachelor’s degree in business from James Madison University and a master’s degree in planning from Virginia Tech University. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and a recipient of the Robert B. Cassell Leadership Award. An active civic leader, his current and past board leadership includes: the Lincolnton Rotary Club, Charlotte Regional Partnership, and the local entities of the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Association, Industrial Managers Association, and Communities In Schools. He is also a Junior Achievement volunteer. Barry Matherly was named one of the 40 Leaders Under 40 (2002) by the Charlotte Business Journal and recognized as a North Carolina Main Street Champion.

Frank F. McCrady
President & CEO
East Montgomery County Improvement District
New Caney, TX

Frank McCrady is an active advocate for small business development issues. He is a former owner of several small businesses and understands the issues facing the small business owner today. He has received numerous awards and recognition on community issues and has been recognized by the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce for his work with women owned businesses.

He has lectured frequently and instructed for the Oklahoma Bankers Association on Alternative Funding Sources for Small Business. He represented the state of Oklahoma and presented during the White House Conference on Small Business.

He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, and began his advanced coursework at Johns Hopkins University and completed his Masters at Webster University in St Louis. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Currently he is doing research on regional and national economic development issues relating to his Doctoral work. Previously he has worked at Riggs National Bank in Washington D.C., served as Executive Director of Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, in Tulsa, OK, and most recently served as the Deputy Director for Community and Economic Development for Salt Lake City. His efforts included daily interaction on issues relating to the 2002 Winter Olympics in coordination and planning efforts with the city and select Olympic Committees.

He is a past President of his Rotary Club, and has served on several national committees and Boards relating to economic development including the National Association of Development Companies , and has served as a Regional Director, and currently serves as a state of Texas representative as a Board Member on the Southern Economic Development Council. He was selected to administer the first SBA Micro loan program in the state of Oklahoma and his organization was the first Community Development Finance Institute (CDFI) recognized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the state of Oklahoma. Most recently he negotiated an agreement partnering with the Texas Governor’s office to bring a 550 million dollar Earthquest Resort theme park to Montgomery County creating thousands of jobs for the area opening in 2012-2013.

Frank is a Desert Storm Veteran and Enduring Freedom Veteran had has served for 26 years. He currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. He is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 for the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in San Antonio, TX with command and control of over 6,000 soldiers in Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. In 1992 he was honored and recognized by the Army Chief of Staff as Commanding the Best Reserve Unit in the Nation.

John P. Metcalf
Senior Partner
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
Ann Arbor, MI

Residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, John P. Metcalf is a Senior Partner with Corporation for a Skilled Workforce where the focus is on reimagining everything about work and learning in the global economy. Mr. Metcalf focuses on community and institutional strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, transformational and change management, executive coaching, and leadership development. During his ten (10) year tenure with CSW, Mr. Metcalf has involved himself in creating innovative integration strategies for workforce, economic, and education development at the community level. Most of his work has centered on strategies engaging community stakeholders to bring about a preferred future.

Before his involvement with solving community workforce challenges, Mr. Metcalf spent 30 years at AT&T in a broad range of sales and executive leadership positions allowing Metcalf to bring a business focus to community planning.

Mr. Metcalf has served Charlotte-Mecklenburg and North Carolina in a variety of volunteer positions centering on workforce, economic and education initiatives. He was Vice-Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board that successfully developed a strategic plan for the board and community. He served as Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School to Career Partnership, served as board member of the Academy of Finance Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, board member of the Charlotte World Affairs Council, and board member of the NC Education Partnership.

His most recent transformational work has involved co-authoring the North Carolina State of the Workforce report 2007; his work on the award winning Texoma Region Economic and Workforce Development Community Plan; authoring the 2005-09 Charlotte Region State of the Workforce Report; co-authoring the Ft Bragg Comprehensive Regional Development Plan on Workforce Development; his work with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction where he has led the Reinvention of Career and Technical Education; his work with the North Carolina Workforce Commission on strategic re-direction; serving on the Governors 2009 Workforce and Education Commission; and numerous other state-level workforce engagement projects in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Rhode Island, North Dakota, Hawaii, Pennsylvania; and local work in 36 states.

Mr. Metcalf’s continues working to help communities and organizations in their strategic planning at the state, local and institutional levels. Mr. Metcalf is in demand as a speaker at both local and national conferences to provide new insight to a community’s role in solving workforce challenges, and how to create initiatives that foster agility in a global economy.

Bruce Miller
President & CEO
Port Authority of San Antonio
San Antonio, TX

Bruce Miller serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Port San Antonio, a multi-modal, industrial airport and railport being developed out of the former Kelly Air Force Base, which was closed in 2001. The Port currently includes a 1,880 acre mixed-use Foreign-Trade Zone in southwest San Antonio, Texas, and shares an international length runway with Lackland Air Force Base. The Port also has direct access to international rail lines stretching from Canada to Mexico and from the West Coast Port of Long Beach through Houston to the East Coast. To date, over 70 businesses have located their operations in 12.5 million square feet at the Port. These aerospace and logistics companies employ more than 12,600 skilled workers from all sectors of San Antonio and South Texas.

Previously, Mr. Miller served as Chief Executive Officer for the Rickenbacker Port Authority in Columbus, Ohio. Rickenbacker was an Air Force Base closed in 1979. He is credited with establishing and guiding through the 1990’s the development of the “Rickenbacker Renaissance,” an airport industrial area redevelopment project that by 2001 encompassed over $500 million in real estate investment with development of over 11 million square feet of industrial facilities that supported over 8,000 jobs for more than fifty businesses, including eight Fortune 500 companies. During this process, the industrial land appraised at $15,000 per acre in 1990 rose to a retail value of over $80,000 per acre in 2001. Encouraged by this success, other real estate developers entered the Rickenbacker Area, creating 14 additional industrial parks that by 2001 produced over $1 billion of investment and a total of over 24 million square feet of Class A distribution, logistics, and manufacturing space, bringing with it 16,000 additional jobs.

In the mid-1980’s, Mr. Miller worked in investment grade commercial real estate development with the Dallas based Vantage Properties, Inc. He subsequently created his own real estate development business engaged in industrial/commercial development projects. Mr. Miller also brings with him extensive experience in urban design, planning, and economic development from his thirteen years with the City of Columbus that included Cabinet level service as the Director of Development.

Mr. Miller serves on the Board of Directors for the Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio, the East Asia Institute of the University of Texas at San Antonio, the Economic Development Foundation of the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Mobility Coalition, Inc. He is on the advisory board of the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce. He also holds professional memberships and serves on the Galaxy Committee of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the National Association of Independent Office Parks (NIAOP), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Janet Miller, CEcD, FM
Chief Economic Development & Marketing Officer
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Nashville, Tennessee

Janet M. Miller is Chief Economic Development Officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Janet has oversight of a twelve-member economic development team that acts as the region’s lead marketing agency for economic development with functions including business recruitment, working with existing Nashville-based firms on expansions, entrepreneurship initiatives, and international business. Miller works on a day-to-day basis with corporate executives of relocating companies to advise on relocation investments and locations. Successful relocation projects in which Miller has been involved include Nissan’s North American headquarters, Dell Computer Corporation, Caremark Rx, Asurion, Louisiana-Pacific, HCA, PRIMUS/Ford Motor Credit, Mars Pet Care, and numerous others. Since she took on the departmental leadership role at the Chamber in 2002, over 78,000 jobs have been created in the Nashville region and over 240 companies recruited.

Miller was named the local Sales and Marketing Executive Association’s National Salesperson of the Year for 2006, and was named one of three “Women of Influence” in the “Inspiration” category by the Nashville Business Journal in July 2007. She was named a Fellow Member of the International Economic Development Council in recognition of exceptional contributions to the field of economic development in America in Fall of 2007. She is a past-President of the Tennessee Industrial Development Council, a past Tennessee director for the Southern Economic Development Council Board, and a board member and past chairman for the Tennessee Economic Partnership. She is also a Tennessee board member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP); a member of AAA Auto Club’s Tennessee advisory board, a member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), an associate member of CoreNet Global, past membership recruitment chair and program committee co-chair for Nashville’s Downtown Rotary Club, a member of the Business Leadership Committee for Lipscomb University; and serves on numerous other boards. She is a graduate of the 2001 class of Leadership Nashville, and is a member of Leadership Music’s 2007-2008 class. Miller is a frequent lecturer at economic development classes around the country, including engagements as an instructor at Basic Economic Development Courses at Georgia Tech, the University of Kentucky, and for the Tennessee Basic Course.

Miller is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, and she received the Certified Economic Developer designation, the industry’s highest achievement, in 2000. Prior to her tenure at the Nashville Chamber, she served as Director of Research and Marketing for Grubb & Ellis/Centennial, Inc., one of Nashville's largest commercial real estate firms.

Jay C. Moon, CEcD, FM
President and CEO
Mississippi Manufacturers Association
Jackson, MS

Jay is the President of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. The MMA provides a broad range of services to over two thousand manufacturers and their suppliers. Jay has over twenty years of successful economic development experience. Jay served as the Deputy Director and Director for International Development with the Mississippi Development Authority. During that period, Jay was responsible for attracting well-known national and international businesses such as Caterpillar, Sunbeam, Asics, Mazda, BMW and many others to the State of Mississippi. Recently he led the successful effort to locate the new $1.5 billion Nissan Automotive Assembly facility that will employ 5300 employees. Through Jay’s efforts, the state development authority received consistent recognition for its innovative programs, including acknowledgement as one of the top ten development organizations in the US. Jay has extensive experience in international markets including Asia, Europe, and Latin America. He has led dozens of trade and investment missions and has managed international offices in seven countries. In addition, Jay has successful community based economic development experience, having directed the economic and community development programs for the City of Gulfport, Mississippi for many years. Jay has also held responsible positions in the states of Kentucky and Georgia. Jay is a Certified Economic Developer. He served on the board of the American Economic Development Council for two terms and he currently serves on the board, certification and international committees of the International Economic Development Council. Jay is a former board member and President of the National Association of State Development Agencies. He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute where he was an instructor on international trade and investment and where he was awarded the Robert B. Cassell Student Leadership Award. Jay has also taught a course on international development as a part of the basic course at the University of Southern Mississippi. Jay has an undergraduate degree in International Relations and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

Jeff Moseley
President & CEO
Greater Houston Partnership
Houston, TX

Jeff Moseley is the president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, which serves as the primary business advocate for world trade, economic development and public policy for the Houston region.

Prior to joining the Partnership, Moseley was the CEO of the Office of the Governor for Economic Development and Tourism, a position he held from 2003 to 2005. From 1999 to 2003, he served as the executive director of the Texas Department of Economic Development (formerly the Texas Department of Commerce). As executive director of the Texas Department of Economic Development, the Department was key to bringing a Toyota truck manufacturing plant to Texas; the company's first and only one in the state.

Moseley currently serves on the board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE); the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Committee; and Center for Houston's Future Executive Committee and board of directors. Additionally, he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 (CCC100), an elite group of chamber executives; and the Texas Association of Business Alliance for I-69. He formerly served on the United Way Strategic Planning Task Force.

Lesia Bates Moss
President
Seedco Financial Services, Inc.
New York, New York

Lesia (Lisa) Bates Moss’ multifaceted career spans the private and public sectors. She has worked for top US companies such as Fannie Mae, Moody’s Investors Service and JPMorgan Chase (formerly Chemical Banking Corporation) and various City and State government agencies in New York. More than half of Lesia’s career has been spent on Wall Street in fixed income and credit research, risk management and business development.

Lesia was named President of Seedco Financial Services, a private, non-profit national Community Development Financial Institution that provides loan financing and technical assistance services to small businesses, nonprofit organizations and real estate developers to stimulate local community economic development in its target markets. Headquartered in New York City, Seedco Financial conducts business in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, New York and Tennessee, and has more than $200 million in assets under management. Seedco Financial Services, Inc., is a wholly-controlled subsidiary of Seedco (Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation), a national intermediary that facilitates the delivery of employment and related services to low income individuals in low-income and underserved communities throughout the country.

Prior to joining Seedco Financial, Lesia was President/CEO of LBM & Associates, a consulting firm that provided management and strategic consulting services to a broad range of organizations. Previously, she served as vice president and head of counterparty risk management of Fannie Mae, in Washington, DC, where she led the company’s efforts to revamp and consolidate financial and credit risk analysis activities in the single-family mortgage division. Leading a team of credit, policy and due diligence professionals, Lesia expertly managed risk mitigation efforts to minimize losses from distressed sub-prime and Alt-A mortgage lenders. Through her leadership, the company was able to avoid several hundred million dollars in losses. In addition, Lesia was able to significantly enhance high-level regulatory relationships through proactive and consistent dialogue around new risk management strategy and implementation efforts.

Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Lesia was senior vice president in the real estate finance group at Moody’s Investors Service, one of the premier global rating agencies. In that role, she was the Lead analyst for the US REIT (real estate investment trust) and GSE (government-sponsored enterprise) sectors. She was responsible for managing a diversified portfolio of companies with some $2 trillion in rated fixed income securities. Lesia also played a pivotal role in the expansion of new ratings of securities issued by Japanese and European property firms.

She has authored several research papers on real estate industry and credit topics, which have appeared in national real estate publications in the United States and abroad, and been quoted frequently by the Financial media. Lesia is sought after as a presenter at industry and professional development conferences. She is recognized for her opinions on topics relating to real estate capital markets.

Amanda S. Nobles, CEcD
Executive Director
Kilgore Economic Development Corporation
Kilgore, TX

Amanda S. Nobles is the Executive Director of the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation in Kilgore, Texas. Having served in this position since 1990, she directs all aspects of economic development for the city, including primary employer retention and expansion, marketing, property development, sales and management, project financing, budgeting, and the creation of incentives for job creation and investment.

Mrs. Nobles holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in French and History. She is a Certified Economic Developer, Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, and graduate of both the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and the Basic Economic Course at Texas A & M University.

In 1987 Amanda began her economic development career as Manager of the City of Kilgore’s Main Street Project which introduced her to downtown redevelopment and historic preservation.

Amanda has served on the Texas Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors and currently serves as Team Texas’ Vice Chair. She is active in Texas One, the Northeast Texas Economic Developers’ Roundtable, the Northeast Texas Economic Alliance and the I-20 Corridor Marketing Group.

Alfreda B. Norman
Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Public Affairs Department
Dallas, TX

As the Dallas Fed's Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Norman is responsible for supporting the Federal Reserve System's economic growth objectives by promoting community and economic development and fair and impartial access to credit. Norman was one of the first neighborhood development officers hired by Bank of America in Texas in 1992. Responsible for developing a strategic community development plan to extend credit to low- and moderate-income communities, she went on to assume statewide CRA responsibilities with Bank of America's mortgage lending group. In addition to banking, Norman has been a supervisor in the city of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and held management positions at The Container Store headquarters in Dallas. Norman earned a B. A. from Southern Methodist University and is a graduate of the University of Virginia's Graduate School of Retail Banking.

John L. Park, PhD
Associate Professor and Extension Economist
Roy B. Davis Professor of Agricultural Cooperation
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
College Station, TX

Dr. Park is an associate professor and extension economist for cooperative business at Texas AgriLife Extension Service. He is the current holder of the Roy B. Davis Professorship in Agricultural Cooperation. Dr. Park specializes in management and marketing associated with agricultural and food business. He works closely with the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council to implement executive training and educational programming for cooperative businesses. Other interests include food marketing, retailing, distribution, and leadership. Dr. Park is a long-standing member of the Food Distribution Research Society and currently serves as president-elect of that organization.

James W. Peppe
Senior Regional Manager
National Association of Manufacturers
Houston, TX

Joy M. Pooler, CEcD, FM
Principal
Pooler Partners
Alpharetta, CA

Joy M. Pooler has more than 25 years of professional economic development experience in site selection, business retention; brownfield development, financial packaging, marketing; fund raising, economic development training and national curriculum development, environmental issues, working closely with elected officials, local, state and federal agencies; utilities, public and private authorities, local and regional economic development organizations, as well as management of office staff, and regional offices. Extensive travel and public speaking.

Her business and community development experience includes 20 years with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where she worked for the Governor’s Action Team and directed the SelectSite and SelecTech Site Initiatives. During that time she also worked with businesses to secure over $450 million dollars in new investment, recruitment of 4,000+ new jobs and 13,500 retained jobs. Prior to her leadership in Pennsylvania, Joy was instrumental in starting the first industry retention and expansion programs for the Maryland Eastern Shore

She is the Principal of Pooler Partners, a consulting firm that focuses on strategic planning, marketing, professional development and fundraising for economic development organizations and professional associations throughout the country. Joy has developed and implemented the very successful sponsorship program for the newly formed Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC).

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Economic Development Council. A graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, Joy is a past Dean of the Economic Development Institute where she served in various staff positions for 20 years.

Duaine A. Priestley
Director, U.S. Commercial Service, Houston
Houston Export Assistance Center
US & Foreign Commercial Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
Houston, Texas

Duaine Priestley was appointed Director of the U.S. Commercial Service, Houston office in July 2004. The Commercial Service is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s, International Trade Administration and provides U.S. businesses with a variety of services to assist them in expanding their export sales. In addition, the Commercial Service assists foreign-owned companies invest in the U.S.

Mr. Priestley is the Executive Secretary to the Houston Export District Council, a board member of the Mayor’s International Affairs and Development Council, Vice-Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership’s World Trade Supervisory Board, and the Texas Medical Center’s International Affairs Advisory Council, among others.

Prior to being named Director of the Commercial Service, Houston, Mr. Priestley worked for the telecommunications company MCI as Manager, International Regulatory Compliance. In that capacity from 1999-2004, he was responsible for MCI’s internet licensing abroad, trade compliance, including export controls, Customs compliance, technical standards and logistics.

From 1996 - 1999, Mr. Priestley worked for the US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Trade Development, where he covered the Internet and electronic commerce issues. Mr. Priestley worked was a Research Analyst for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Division, Asia, and the US-India Business Council from 1993-1996 on a variety of public policy issues related to the Asia Pacific region.

Mr. Priestley earned a MA in International Relations from American University in Washington, DC, and has a BA in Political Science, with a minor in Geography, from the University of Houston.

Craig Richard, CEcD
Senior Vice President, Economic Development
Greater Houston Partnership
Houston, TX

Mr. Richard joined the Partnership in March 2008 and leads the Greater Houston Partnership’s Opportunity HoustonSM economic development initiatives. Opportunity HoustonSM is an aggressive marketing program to generate leads for economic development organizations throughout the 10-county Houston region. It is the direct result of the Partnership’s visionary, 10-year strategic plan, which aims to create 600,000 new jobs; attract $60 billion in new capital investment in the Houston region.

Craig is a Certified Economic Developer with over fifteen years experience on many different levels of economic development from neighborhood based to state level organizations and from public to private; as well as various disciplines of economic development including recruitment, retention and expansion, technology led and small business development. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer, Special Districts for the firm of Hawes Hill Calderon, LLP. Before joining Hawes, Craig was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. He also held positions with the Dallas Regional Chamber, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Richmond, Virginia.

During his economic development career, Craig has assisted more than 87 projects representing over 45,000 jobs and $4.1 billion in capital investment. Some of his notable projects included the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Siemens Postal Dematic Headquarters, General Motors Plant Expansion, Rooms To Go Distribution Center and Vestas Technology R&D Americas.

A native of the Houston area, Craig received his Master of Urban and Regional Planning with a concentration in economic development from Virginia Commonwealth University. He earned his Bachelor of General Studies at the University of Houston-Downtown and is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute. Craig serves on the boards of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) and the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (GCRCIC).

Jon Roberts
Managing Director
TIP Strategies, Inc.
Austin, TX

Jon Roberts is the Managing Director of TIP Strategies, Inc. (TIP), in Austin, Texas. He is an international leader in regional economic development and a proponent of the “creative class” as a model for growth. He has overseen projects in Oregon, Texas, and other U.S. Jon Roberts is the Managing Director of TIP Strategies, Inc. (TIP), in Austin, Texas. He is an international leader in regional economic development and has overseen projects throughout the U.S., as well as in Europe and Asia. He is a respected authority on strategic planning, site selection, and business innovation.

Mr. Roberts has wide range of experience associated with incentives and tax abatements, as well as local recruitment and redevelopment efforts. He has prepared policy papers on national economic development strategy, published articles on economic development marketing and has written editorials for the state’s major newspapers.

Mr. Roberts was formerly the Director of Business Development both for the State of Washington and then for the State of Texas. In these positions, he directed recruitment and investment and led international trade missions.

Prior to working for the Washington Department of Trade, Mr. Roberts was with the Oregon Technology Fund, where he was responsible for venture capital investments. He also managed two start-up technology companies: Fiberlite Composites and LifePort Inc., and worked with the Center for Entrepreneurial Ventures.

Mr. Roberts is active in Austin, Texas, where he was elected to the board of KMFA radio. He is a regular instructor and presenter for the International Economic Development Council, of which he is a long-time member. He maintains his ties to the Northwest and is a Fellow of the Washington World Affairs Council in Seattle. He has served on the boards of several start-up technology companies and on state task forces and gubernatorial committees. He has lectured in business at the University of Washington, the University of Texas, and was on the faculty at Marylhurst College in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Roberts has also proven to be a successful entrepreneur. He is the founder of a mountain bike company in Portland, Oregon.

Jeanne Unemori Skog
President & CEO
Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.
Maui, HI

Jeanne Unemori Skog is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), Inc. A non-profit organization headquartered in Maui, MEDB was established in 1982 to help diversify Maui County’s economy, primarily through the cultivation of activities in optics, astronomy, agri-technology information systems, health care and renewable energy. The tech sectors now employ over 1,800 residents and generates over $155 million per year into Maui County’s economy.

Key to MEDB’s and Maui County’s success in diversification has been the investment in education and workforce preparation in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. During her tenure, MEDB’s reach in education has expanded to over 8,000 students and teachers statewide per year since 1999, due largely to the initiatives of MEDB’s Women in Technology Project. Through this industry-driven program, WIT has now become a national model for enabling women and underrepresented minorities to realize their potential in STEM careers.

Ms. Skog joined MEDB in 1984. In 1999, she was elected as MEDB’s fourth President & CEO, the first Maui-born resident to assume that position. She administers MEDB’s $4.7 million budget, directs a 27-member staff and reports to the 35-member board of directors comprised of leaders in business, academia, government and the community at large.

Judy Smith, PhD, CEcD
Senior Vice President
Harvard Risk Management Corporation
Overland Park, KS

Dr. Judy Smith began her career as an economic development professional in 1976 as the Executive Director of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce in Pittsburg, Kansas, She was successful in attracting several large corporations to this small community including International Paper Company.

She worked for the State of Kansas as the Community Relations Coordinator with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Her job entailed traveling the State educating communities on the economic impact of improved highways. She served on the State Tourism Commission and the State Film Commission. She became a member of the American Economic Development Council (AEDC serving on several committees including the Chair of the Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. working with Senator Bob Dole.

Dr. Judy attended the Basic Course in Kansas City with additional training in Oklahoma and Indianapolis and received her CED. She has an MBA as well as a PhD in Psychology with emphasis on Corporate Psychology. She did her research at the Menninger’s Clinic on Violence in the Schools. She has published articles in several APA Journals and has presented at hearings in Washington, D.C. on that subject.

She and her husband, Bill, moved to Smithville, Mo. where she became the Economic Development Director for the City as well as Assistant City Administrator. At this time, she became involved with IEDC as a CEcD. She moved to Braymer, Mo. where she became the Economic Development Director for Caldwell County. Along with her ED activities she also saw patients and had a large practice as a therapist.

William C. Sproull
President & CEO
Richardson Chamber of Commerce
Richardson, TX

William Sproull began as President and CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, the Metroplex Technology Business Council, and Richardson Economic Development Partnership in October, 2004. He was recently re-appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to his third two-year term to the board of the half-billion dollar Texas Emerging Technology Fund, on which he currently serves as Vice-Chair . He also serves on the Board of the International Economic Development Council. Prior positions include Vice President of Economic Development at the Greater Dallas Chamber, President and CEO of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, Vice President and Director of Business Development for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Missouri, and Director of Business Retention for the Kansas City Corporation for Industrial Development.

Mr. Sproull received his B.A. from Baylor University with a double major in Economics and Political Science in 1982. He is also a graduate of the Basic Economic Development Course at the University of South Florida. He is a past president of Missouri Industrial Development Council. His work was recognized by the editors of Site Selection magazine when they selected the Texas Instruments $3 billion wafer fab project as the Top Development Deal of 2003. Site Selection has also selected his teams three times as one of the top 10 development groups in the U.S. in 1994, 1997 and 2004. He is also a two-time recipient of the American Economic Development Council’s “Best of Class” marketing award.

Jerry W. Stewart, CEcD
Workforce Development Coordinator
Virginia Beach Economic Development
Virginia Beach, VA

Jerry Stewart is the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development. He has been with the department for 22 years, working in business retention and expansion, business development and workforce development. His work focus includes representing the city on technical issues associated with workforce development, working with other city departments and entities to enhance the workforce of Virginia Beach, acting as a resource for available training and graduates of training, building institutional relationships with private and public educational institutes, coordinating with the Commonwealth of Virginia for Workforce Services needs and training programs, coordinating with the military and Opportunity, Inc. on workforce issues, managing and marketing the Economic Development Workforce Training Center in the Advance Technology Center, and working with local businesses to identify immediate training needs. He is chair of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools General Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education. Additionally, he has been a member of the Virginia Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education since 2008.

Jerry has been a Certified Economic Developer since 1993 and is a member of IEDC’s Accredited Economic Development Organization committee.

Christine M. Sullivan
Senior Vice President
Site Selection Group, LLC
Raleigh, North Carolina

Christine has more than 13 years of experience as a governmental and corporate liaison professional in economic and land development. She is an expert in fiduciary entitlement, tax credit and bond procurement, developer incentive agreements and land development project management.

Christine is a dynamic negotiator who has successfully secured tax abatements, PILOT agreements, entitlement incentives, development agreements, settlement agreements, strategic community partnerships and other economic incentives that have had a positive direct impact upon the client’s bottom line. Christine’s project management portfolio included green energy, manufacturing, distribution, headquarters, financial, corporate shared services and call centers. Being a highly articulate and effective communicator with solid platform and presentation skills, she is consistently asked to deliver client’s agenda and project summation to community and political leaders.

Prior to joining Site Selection Group, Christine worked for TALX Corporation, a leading payroll and tax advisory firm, as Senior Manager of their Economic Development Incentive Services division. Prior to joining TALX, she represented tax credit land developers before both state and federal agencies and managed the developer’s overall project goals in areas of finance, political and public policy and pre-construction as well as owned her own land development consulting firm.

Allison J.H. Thompson, CEcD, EDFP
Director of Economic Development
City of Cedar Hill
Cedar Hill, TX

Allison J. H. Thompson, holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Texas Christian University, an MA in Urban Affairs from the University of Texas of Arlington as well as professional certifications from both the International Economic Development Council and the National Development Council.

Currently employed by the City of Cedar Hill, a thriving community in southwest Dallas County on Joe Pool Lake, she serves as the Director for the Cedar Hill Economic Development Corporation as well as directs the economic development efforts for the City of Cedar Hill.

Her experience ranges from working as a consultant focusing on strategic economic development planning to managing a regional economic development organization. She has served as director of economic development in several Texas cities.

Anatalio Ubalde
Co-Founder & CEO
GIS Planning Inc. & ZoomProspector.com
San Francisco, California

Mr. Ubalde’s work in geographic information systems, economic development and the Internet has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Forbes, and Inc. magazine. He is a previous recipient of the International Economic Development Council Outstanding New Economic Developer of the Year Award and is a member of the Board of Directors for IEDC. Mr. Ubalde has also accepted the CoreNet Global Economic Development Leadership & Accomplishment Award for GIS Planning. He has received awards from the Council for Urban Economic Development, American Economic Development Council, CALED, American Planning Association, and was featured in the U.S. Department of Commerce “Innovative Local Economic Development Programs” publication. Mr. Ubalde is a highly sought-after thought-leader on the subject of economic development Internet and GIS strategies and has made presentations on these subjects throughout North America, Asia and Europe. He has been a keynote speaker or presenter for IEDC, Stockholm Challenge, Bremen Initiative, Texas Economic Development Council, California Association for Local Economic Development, Mid-American Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, Oklahoma Economic Development Council, Oregon Economic Development Association, American Planning Association, and other organizations. He is the author of publications including the 2008 book Economic Development Marketing: Present & Future, and articles in Economic Development America, Economic Development Commentary, and the Canadian Economic Development and Technology Journal. Before co-founding GIS Planning he worked in local economic development with a focus on downtown revitalization, waterfront redevelopment, business attraction/expansion, business retention, and site selection assistance. Mr. Ubalde is a sixteen-time United States Master’s Diving National Champion in springboard diving and an All-American. He has a Masters degree in City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley.

Dean J. Uminski
Partner
Crowe Horwath LLP
South Bend, IN

Dean has an extensive background in all aspects of state and local taxation and specializes in site selection and business incentives & credits consultation. He has over thirty-one years of tax planning, economic development and consulting experience with manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, service and financial related business entities, 17 of which were spent in industry with Fortune 200 Firms. He has performed site selection and economic development consultation services on over $3.3 billion of capital investment for manufacturing, wholesale/distribution, call centers, retail, service, research and development, and corporate/regional home office related projects in thirty two states and Canada. His work entails all aspects of economic development planning including; market analysis, strategic planning, capital improvement planning, site location assistance, financing, exit strategy planning, business attraction and expansion/retention planning, tax abatements, statutory and non-statutory tax credits and negotiations with local, regional and state economic development officials.

In October of 2001, Dean was appointed to serve as the External Economic Development Advisor for the Indiana State Chamber’s Economic Vision 2010 Task Force. In this role, Dean will assist in the development of a comprehensive blueprint for making Indiana one of the best business start-up and growth economies in the global marketplace.

Bruce A. Warner
Executive Director
Portland Development Commission
Portland, Oregon

Mr. Bruce Warner, Executive Director for the Portland Development Commission, is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the City’s redevelopment, housing, and economic development programs and projects. In addition to the role at PDC, Bruce has more than 33 years of directorial experience in a broad range of public works, public administration, economic development, land use and transportation.

As Director for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Warner led and managed a biennial budget of more than $2 billion and a workforce of 4,600.

Prior to joining ODOT, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Regional Environmental Management at Metro. He has also served as a Regional Manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation; Director of Land Use and Transportation for Washington County; City Engineer/Building Official for the City of Hillsboro; and as an environmental engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mr. Warner is a registered professional civil engineer. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, where he has also completed graduate studies in sanitary engineering.

In addition to his role at the Portland Development Commission, he currently serves on the Board of the Portland Business Alliance; Construction Apprenticeship & Workforce Solutions, Inc.; and Oregon Sports Authority.

Joy Wilkins, CEcD
Manager, Community Innovation Services Group
Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
Atlanta, GA

Joy Wilkins, CEcD is manager of the community innovation services group at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute and oversees the development and delivery of the Institute’s services for economic developers, local government officials, and other leaders representing cities, counties, and regions. She directs teams to advise communities on a variety of strategic issues, and has also led numerous research initiatives to investigate public policy matters for state and federal sponsors. Prior to Georgia Tech, Joy served as a consultant for economic development and real estate clients and as a researcher at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce where she developed dozens of publications and reports concerning metro Atlanta’s economic development landscape for prospects and investors. She is also a periodic freelance writer.

Joy entered the economic development profession in 1994 and is a Certified Economic Developer by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). She is a frequent public speaker and instructor on economic development, strategic planning, and quality management topics, and has authored several articles appearing in journals, newsletters, and other publications. Joy holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a graduate certificate in real estate from Georgia State University, and a bachelor’s degree, with sociology and political science majors, from the State University of New York at Fredonia. She is a member of numerous professional associations and committees, and serves on advisory boards for two civic interests.

Chris Winland
Project Manager
Good Company Associates
Austin, TX

Chris Winland brings over a decade of public and private sector experience to Good Company Associates. He joined Good Company from the Office of Texas State Representative Mark Strama, where he served as legislative director and chief of staff and helped craft bills on green jobs, renewable energy financing, and a wide range of other subjects. Prior to working at the Texas Legislature, he held positions at IBM, the Austin Technology Incubator’s Clean Energy Incubator, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and MTG Management Consultants. Chris started his career at IBM, where he served as managing consultant and project manager in both the Financial Management and Enterprise Applications practices of IBM Business Consulting Services. He provided a broad range of management and technology consulting services to over twenty private and public clients. Chris left IBM to pursue a graduate degree in business from the University of Texas at Austin. During this time, he worked as an associate at the Austin Technology Incubator’s Clean Energy Incubator, where he provided strategic guidance to early-stage clean energy companies, completed research projects on their behalf, and evaluated business plans of potential member companies. He also worked as a teaching assistant at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, helping teach a graduate course on modern American political campaigns. After receiving his degree, he returned to management consulting before being lured to the Texas Capitol and then to Good Company Associates.

Daniel J. Wolterman
President & CEO
Memorial Hermann Healthcare System
Houston, TX

Dan Wolterman joined Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in 1999 and was named President and CEO in 2002. Prior to joining Memorial Hermann, he was Senior Vice President of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Health Care System.

Mr. Wolterman earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1979 and a M.B.A. in Finance in 1980 from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Xavier University in 1982.

Dan has over 27 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and a long history of community involvement, some of which include:

Current Chairman – Greater Houston Partnership
Immediate Past- Chairman –Texas Hospital Association Board of Directors
Immediate Past Chairman –Voluntary Hospitals of America –Texas Board of Directors
Immediate Past Chairman – Air Quality Task Force (At the request of Mayor White)
Board Member – United Way / Greater Gulf Coast Chapter

In addition to his role as president & CEO of Memorial Hermann and serving on numerous city, state and national committees, he is also an Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas School of Public Health and serves on the University of Houston – Clear Lake Healthcare Administration Program Advisory Council

Dennis Yablonsky
Chief Executive Officer
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Pittsburgh, PA

Dennis Yablonsky became the Chief Executive Officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliated organizations - the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance – on March 24, 2009.

A native of the Pittsburgh region, Dennis is an accomplished and experienced veteran of managing and leading dynamic business growth – as a private business leader, a nonprofit economic development professional and a high-ranking appointed government official.

He has grown companies from the ground up to greater profitability and success both in the private sector and as the founding CEO of the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse and the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, revolutionary models for the focused growth of technology companies. During his service as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), he brought together both an economic stimulus program and the policies needed to support business growth, expansion and location and to build economic vitality in communities across the Commonwealth.

Prior to joining the Allegheny Conference, Dennis served as Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development from February 2003 to October 2008. As Secretary, Dennis played a lead role in the development and implementation of an economic stimulus program that featured over $3 billion of investment in the Commonwealth’s infrastructure, core communities and job-producing businesses. He also helped develop the Governor’s $650million energy fund designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil and grow the energy economy in Pennsylvania.

Dennis spent the first 24 years of his career working for and leading two successful software companies: Cincom Systems in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Carnegie Group in Pittsburgh. At Cincom Systems, an independent software company based in Ohio, he progressed through the company’s organization to eventually become chief operating officer and to help grow the company into a $125 million global organization. In 1987, Dennis became chief executive officer of the Carnegie Group in Pittsburgh. By 1999, he turned the unprofitable enterprise into a $32million publicly traded software solutions company that became integrated into Logica North America.

In 1999,Dennis became the founding CEO of the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse and, in 2001, the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, innovative models for doing technology-based economic development. Dennis serves on the boards of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC), the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG) and the Regional Opportunity Center. He is also a member of the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics Board of Fellows.

Melissa Ziegler, CEcD
Director, Economic & Community Development Services
Wilbur Smith Associates
Knoxville, TN

Melissa Ziegler, CEcD, brings more than 25 years of “real world” experience in economic and community development, visioning and strategic planning, freight and economic development planning, public policy, and real estate and logistics development. As the Director of the Economic and Community Development Services Group for Wilbur Smith Associates, an international multi-disciplined consulting firm, Melissa has worked on economic development, freight, and transportation projects around the country. Her recent experience includes feasibility and analysis for the multi-modal Inland Pacific Hub project in Washington and Idaho, a statewide Trade, Transportation, and Logistics Development Strategy for the State of Mississippi, and the Mohawk Erie Multi-modal corridor investment strategy in New York. Ms. Ziegler worked with the Chicago Regional Transit Authority on the South Suburban Rail Corridor project and with Kansas City Southern Railroad on their Deramus Yard expansion.

Ms. Ziegler has a long history of successfully managing large projects with multifaceted team dynamics and skill sets, and is often requested to lead ambitious efforts involving sensitive handling of complex stakeholder involvement situations. Prior to her employment with Wilbur Smith Associates, Ms. Ziegler served as the Executive of The Development Corporation, a 501C(3) corporation developing and managing a significant portfolio of business and industrial parks, redevelopment projects, and successful business recruiting and retention projects.

Registration | Hotel & Travel | Program | Speakers | Sponsors | Professional Development | Contact Staff | IEDC Home

© 2009 International Economic Development Council | 734 15th Street NW / Suite 900 | Washington, DC 20005 | Phone: (202) 223-7800 | Fax: (202) 223-4745