Speakers

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

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.

Darrell W. Auterson
President/CEO
York County Economic Development Corporation

Darrell Auterson has been in the economic development profession for over 27 years. His background includes positions in county and city governments as well as various non-profit corporations. He has accumulated knowledge and expertise in business retention and expansion, business recruitment, new business/entrepreneurial development, community development, redevelopment, tourism and visitor development, technology development, workforce development, regional development, financing, strategic planning, leadership development, etc. As a community visionary and innovator, he has created and led numerous successful economic and community development initiatives including, a center of excellence in food science, an angel investment network and a community revitalization strategy anchored by a 5,300 seat outdoor recreation complex.

In addition to his current role, Mr. Auterson has held positions in Indianapolis, IN, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Warrick County, IN, Rockingham County, NC, Long Beach, CA, and Terre Haute, IN.

Mr. Auterson is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council, a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council and a Certified Professional Supervisor through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Economic Development Council in 1999-2000. He is also active on numerous local, regional and state boards and committees specializing in economic development, workforce development, technology development, community development and redevelopment. He is a graduate of Indiana State University with a BS degree in Urban Regional Studies and a specialization in economic development.

Ralph Basile
Principal
Basile Baumann Prost Cole & Associates

Mr. Basile is a founding Principal and co-owner of Basile Baumann Prost Cole & Associates, Inc. (BBPC Associates) of Annapolis, Maryland, a real estate development advisory firm which assists public and private clients located both here and abroad with their real estate-related needs. He has over 28 years of experience in real estate development and consulting. Coupled with his extensive development and business experience, Mr. Basile has a broad educational background including degrees in law, city planning and urban economics.

Mr. Basile has broad experience in such diverse fields as market analysis, development programming, economic planning, financial feasibility, development packaging, project funding, project implementation and management. Mr. Basile has been responsible for a variety of development consulting assignments especially during the pre-development and project packaging stages of these endeavors. He has managed hundreds of market research efforts and financial feasibility assessments.

He has also negotiated dozens of development agreements, procured project financing for large- and small-scale projects, managed local development organizations, strategically planned various economic development projects, directed preliminary design services and completed real estate workouts nationwide. His management and technical expertise has been employed through the conceptualization and development of both small-scale and major commercial, recreational, industrial and residential real estate projects carried out solely by private investors and through cooperative business arrangements structured between public and private entities.

Tina Benjamin
Manager, Public-Private Partnerships
Montgomery County Department of Economic Development

Ms. Benjamin currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development. The Department is responsible for business retention and expansion, small business development, agricultural preservation, minority business outreach programs, and several cornerstone projects including the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, a technology office park dedicated to the biotechnology industry.

Prior to assuming this role, Ms. Benjamin held the positions of Coordinator, and then Manager of Public-Private Partnerships, where she oversaw the Department’s capital projects, including the Montgomery County Conference Center.

Before joining Montgomery County, Ms. Benjamin served as Executive Director of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and also held positions with Partners for Livable Communities and the American Institute of Architects. She received her B.A. in Urban Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating sum cum laude.

Howard C. Benson
Chief Executive Officer
National Community Development Services, Inc.

If anyone understands the prevailing trends in structuring, funding and implementing community and economic development programs, it is Howard Benson.

Mr. Benson is CEO and founder of National Community Development Services, Inc. headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. NCDS is a 50-employee firm that pioneered the trend which enabled local communities to develop and fund strategic initiatives that have propelled most of them into the front ranks of successful communities in their regions. Recent statistics show that NCDS client communities have experienced 5-year growth rates of 11.6% versus the U.S. average of 4.4%.

2008 marks NCDS’ 31st year in business. During that time, the firm has worked with over 550 community organizations in helping them develop a winning strategy and raised over $1.5 billion to implement their strategic plans. An important aspect of their work is benchmarking their client’s performance so supporters can see a valid return on dollars invested.

Before starting NCDS, Howard served for five years as a senior executive of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce where he directed the very successful Forward Atlanta Program. Prior to that, he was on the staff of the Jacksonville, Florida Chamber in a similar capacity. He began his economic development career in Live Oak, Florida, a rural community of 18,000 population in 1967 after graduation from Brevard College.

Howard is a board member of the International Economic Development Council, American Association of Fundraising Counsel (the Giving Institute) and, he is an advisor to the American Chamber Executives Association.

He has written for economic development and chamber journals and is a frequent presenter at economic and community development conferences.

Bob Bertges
Director of Corporate Real Estate
Wachovia Corporation

Bob Bertges is the Director of Corporate Real Estate at Wachovia Corporation. He is responsible for the day to day operations of all the banks facilities including its bank and Securities branches, Operations and Data Centers, and its High-rise Facilities.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Bob graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Accounting and began working in Charlotte in 1974. Before joining First Union he was a CPA and a Tax Partner with KPMG here in Charlotte and in their Executive office in New York City.

Upon joining First Union in 1989, Bob first ran their Corporate Tax department, then headed up their Decision Support area (a group that investigated potential acquisitions, joint ventures, and new products), and then became the head of the Real Estate group in 1999.

Bob has been the point person for Wachovia in creating the First Street development, working with the City, County, State, Arts and Science Council, local businesses, and various representatives from the Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum, African American Cultural Center, and The Knight Theatre to help create a project that will deeply enhance our city and region. The project includes a 48 story 1.5 million square foot Office Tower and a 42 story 300 + unit residential condominium.

Mark Briggs
Vice President, Public Finance
CHEROKEE

Mark Briggs is the Vice President of Public Finance for Cherokee. He has 39 years of public and private sector experience, starting as a Special Agent and Officer in Military Intelligence in Washington, D.C. His public sector experience includes service in the Governors' Offices in California and Alaska.

In 1974, Mr. Briggs founded Mark Briggs & Associates, Inc., a national community and economic development consulting firm. As a private consultant, providing consulting services to the Regional Office of HUD, the Western Federal Regional Council, 200 local jurisdictions and 35 asset managers, developers, property owners and manufacturers, his efforts secured $1.5 billion in public resources for projects being implemented across the country.

Mr. Briggs prepared 60 approved HUD BEDI grants with a 94% success rate, and 45 EDA applications with a 95% success rate. Federal and local funding has been secured for Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, Oakland, Anaheim, Miami, Charleston, Camden, St. Joseph and other smaller cities across the county and he is currently working in Dallas, Providence, Charlotte, San Juan and Raleigh.

He holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Alaska Methodist University. Mr. Briggs has served on national blue ribbon panels and provided urban policy input to several Federal Administrations. He is the recipient of a Special Recognition Award from the Western Federal Regional Council and a Certificate of National Merit by HUD.

Ian Bromley, FM
Chief Executive
Creative Sheffield

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, as well as throughout the United States and Canada.

Mr Bromley holds a BA (Hons) in Business Administration (with distinction), MA in Economics (Cum Laude), and Executive MBA, granted by two of Canada’s top-ranked universities. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Washington-based International Economic Development Council, the world’s largest professional association for economic development practitioners. He was 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. Ian is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Local Economy Journal, published by London Southbank University.

Ronnie L. Bryant, CEcD, FM, HLM
President and CEO
Charlotte Regional Partnership

As President and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Ronnie Bryant leads the economic development organization that promotes the 16-county Charlotte USA region as a premier location for businesses considering expansion or relocation. With more than 23 years of managerial and economic development expertise, Bryant is nationally known for his proven track record of establishing and implementing successful economic development programs. The editors of Site Selection magazine have recognized Bryant’s excellence in the field by twice naming organizations led by him to its list of Top 10 economic development groups in the nation. Bryant has been credited with the development of job creation strategies that resulted in more than 117,000 jobs.

Prior to joining CRP, Bryant was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. Before working in Pittsburgh, Bryant was the Senior Vice President of the Economic Development Division for the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association. Bryant is a graduate of Louisiana State University in Shreveport and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Bryant now serves as a faculty member of EDI and lectures on issues related to economic development, professional development and strategic management. Bryant is also affiliated with many professional and community organizations.

David E. Cardwell
Principal
The Cardwell Law Firm

David E. Cardwell is experienced in local government and administrative law. His primary area of practice is public law with an emphasis on local government, infrastructure, public facilities, sports facilities, redevelopment and election law. Mr. Cardwell is recognized by The Florida Bar as a Board Certified in the area of City, County, and Local Government Law.

Mr. Cardwell has been involved in many real estate redevelopment projects, including planning, development agreements and financing. He has also been actively involved in the development of public facilities and sports facilities such as stadiums and arenas, including facility development, lease negotiations with sports teams and financing.

Mr. Cardwell served as City Attorney for Lakeland, Florida, where he was responsible for drafting land development codes and ordinances, including implementation of the city's comprehensive plan and redevelopment plan. He also represented the city's Utilities Department in environmental, regulatory, and financing matters regarding its electric and water systems. Before becoming City Attorney, Mr. Cardwell was a staff director of the Florida House of Representatives and served as state elections director and legal counsel to the Department of State.

Mr. Cardwell has written on the subjects of ethics and elections law, redevelopment and sports facilities development and lease negotiations. His book, Ethics and Elections: The Law in Florida was published by The Harrison Co., and he co-authored an article with Harold Bucholtz entitled "Tax Increment Financing in Florida," which appeared in the Stetson Law Review.

Mr. Cardwell has served for many years as General Counsel to the Florida Redevelopment Association. He is also a founder, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Florida Grapefruit League Association, which consists of the spring training venues and Major League Baseball teams that conduct spring training in Florida.

Mr. Cardwell is a recipient of the Ralph Marisicano Award from The Florida Bar for excellence in local government law. He also received the Outstanding Ethics Attorney from The Florida Bar City, County and Local Government Law Section.

Dr. Joseph E. Cater, III
Chief Economist and President
Market-Economics Inc.

Dr. Joseph E. Cater, III is Chief Financial Economist/President of Market-Economics, Inc. providing economic and real estate analysis for small and median size companies, local, and state governments. Clients include Hunter Associates/Prince George’s County Park and Planning Commission, Deloitte & Touche, Bearing Point/AAL, Baltimore City Development Corporation, and Maryland Transportation Authority. He is an adjunct lecturer at U.S. Naval Academy and prior to that taught at Georgetown University, Washington, DC McDonough School of Business. Prior to re-starting his consulting company, he was director of Regional Economic Analysis at Fannie Mae responsible for analyzing the regional economy for Fannie Mae including state, metropolitan areas, and central cities providing a quarterly forecast on state and metropolitan area housing prices. He was also in charge of producing and distributing regional economic analyses including Quarterly Regional Economic Outlook.

Before to joining Fannie Mae, Dr. Cater was an Economist in the Office of Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development analyzing metropolitan and inner city mortgage lending. He was a Marketing Research Manager at Montgomery County, Maryland’s Economic Development Department examining issues of housing affordability and business location. He also was an Economist at Maryland’s Economic and Business Development serving on the state's Enterprise Zone Board Review. As a doctoral student, he was a visiting scholar with the Office of Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development working a team member examining condominium conversion in the U.S. His doctoral thesis was on central city housing revitalization activities and neighborhood organizations.

He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Rutgers University, and Bachelor of Science in Economics from Western Connecticut College. He has completed work towards an MBA in Management at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Cater served as president of the National Capital Chapter of the National Association of Business Economics 1999-2000 and is current member of the National Association of Business Economics and Financial Executives Network. He is a guess writer and “Economist in Residence” of the Financial Executives Network. He is a national speaker on regional economics and trends in the housing and mortgage market.

James A. Cloar
President & CEO
Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Inc

Jim Cloar has been President & CEO of the Downtown St. Louis Partnership and of the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District since December 1, 2001. DTSLP is a not-for-profit organization that serves as a membership association and also manages a $2.6 million Community Improvement District (CID) that focuses on public space management, security, business and residential development, marketing and special events. He is also Executive Director of Downtown Now!, a private not-for-profit development corporation.

From 1992 to 2001, Cloar was President of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, representing the downtown business community. Accomplishments included managing a business improvement district, assembling land for a new sports arena, developing a downtown park, and facilitating the opening of a downtown elementary school. While in Tampa, he served on the Boards of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, The Florida Aquarium, the University of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Previously, he has been a partner and Principal of LDR International, a consulting firm based in Columbia, MD, and was Executive Vice President of the Urban Land Institute. From 1977 to 1985, he was President of the Central Dallas Association, where his activities included implementation of the Dallas Arts District. Cloar has been a consultant or advisor on downtown planning, development and organizational issues to over 50 cities throughout the United States and abroad.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Downtown Association, and a former Chair of the organization. He is Chair of ULI’s Public-Private Partnership Council. Locally, he Chairs the City’s Downtown Economic Stimulus Authority and is on the Board of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association.

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

Denny Coleman is the President and CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council. Prior to his present position, Coleman was director of development for the City of St. Louis and was 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 (now U.S. Bank) when the bank’s community development corporation won National Fair Housing awards and a Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House.

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. The County Economic Council oversees several local and regional economic development programs, including WORLD TRADE CENTER Saint Louis, various loan programs, small business incubators, business development and business retention services, and community redevelopment. The County Economic Council also led the St. Louis region’s highly successful and nationally recognized Defense Adjustment Program.

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 Executive’s Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serves on the Board of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and chairs that organization’s Planning and Business Development Committee. Coleman has also served on numerous Boards and Advisory Committees for State and Local Governments, civic organizations and colleges and universities.

Coleman and his wife, Bonnie, who is operations manager of The Blessing Basket Project, have been married thirty-one years. They have two children, Mike, a 2004 graduate of Dayton University, and Emily, a 2007 graduate of Indiana University.

Richard (Buzz) David, CEcD
President & CEO
Amarillo Economic Development Corporation

Richard (Buzz) David, CEcD joined the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) in July 2004 as its President & CEO. Buzz has more than twenty-five years experience in economic development in the private and public sectors. Prior to his move to Amarillo, Buzz served as the Director of Economic Development for Pinellas County, Florida; held a number of management positions during a fifteen year career with Florida Power Corporation and worked in economic development agencies with the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida.

Buzz is a graduate of the University of South Florida with majors in business administration and political science. He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

He is active in his profession holding memberships in CoreNet Global, Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC), International Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, Texas Economic Development Council and the Florida Economic Development Council.

Alan DeLisle, CEcD
Director
City of Durham, Office of Economic & Employment Development

Alan was educated in New York where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication/Journalism in 1982 with a concentration in print and Broadcast Journalism at St. John Fisher College, Rochester, New York. He continued his education, earning his Masters Degree in Political Science in 1985 with a concentration in State and Local government at the State University of New York at Albany.

He moved to North Carolina in 2002 to work for the City of Durham as Director of the Economic and Workforce Development Department. He has since been promoted to Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic and Workforce Development.

Currently, Alan is working on several Economic Development projects; including the new Durham Performing Arts Center, Phase III development of American Tobacco, West Village Phase II, Parrish Street and Neighborhood Redevelopment projects. Alan is also the Director of the Workforce Development Board and has led the effort to implement Durham’s first Strategic Workforce Development Plan.

Prior to relocating to the City of Durham, Alan held many positions which included: President of Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation from 1998 to 2002, Commissioner of Community Development for City of Buffalo, New York from 1996 to 1998, Confidential Aid to the Mayor for Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs, City of Buffalo from 1994 to 1995, Legislative Director, New York State Senator Anthony M. Masiello, New York State Legislature from 1986 to 1993, New York State Senate Fellow from 1985 to 1986, and Policy Analyst, New York State legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices, Albany, New York in 1985.

Alan serves on the Downtown Durham, Inc. and is a member of Rotary. He is also a certified Economic Development Professional by the International Economic Development Council.

Mark Dyer
President & CEO
Motorsports Authentic

In a 25-year business career centered on sports marketing, Mark Dyer relied on three main personal qualities: entrepreneurship, innovation and salesmanship.

In June 2007, Dyer accepted an invitation from Motorsports Authentics’ Board of Managers to lead day-to-day management of the merchandise retailer owned in a 50/50 joint venture between International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI). As president, Dyer will oversee the acquisition and development of intellectual property licenses, coordinating with teams, drivers, sanctioning bodies, promoters and sponsors to enhance industry opportunities. In addition, Dyer will develop partnerships with best-in-class suppliers and manufacturers, develop and implement strategies with in-market retailers in all distribution channels, and liaise with promoters to optimize the trackside retail footprint, maximize points-of-sale and improve the fan experience.

Prior to joining Motorsports Authentics, Dyer lead day-to-day management of NASCAR’s Charlotte operation as vice president of licensing and consumer products from September 2002-June 2007. In this position, Dyer oversaw all aspects of traditional licensing, which License Magazine ranks #3 in all of professional sports, in addition to managing NASCAR’s automotive aftermarket licensing program, retail program development, promotional marketing and consumer products. In addition to helping grow the business from $600 million to $2 billion in retail sales, Dyer also shepherded the development and groundbreaking of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, scheduled to open in Charlotte in 2010.

Dyer is no stranger to NASCAR licensing. As president/CEO of corporate NASCAR Café based in Knoxville, Tennessee, he steered the company in the development of its first five franchise locations at Myrtle Beach SC, Nashville TN, Orlando FL, Smoky Mountains TN and Las Vegas NV. He was so dedicated to the Las Vegas NASCAR Café project that he formed Dyer Ventures, Inc., with his wife Tammy in November 1999, and acquired the franchise rights to the Las Vegas location. The dazzling NASCAR Café Las Vegas complex opened at the Sahara Hotel and Casino and quickly became a successful destination dining experience on the grand strand.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Dyer grew up watching NASCAR races at the old Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

He began his sports marketing career after graduating from the University of Tennessee/Knoxville in 1981. After a brief stint editing newspaper copy and writing headlines for his hometown paper, The Tennesseean, he was hired by Host Communications, Inc., as director of sports publications in 1982. In addition to having responsibility for the NCAA Final Four game program, he also produced a national radio series for CBS Radio called College Sports USA, all at the age of 22.

Dyer’s alma mater came calling in 1983 as he was hired to develop new television programming for the University of Tennessee. In six years, he launched a new home video business for UT sports, developed ground-breaking cable sports television programming and developed the most successful spring football intrasquad scrimmage game in 1986.

Host Communications acquired the radio and television rights to UT in 1989 and Dyer rejoined Host as the head of the Tennessee operation. After two years leading the most successful school project in the company’s history, Dyer was charged with overseeing the media properties for company’s entire University Group that included Alabama, Notre Dame, Auburn, Kentucky, Texas, Virginia and South Carolina. He also developed the first successful multi-school pay-per-view television network for many schools in the Host family.

Before leaving Host for the NASCAR Café in 1996, Dyer was successful in developing innovative programs in women’s college sports and at historically-black colleges.

Timothy Eachus
Senior Vice President, Public Institutions Group
Jones Lang LaSalle

Mr. Eachus is a Senior Vice President in Jones Lang LaSalle’s Public Institutions Group in Washington, D.C. He has responsibility for Jones Lang LaSalle’s work with State and Local government and quasi-government entities. His work includes underwriting, structuring and negotiating public / private real estate transactions with specific expertise in military housing privatization, large joint venture redevelopment transactions, structuring incentive development programs, enhanced use leasing and OMB budgetary scoring.

He currently supports numerous state and local agencies including the District of Columbia, Port Authority of New York / New Jersey, Fairfax County, VA, the State of New Mexico, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and many others. The development projects that he oversees include: the redevelopment of DC’s old convention center site among others, the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in New York, and Mesa del Sol in Albuquerque, NM.

Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, Mr. Eachus served as a Senior Manager at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) where he advised numerous public and private entities on real estate strategy and business processes.

Mr. Eachus has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona in Business Administration, cum laude, and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business.

Chris Engle
Chief Project Officer
New Economy Strategies, LLC

Chris is Chief Project Officer for New Economy Strategies LLC (NES) and is responsible for project oversight and management of the firm's clients. Chris brings 14 years of economic development experience including ten years in economic development consulting and several years at the Austin Chamber. His experience and expertise includes client management, project design, target industry research, asset analysis, real estate feasibility, technology assessments, and site selection. He has focused his career on technology-based economic development and most recently, he has assisted Detroit in creating a public-private creative business accelerator and he has developed a knowledge economy roadmap for Providence, Rhode Island.

New Economy Strategies LLC is a national consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. with a strong focus and proven track record on research, facilitation and implementation of innovation-based economic development strategies. NES has advised a diverse group of stakeholders such as federal cabinet officers and agencies, state governors, CEOs, university chancellors and presidents, entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, economic and workforce developers, and civic leaders in its 10 year history.

Prior to joining NES, Chris was Vice President at Angelou Economics and Research Director at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. He has created economic development plans and real estate assessments for over 40 communities across the US and Europe – including Hampton Roads, Virginia; Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; Anniston, AL; North Carolina; Northern Kentucky; Quad Cities, Illinois; San Joaquin County, California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; the Czech Republic; and Portugal. His corporate clients have included Applied Materials, Dell Computer, Gables Residential, Opus Development, and Stratus Properties.

Chris is a member of IEDC, is a frequent speaker at site selection and economic events, and is a published writer and commentator in national and local print media.

Maurice Ewing,CEcD
President and CEO
Union County Partnership for Progress

Mr. Ewing graduated from Appalachian State University in Economics and Business Administration and has completed advanced studies at UNC Chapel Hill, East Carolina University and the University of Oklahoma where he completed the Economic Development Institute. He has two careers in Banking. He spent 13 years at the Charlotte Chamber where he was responsible for New Business Recruiting in Mecklenburg County. He spent 10 years as President and CEO of Cabarrus Economic Development in near-by Cabarrus County. He has been in his current position since 2004.

During his 30+ years in economic and business development he has been involved in over 400 business locations and expansions representing more than 7,000 jobs. He created the first International Development Program at the Charlotte Chamber, and was the first local economic development professional in North Carolina to adopt a regional strategy for client location.

Mary Lou Fiala
President and Chief Operating Officer
Regency Centers Corporation

Since 1998, Ms. Fiala, 55, has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Regency Centers Corporation, a real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership and operation of grocery anchored shopping centers. In her role as President and Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Fiala is responsible for the operational management of Regency’s retail centers nationwide. Prior to working with Regency, Ms. Fiala served as Managing Director of Security Capital Global Strategic Group Incorporated, where she was responsible for the development of operating systems for the firm’s retail-related initiatives. Previously, she also served as Senior Vice President and Director of Stores for Macy’s East/Federated Department Stores, where she was responsible for 19 Macy’s stores in five states, generating more than $1 billion in sales volume. Before her tenure at Macy’s, Ms. Fiala was Senior Vice President of Henri Bendel and Senior Vice President and Regional Director of stores for Federated’s Burdine’s Division. Ms. Fiala earned a bachelor’s degree in science for Miami University. She is a current member of the Board of Directors for Regency Centers Corporation, a Trustees for the International Council of Shopping Centers, member of the board for Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and a board member of Stir Crazy, Inc. Ms. Fiala was recently nominated as the 2008 – 2009 Chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Thomas Flynn, CEcD
Director, Economic Development
City of Charlotte Economic Development Office

Tom Flynn has been the Economic Development Director for the City of Charlotte, N.C. since 2004.

As Economic Development Director he is responsible for the City of Charlotte’s efforts in Small Business Development, Business Retention and Expansion, Redevelopment and Workforce Development. He has been responsible for many economic development projects that have pushed Charlotte to the top rung of cities in terms of economic growth, including: The Westin Charlotte, Elizabeth Avenue Redevelopment, and Mid-Town Square Redevelopment. Tom has also been a leader in developing many of Charlotte’s economic development programs, including: Business Retention and Growth, Business Investment Grants, BizHub Center for Small Business and the City’s Economic Development Strategic Framework.

Tom has worked for the City of Charlotte since 1980 in various positions, including: Budget Analyst, Assistant to the City Manager, Assistant to the Mayor, and Economic Development Officer. He is active with the International Economic Development Council, serving on their Education Committee and teaching their Land Development and Redevelopment course. He also serves the National Civic League as a juror for the All America City Award.

Tom is a graduate of Leadership Charlotte Class XVIII and has served in volunteer capacities in many Charlotte organizations, including: Communities in Schools, YMCA, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Hands on Charlotte.

He is a certified economic developer by the International Economic Development Association. He received his BA from Kalamazoo College and his MPA from the LBJ School, University of Texas at Austin.

Brian France
Chairman and CEO
NASCAR

Brian Z. France, actively involved in NASCAR for more than two decades, is a member of the NASCAR-founding France family and assumed the roles of NASCAR Chairman and CEO in October 2003. He is the grandson of NASCAR’s founder, the late William H.G. (“Big Bill”) France, and the son of the former President end Chairman/CEO of NASCAR, the late William C. France.

France has an extensive background in NASCAR, ranging from his experience as a race track manager to helping develop and manage NASCAR weekly short track and touring competitive levels.

As a track manager, he was involved in writing and enforcing rules, developing race procedures and all other aspects of competition. He successfully oversaw the transformation of the Tucson dirt track into one of the premier paved short tracks in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

France has been heavily involved with many of NASCAR’s recent innovations. France worked closely with NASCAR's competition department in the development of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which debuted in 1995. He was a key proponent of the NASCAR Research and Development Center, a facility opened in 2003 and dedicated to improving the safety and operational efficiency of the sport.

France has been at the forefront of NASCAR’s dramatic sponsorship growth, including the ground-breaking announcement of Nextel Communications as the new sponsor of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series – now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – beginning in 2004. He has also led a host of marketing initiatives, including internalizing the sanctioning body's licensing efforts and developing NASCAR’s consolidated television plans that have culminated with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events being broadcast on ABC, ESPN, FOX Sports, FX, NBC Sports and TNT. France was actively involved in the October 2000 announcement of NASCAR joining forces with Turner Sports to produce NASCAR.COM.

France also spearheaded the opening of NASCAR offices in Los Angeles, New York and Charlotte to address the sanctioning body’s growing business needs and partner base.

In 1999, The Sports Business Daily named France its Sports Industrialist of the Year and Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) named him the SMEI Marketing Statesman of the Year. Previous awards include Advertising Age honoring France as one of the publication's top 100 marketers of the year and Promo Magazine naming him as one of that publication's top promoters of the year. In 2006, he was named to the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. He serves on many boards and is the founder and former Chairman of NASCAR’s Diversity Council, an organization comprised of motorsports executives focused on encouraging greater diversity within the industry.

Mark S. Froehlich
President and CEO
Columbus Urban Growth Corporation

Mark S. Froehlich is President and CEO of the Columbus Urban Growth Corporation, a private, non-profit development company that partners with the city of Columbus in revitalizing its urban neighborhoods.

Before joining Urban Growth, Mark served nine years as a judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court and served 14 years as mayor of Obetz, a suburban Columbus community.

As mayor, Mark steered the community’s rapid growth utilizing a multitude of development and financing tools to achieve redevelopment of its initial industrial park and the creation of two new ones. Foremost in these public-private partnerships was the establishment of the CreekSide Industrial Center.

He led the village’s successful negotiations with the city of Columbus on an exclusive 45-year water and sewer agreement that laid the groundwork for future growth of the Rickenbacker International Airport, its adjacent industrial park and intermodal terminal. His efforts also resulted in Obetz being selected as the site of the Columbus Crew Training Facility, the first major league soccer-specific complex in the country.

Mark is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He is an attorney-at-law and received his law degree from Capital University Law School.

Raymond Garfield
Principal
Garfield Traub Development

Ray Garfield is the Chairman and CEO of Garfield Traub Development, LLC. With over 35 years of finance and development experience, Mr. Garfield focuses on developing creative financial structures for his Public Sector clients and their property needs. In its ten year history, Garfield Traub has completed more than $1 billion in design-build/finance facilities and is currently developing another $1 billion including performing arts centers, convention centers and hotels, arenas, courthouses, parking facilities, offices and other public buildings.

Mr. Garfield served as Chairman and CEO of Vista Properties, Inc, where he orchestrated a merger with Centex Corporation. He served as Senior Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield, Inc, for the western US. As Vice President at Salomon Brothers, Mr. Garfield closed over $2.5 billion in transactions. Clients included Wal-Mart Corporation, Weingarten Realty, Inc., Trammell Crow Company, and Lincoln Property Company, among many others. Mr. Garfield helped pioneer the nation’s first commercial mortgage backed securities. Mr. Garfield also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Merrill Lynch Commercial Real Estate.

Mr. Garfield has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and served as a Naval Aviator.

Michael Gaymon
President and CEO
Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce

A native of South Carolina, Mike was educated in the public schools/colleges there. Mike begins his 31st year in the Chamber business. He has led Chambers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama, before moving to Georgia in April of 1988 to serve as the President/CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Gaymon has been selected by his peers as the Georgia Chamber Executive of the Year, Georgia Tech's Top Presenter for Economic Development Workshop; US Chamber's top 5 national instructors, and is one of Georgia's first Certified Chamber Executives. In January, he was recently selected as one of the top 100 top influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine. He is the only current Chamber Executive to have been selected to lead the State Associations of both Alabama and Georgia. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a previous Program Co-Chair. He is a Charter Board member of the National Infantry Museum & National Infantry Museum Foundation and a Charter member of the House of Heroes. He recently became a Paul Harris Fellow for Rotary.

He has taught courses at Auburn University, University of Oklahoma, University of Delaware and the University of Georgia. He has been the presenter for many state organizations, private corporations and key note speaker for various non-profit organizations in the Southeast.

Victor Grgas, HLM
Project Consultant
Victor S. Grgas Associates

Mr. Grgas has over 25 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. He is the President of VSG & Associates, a land use consulting company and commercial real estate brokerage based in Seal Beach, California. His firm provides a wide range of real estate related services including land use entitlement processing, local governmental liaison, retail and business recruitment, economic development planning, and public-private partnership negotiations. Before forming his company, Mr. Grgas worked for Forest City Development for over 12 years and was the Director of Planning and Government Relations for the company’s West Coast operations where he was involved in several million square feet of new retail and mixed-use development projects. Before that Mr. Grgas served as Assistant City Manager for Montebello, California, and as the Director of Development Planning for the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission, as well as the Director of Economic Development for the Cities of Redondo Beach and of Santa Ana, California. Mr. Grgas was also twice elected as councilman and mayor for the City of Seal Beach. He served as the president of the National Council for Urban Economic Development (now IEDC) and the California Association for Local Economic Development.

Tom Hanson
General Manager
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx

Tom Hanson is General Manager of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. The team, located in Jackson, TN, is the AA Southern League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Prior to joining the Diamond Jaxx, Hanson worked for 21 years with the Valspar Corporation holding positions in sales and marketing, sales management, marketing management, and general management. He retired from the company in 2006 as Global Director of Markets.

He and co-presenter Kyle Spurgeon were both recently inducted into Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame for their efforts in spearheading the development of the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex. Hanson has also responsible for bringing the 2003 Dixie Boys World Series to Jackson and has held various youth baseball leadership positions at local, state, and national level.

Tom is presently working with several other communities in helping them plan the feasibility and design of baseball/softball complexes.

Robin Hunden
President
Hunden Strategic Partners

Robin Scott Hunden - President, ISHC, offers extensive experience in managing the feasibility and implementation of major real estate projects as well as organizational development. As President of Hunden Strategic Partners -- with offices in Chicago, Indiana and Los Angeles -- he has been a sought after consultant for dozens of hotel, convention, mixed-use entertainment and retail projects as well as other tourism and economic development projects and master plans. He also has experience moving organizations to a position of focus and action through strategic planning initiatives.

Prior to starting the firm, he served as Vice President of C.H. Johnson Consulting in Chicago. There, he conducted nearly 100 destination development assignments for the firm, specializing in hotels, conference centers, sports, urban entertainment-retail districts and convention center developments, among others. He also managed much of the firm’s work on performing arts and tourism projects during his five year tenure. Prior to joining Johnson Consulting, he worked on real estate finance and transaction activity for a number of projects at Landauer Associates and Grubb & Ellis. His public-sector experience began at the Indianapolis Bond Bank, which is Indianapolis’ economic development finance authority. There, he worked for the Mayor’s Office and the Bond Bank on the Indiana Convention Center expansion, financing for the RCA Dome renovation and Conseco Fieldhouse construction, and managed the pre-development process for the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott convention hotel, among many other community development projects, including retail, entertainment, tourism and special events.

Mr. Hunden has written articles on economic development topics (including one on the subject of convention headquarter hotels for the Economic Development Journal) and taught Destination Development and Tourism courses at Kendall College in Evanston. He has also been active in special event and nonprofit work, serving on the boards of the Murat Centre for the Performing Arts (Indianapolis), is currently president of the board for Imagination Theater (Chicago), is involved in the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, and served on the board of Chicago Games, Inc. from 2000 to 2007. He has participated in bids for national and international sporting and political events in both Indianapolis and Chicago and served on the volunteer marketing committee for the RCA Tennis Championships.

Mr. Hunden is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the International Downtown Association (IDA), the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), the International City County Management Association (ICMA), the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), and the World Trade Center Association (WTCA). He has been a noted speaker and conducted panel discussions at IEDC “If You Build It, Will They Come?” conferences in Kansas City, Tempe, AZ and Tampa, FL as well as taught courses for IEDC for their professional development courses in Columbus, OH and San Antonio (2005 & 2007). He has also spoken at the Greek Conference on Tourism in Thessaloniki, Greece in 2005 and the Bond Buyer’s “Tourism as Economic Development” conference in 2006. Mr. Hunden received a B.S. in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana.

Donald Hunter, FM
President
Hunter Interests, Inc.

Mr. Hunter is president of Hunter Interests Inc., a diversified real estate investment, development, and consulting firm headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with offices in New York City and Clearwater, Florida. The firm specializes in large scale, mixed-use developments and public/private ventures in urban areas. Mr. Hunter is an urban economist and real estate developer who has packaged and developed numerous successful development projects during his 30-year career. Hunter’s development projects, managed personally or by his development companies, total more than $700 million in value. He was previously a Westinghouse corporate executive with international project management responsibilities including development of the 1,700-acre Jakarta Industrial Estate in Indonesia. Mr. Hunter is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the International Downtown Association (IDA). He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Charles H. Johnson, IV
President and Chief Executive Officer
C.H. Johnson Consulting Inc.

Charles Johnson is an economic and real estate consultant with over twenty five years of experience consulting on over six hundred hospitality, tourism, resort, sports, and urban planning projects. He provides strategic guidance to clients based on comprehensive market, financial, and economic impact analyses and has special expertise working with community governments, project developers, architects, construction firms, and underwriters. His project involvement begins with pre-development activities and follows through design, construction, and start up operations.

Johnson recently served as consultant to the City of Fort Worth, Texas, conducting analysis for the development of a 600 room Omni hotel, which is now under construction. He recently worked on a 400 room condo/ waterpark hotel in Pella, Iowa and analyzed a 400 room casino hotel in Macau Before starting his own firm, Johnson was National Director of KPMG Peat Marwick’s Convention, Sports and Leisure Consulting practice. He has also work with development firms in Orlando and Chicago. Johnson began his consulting career at Laventhol & Horwath, where he worked for eight years.

He has worked on projects throughout the U.S. and in Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Thailand and Malaysia. Charles Johnson is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants.

Jeffrey Kane
Senior Vice President in Charge
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Mr. Kane was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President in charge of the Charlotte Office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond effective October 1, 2003. In addition to being responsible for activities at the Charlotte Branch,, he has overall responsibility for Fifth District Cash Operations, Reserve Accounts and Loans functions.

Mr. Kane is active in financial literacy and economic education. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Director on the boards of Junior Achievement and the South Carolina Council on Economic Education. Mr. Kane’s civic participation includes Community Link Board Chair, Treasurer of United Way of Central Carolinas and Chair of their Finance Committee, member of the Executive Governing Board and Audit Committee Chair of Charlotte Regional Partnership, and member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is Vice Chair for the 2008 Greater Charlotte Heart Ball.

Mr. Kane earned a B.A. degree in mathematics at University of Virginia. He is a graduate of The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at University of Delaware and The Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management at University of Virginia. Mr. Kane began his banking career in 1975 as a Lending Officer for the Bank of Virginia in Tidewater. He joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in 1977. Prior to relocating to Charlotte, he was responsible for Banking Supervision and Regulation in the Richmond office.

Ronald Kimble
Deputy City Manager
City of Charlotte

Ronald R. (Ron) Kimble is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Charlotte. Charlotte is a municipality with a population of 675,000 and over 6,500 employees. His responsibilities include economic development, redevelopment, hospitality and tourism, and neighborhood improvement activities for the City.

Ron came to Charlotte in September 2000 as an Assistant City Manager. Prior to coming to Charlotte, he was the City Manager of Greenville, North Carolina for ten years, an Assistant City Manager in Greenville for two years, and also the Director of Finance in Greenville for four years and Assistant Director of Finance in his hometown of Galesburg, Illinois for nine years.

Mr. Kimble received bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business administration from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. He also is a graduate of the Senior Executive Leadership Institute Program through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mr. Kimble is a Member of the International City Management Association, the NC City and County Management Association, a Board Member of the Charlotte Rotary Club and Past President of the Greenville Noon Rotary, Past Governor’s Appointee to the State Code Officials Qualifications Board, Past Appointee to the Joint Legislative Commission on Municipal Incorporations, and Past State Vice President, NC Government Finance Officers Association. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Jan. They have one grown daughter.

Allan Kotin
Owner/Principal
Allan D. Kotin & Associates

Allan Kotin has over 48 years of experience in real estate economics with an emphasis on financial planning, redevelopment, and economic development. He has extensive experience in financial analysis, financial structuring, and transaction negotiation for public agencies and private clients.

Entering real estate in 1960, Mr. Kotin has held key positions with several major real estate consulting and strategic planning firms before founding Kotin, Regan & Mouchly, Inc., in 1980 to which Allan D. Kotin & Associates is a successor firm. Allan’s responsibilities have included developer selection, negotiation support, feasibility analysis, development monitoring, and the strategic planning for problem projects.

Since 1980, Mr. Kotin has been actively involved in public/private joint ventures, often acting as a key strategist and active negotiator for public agencies and private developers in major redevelopment and asset management transactions. Within this area, Mr. Kotin has developed particular expertise in participatory ground leasing.. His other work includes extensive consulting on developer selection, negotiation of public private joint ventures, and extensive training and teaching experience.

Since 1986, Mr. Kotin teaches graduate courses in real estate and urban planning at the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development where is he is an Adjunct Professor. In addition he has taught since 2001 in the summer executive training program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He has been Dean of the Municipal track at the ICSC Shopping Center University and has been a board member and officer of CUED (Council on Urban Economic Development, now IEDC). His education includes B.A. and M.A. degrees in economics from UCLA and postgraduate study at Harvard.

James Kuhn
Principal and President
Newmark Knight Frank

James D. Kuhn joined Newmark Knight Frank as principal and its president in 1992 after fifteen years as owner/manager acquiring 11,000,000 sq ft of office space and 6,000 apartments in partnership with Bernard Mendik. The company was sold to Vornado in 1996 and Mr. Kuhn became a stockholder. During the course of his career, Mr. Kuhn has been advisor, broker or principal in over $3 billion in transactions for 25 million sq ft of commercial and residential real estate.

In partnership with Barry Gosin and Jeffrey Gural, he has acquired, or is in the development stage of projects like: the iconic Flatiron building; a hotel-casino complex on the old Bethlehem steel site; and projects in Coney Island and Flushing, Queens.

Over the past five years, Mr. Kuhn has built a group specializing in advising hospitals, universities and municipalities in the acquisition and disposition of their real estate assets. Mr. Kuhn’s clients include Mt Sinai Hospital, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York University, Hudson Yards Development Corporation, Metropolitan Transit Authority, among others.

Mr. Kuhn is on the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University, Pratt Institute, National Jewish Medical & Research Center, the March of Dimes, and is the current Chairman of the Real Estate Advisory Committee for the New York University Real Estate Institute. In 2006, Mr. Kuhn endowed the James Kuhn Real Estate Institute in the Whitman Business School at Syracuse University.

Mr. Kuhn holds a BBA in Finance and a MBA in Real Estate from Syracuse University.

Mark Lautman, CEcD
Director of Economic Development
Mesa del Sol

Mark Lautman is the Director of Economic Development for Mesa del Sol, a new master planned community of 100,000 residents being developed in Albuquerque New Mexico by Forest City Enterprises and Covington Capital. His business unit is responsible for the design and execution of an economic development master plan that will meet their commitment to create 30,000 net new economic base jobs on site by build out. He is also the current chairman of the New Mexico Economic Development Commission.

Since becoming a professional economic developer 25 years ago Lautman designed and managed three other economic development programs attracting more than 75 corporate locations accounting for more than 12,000 new jobs, 5 million square feet of industrial space, and $10 billion in new investment.

He is a frequent national conference speaker on how the looming labor crisis is forcing communities to become more strategic about managing their economies and topics related to improving productivity and accountability of economic development and workforce development programs.

He is a 1971 graduate of the University of New Mexico in Economics, Architecture and Geography and a former Peace Corps Volunteer.

Alan Lewis
Development Partner
The Keith Corporation

Alan Lewis is a Development Partner at The Keith Corporation (TKC) with over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. Since joining The Keith Corporation in 1992, Alan has successfully completed a variety of transaction types including the following:

• Build-to-Suit & Speculative Development of over 4,600,000 sq. ft. of Distribution and Manufacturing Facilities.
• Development and marketing of Lincoln County Industrial Park, Lincolnton, NC; Sherrill Industrial Park, Statesville, NC; Township Industrial Park, Charlotte, NC; Summit Corporate Center, Rowan County, NC; and Newton Corporate Center, Newton, NC.
• Land Assemblage and Leasing of the 47-story Hearst Tower in Uptown Charlotte.
• Acquisition and Leasing of CityFair in Uptown Charlotte.

Alan graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.S. in Business Administration. Professionally he served as President of the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors (“CRCBR”) in 2002 and as a member of the Board of Directors of that organization for seven years in various capacities. Alan is a member of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association and is a licensed broker in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Civically, Alan currently serves as a member of the Board of Managers for the Harris Family Branch YMCA.

James F. Lima
Partner
HR&A Advisors, Inc.

James has expertise in market-rate and mixed-income housing, and economic development initiatives focused in revitalizing urban centers and waterfronts. Over the past decade, he has successfully aligned the interests of private and public entities to build close to $1 billion worth of mixed-income housing, retail and new public amenities throughout the City of New York. A strategic planner, consensus builder, and pragmatic problem-solver, James is hailed as an effective and creative leader in public-private real estate development.

Prior to joining HR&A, he was Senior Director of Development in the New York regional office of one of the country’s top residential REITs, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. At AvalonBay, James oversaw planning and construction of a development portfolio consisting of more than 1,800 residential units, retail and public amenities valued at more than $600 million.

Previously, James served as NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s appointee as the founding President of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, a public corporation overseeing the planning, redevelopment and operations of the 172-acre former military facility in New York Harbor in conjunction with the National Park Service. James was responsible for securing the first $30 million commitment of historic preservation funding for the Island’s national landmark buildings.

Earlier in his career, James was Senior Vice President for Special Projects at the NYC Economic Development Corporation where he managed initiatives focused on growth of the City’s central business districts and increasing public access to the City’s waterfront. Having served as Assistant Commissioner for new construction programs at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, James understands the complexity and opportunities in structuring financing for community development.

Mr. Lima is Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Columbia University Master of Science in Real Estate Development Program, where he teaches “Public-Private Partnerships in Real Estate Development.”

James earned a B.A. from Columbia College with a major in architecture and urban studies, and stayed on at Columbia to complete the Master of Science in Real Estate Development Program. James is a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia College Alumni Association, and serves on the Board of the planning and urban design journal Places.

Andy E. Long
National Director of Business Development
VenuWorks

Andy E. Long, National Director of Business Development for VenuWorks, is a long-time industry executive with extensive experience in marketing, management, and opening of public assembly facilities. He most recently managed the opening of the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, a four-building complex anchored by the 17,000-seat multi-purpose Wells Fargo Arena and the 100,000 sq. ft. HyVee Hall Convention Facility. Prior to Des Moines, Andy opened and operated Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a 10,500-seat entertainment and sports arena. He has also served as Director of Marketing at the North Charleston Coliseum, The Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa , and the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. He has also been a regional Marketing Director for Feld Entertainment with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows. His multi-venue background has given him effective and results-based knowledge in the design and operation of every type of venue and event, and he provides an invaluable resource to the VenuWorks consulting and facility management programs while heading up new business development. Andy is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Amy Case Madison, CEcD, CPM
Economic Development Director
Economic Development San Marcos

Amy Case Madison, CEcD, CPM, is economic development director for the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce in Texas. She has over 20 years of combined experience in public administration, economic development, planning and special events. Prior to San Marcos, Madison was executive director of economic development for the City of Schertz, Madison streamlined operations in planning, inspections and economic development. She helped grow Schertz from a population of 10,000 to over 30,000 in six years, and in her final year (2007), the city was named the number one place to live (under 50,000) by Money Magazine.

Regionally, Madison represented nine Texas cities on the Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Board. Within 8 months, the board elected her Vice Chair making her the first woman to serve in this position. In addition, she served on the executive board, economic development and rail committees for the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council.

Madison has a degree from Phillips University and a master’s degree from Oklahoma University. Professional certifications include Certified Economic Developer (IEDC) and Certified Public Manager from Texas State University. As Vice President of the A-T Children’s Project (ATCP), she has raised over $600,000 for research, and received the Sam Walton Hero Award.

Todd Mansfield
Chairman and CEO
Crosland

Todd Mansfield serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crosland, LLC. Crosland, founded in 1937, is one of the Southeast’s leading diversified real estate operating companies.

Prior to joining Crosland, Todd was Managing Director of Security Capital Group in London where he launched and operated a private equity investment fund. From 1986 to 1997, Todd was Executive Vice President of The Walt Disney Company where he had operating responsibility for Disney’s resort development and corporate real estate activities worldwide. He served as President of Disney’s Celebration Company and oversaw the planning, entitlement and initial development of the 5,000 acre Town of Celebration. Mansfield was also President of The Disney Vacation Club, a vacation ownership company.

Mansfield currently serves as Chairman of the Urban Land Institute, is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Carolinas Healthcare System, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy where he completed two terms as Chair, in addition to other community leadership positions.

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

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.

Barry serves on the International Economic Development Council Board and is past Chairman of the IEDC Membership Committee. 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 by the Charlotte Business Journal and recognized as a North Carolina Main Street Champion.

Judy McKinney-Cherry
Director
Delaware Economic Development Office

Judy McKinney-Cherry was nominated by Governor Ruth Ann Minner and confirmed by the Senate as the first female Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office in October 2002.

After spending ten years as an Economic Development Program Manager in the Delaware Economic Development Office, Judy went on to hold a series of strategic leadership positions with Info Systems, a national information technology services company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. When Judy retired from Info Systems in 2002, she was responsible for profitably managing nearly $30 million in business annually.

Under Judy McKinney-Cherry, the Delaware Economic Development Office has refocused its efforts to become a sales oriented organization. She has been instrumental in providing the organization productivity and technology tools, specific results-oriented performance measures, and development of a marketing and communications division. The Director implemented a cluster strategy coupled with an innovative entrepreneurial action plan. She has modernized many of the policies and approaches to economic development.

Judy is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science, while securing minors in Computer Science and Economics from the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.

She has been awarded the Regional SBA Award for assisting small businesses (2003) and was elected to the Board of Directors for the International Economic Development Council for 2007-2010. Judy was chair of the IT sub-committee of the Governor’s Strategic Economic Council from 2001-20002 and a board member of the statewide Workforce Investment Board 1998-2008; and Co-Chair of the Performance Review Committee from 2000-2002.

Flint McNaughton
Southeast Regional Partner/Senior VP
Lauth

Flint McNaughton directs all acquisition, development, construction, and company operations in the Southeast for Lauth, one of the nation’s leading development and construction companies. In addition to his development and management responsibilities, Flint also serves as a leader of Lauth’s National Facilities Group and a member of the company’s Executive Forum and Capital Committee.

Flint’s career in commercial real estate includes execution of over ten million square feet of development and brokerage transactions in 38 states, including Fortune 500 office headquarters, suburban office campuses, distribution warehouses, medical offices and retail projects. His latest projects include NASCAR Plaza, a $100 million, 20-story, world class office tower in downtown Charlotte. NASCAR will serve as the anchor tenant of this 390,000-square-foot speculative project, occupying approximately one-third of the space. NASCAR Plaza, designed by world renowned Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects, will be LEED Certified. It will open in March 2009.

Flint has been recognized multiple times by professional and economic organizations across the region for his work, including the 2006 “Deal of the Year” for NASCAR Plaza from the Charlotte Business Journal. Flint received his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Frank Mobilio, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Project Manager
The Staubach Company

Frank Mobilio is a Senior Project Manager in the Design and Construction Consulting Services Group in the Washington, DC office of Staubach’s Northeast Region. He has over 25 years of project management, architectural design and space planning experience.

Frank’s Project Management duties have focused on Law Firms (Bryan Cave, Beveridge & Diamond). Non-Profit Organizations (Navy Federal Credit Union, The Nature Conservancy, World Resources Institute, Human Rights Campaign, Union of Concerned Scientists). Building Renovation (Vornado Realty Trust), term Government clients (GSA, DC Government), and Government Affairs Offices (Microsoft, Monsanto). They have totaled over 1.5 million square feet and several have won awards from groups such as The Washington Business Journal, NAIOP, Associated Builders & Contractors, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Frank is a Registered Architect (1990) and Interior Designer (1989) as well as a LEED Accredited Professional since 2002. He has been working with green projects since the late 1990’s and acts as a resource for green information both internally and to our Clients. One of Frank’s tasks at Staubach is to work with Client early in the real estate process to help educate clients and help them set goals as to their green design efforts. Frank has prepared and delivered educational seminars to groups such as IFMA, the Executive Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects, guest lectured at George Washington University on sustainable landscape design, as well as prepared and delivered educational seminars for Staubach Clients.

Frank’s professional affiliations include the following: American Institute of Architects, US Green Building Council (USGBC), DC Building Industry Association’s (DCBIA) Programs Committee and Green Buildings Task Force which helped write the District’s Green Buildings Bill in 2007, Host Committee for the Green Roof for Healthy Cities Conference in Washington, DC in May 2005. Frank is a past President of the Logan Circle Community Association and currently sits on their Historic Preservation Review Board.

Frank received his B.S. in Architecture from The Catholic University of America and is also fluent in Spanish.

Richard H. Mower, CEcD
Vice President of Special Projects
Bismarck-Mandan Development Association

Richard Mower has been Vice President of Special Projects for the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association (BMDA) since December 2003. Prior to that date, Richard served in Colorado as Vice President of the Broomfield Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) for five years and as the Business Development Manager of the Colorado Office Of Economic Development for just under 2 years.

Richard is a 1993 graduate of the University of North Dakota, is a 2004 graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) and received his professional certification from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2005.

He holds professional memberships in the Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI), Economic Development Association of North Dakota, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Mid-American Economic Development Council (MAEDC) and IEDC.

Laura S. Mundell
Director, Community and Economic Development
Centralina Council of Governments

Laura Mundell is Director of Community and Economic Development at the Centralina Council of Governments, the lead regional organization for the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Ms Mundell served as project director for the recently completed Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, entitled No Boundaries, and the activities for the Centralina Economic Development Commission.

Experience with regional economic development includes serving as

• Director of Economic Programs at the Institute for Local Government Administration and Regional Development at Ohio University which covered thirty-three Appalachian Counties in Ohio;
• Senior Planner/Community Development for Boise, Idaho;
• Economic Development Planner for the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission and
• Director of the Beaver/Butler Counties Council of Governments in Pennsylvania.

Additional experience in public/private financing includes working in multi-family residential real estate development in Boston, managing a loan write-down program in Ohio, and working with community loan funds in three regions.

Ms Mundell attended the University of Salzburg, Austria, received a BA from The Ohio State University and graduated with a Masters degree in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. She has served on numerous advisory boards for non-profit organizations.

David J. Myers, CEcD
Executive Director
Ponca City Development Authority

David J. Myers is the Executive Director of the Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA), a position he has held since 2003. PCDA is a public trust dedicated to building the economy of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Myers is the current President of the Oklahoma Economic Development Council.

Prior to joining PCDA, Myers served as President for the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance, (GAVEA) in Lancaster, California. GAVEA is a public-private organization developed to build the economy of an area with 440,000 residents and a strong aerospace heritage. Myers joined GAVEA in 1999.

His career includes two years as a Regional Manager for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, two terms as a member of the Palmdale (California) City Council and the Transportation Chair of the Southern California Association of Governments, the largest Council of Government in the United States.

He has been in economic development for more than a decade. Myers has also served as a featured speaker at economic development and transportation conferences, workshops and seminars throughout North America and Asia.

Myers holds a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Northridge and a Masters Degree in Negotiation and Conflict Management from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Galen Nelson
Green Tech Business Manager
Boston Redevelopment Authority

Galen Nelson is the Green Tech Business Manager at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the city’s economic development and planning agency. Prior to joining the BRA, Galen worked at the Green Roundtable, a green building consulting and advocacy firm, where he managed the construction of the NEXUS Green Building Resource Center. Galen also served as a green consultant to the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) from 2007-2008, overseeing with two other consultants the development of DND’s green affordable housing program including disbursement of a $2 million grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to fund renewable energy installations on affordable housing projects in Boston. Before joining the green building world, Galen founded and served as the executive director of a national political strategy group and worked for several national and state level political organizations as a lobbyist, researcher, and organizer. Galen lives in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood with his wife and five boys.

Tim Newman
CEO
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority

Tim Newman has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority since November 2004. In this capacity, Tim is responsible for the marketing efforts of the Charlotte region through Visit Charlotte and the management of Charlotte’s publicly owned assembly facilities. These include: the Charlotte Convention Center, Cricket Arena, Ovens Auditorium, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and specific services with the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

A native of Eden, North Carolina, Newman attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction in economics and political science from UNC in 1986. After working in an analyst program for The Prudential Investment Corporation, Newman attended Columbia Business School in New York as a Lawrence Wien Fellow, obtaining an MBA in 1991.

Newman worked for Morgan Stanley & Co.'s public finance unit from 1992 to 1994 in the Southeastern Coverage and Sports Transaction groups. He then returned to North Carolina, serving as Vice President for Public Finance with Wachovia Securities, where he covered the Carolinas in both tax-exempt and sports finance.

In 1997, Tim joined Beaver Sports Properties where he coordinated owner Don Beaver's interests in five minor league baseball franchises and represented Mr. Beaver in his Major League Baseball efforts. In 1999, he was named Vice President and General Manager of the Charlotte Knights, the position he held until becoming president of Charlotte Center City Partners in April of 2002. At Center City Partners, Newman was responsible for the marketing and management of Charlotte’s Central Business District.

Mr. Newman currently serves on the following Boards of Directors: Charlotte Center City Partners, the Charlotte City Club, the Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance, Leadership Charlotte and Visit Lake Norman. He also serves the Board of Trustees for The Art Institute of Charlotte and Johnson C. Smith University, where he chairs the Board of Visitors.

Christina Olson
Deputy Director, Finance and Administration
Port of San Francisco

Tina Olson is the Deputy Director of Finance and Administration for the Port of San Francisco where she is responsible for directing and managing all of the Port’s internal support services and department-wide initiatives including (1) business services, (2) inventory and purchasing; (3) information systems, (4) human resources, (5) finance, (6) grants, (7) accounting, (8) the Port’s $69 million annual budget, (9) the Ports 10-year capital plan, and (10) the Port’s business and strategic plans. In addition, responsible for various special projects such as parking meter pricing and technology studies and developing capital funding proposals for Port projects.

Prior to joining the Port, Ms. Olson served as Manager of Budget and Finance for the Department of Public Works (DPW) in the City & County of San Francisco since 1996. Previously, she worked for the Harvey M. Rose Accountancy Corporation as a principal analyst conducting management audits, budget reviews, and special projects under contract with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and other local jurisdictions.

Ms. Olson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Masters degree in public administration from San Francisco State University.

Hugh Owens
President & CEO
Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation

Fitzhugh S. “Hugh” Owens currently serves as the President and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation. In this position, he is responsible for business recruitment, expansion and retention, long range planning, and strategic development for the Corporation. The MBREDC is a private public partnership charged with economic development in Horry County.

Mr. Owens a 25-year veteran in economic development has been involved in some of South Carolina’s largest recruitment successes, including BMW, and Hoffman LaRoche. He managed the state’s international recruitment efforts for over six years as Director of International Business Development and also ran South Carolina’s European Office in Frankfurt, Germany in the early 1990’s.

While at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Mr. Owens managed a successful international business recruitment team, resulting in 85 announcements of new and expanding industries totaling $2.4 billion in capital investment resulting in the creation of over 10,000 jobs.

Throughout his career, he has been involved with projects resulting in over $4.3 billion in announced capital investment from new and expanding international companies. In addition he has led or participated in 15 investment missions to Europe and Asia. While in Germany, Mr. Owens was elected as chairman and vice-chairman of the Council of American States in Europe.

Early in his career, Mr. Owens served as an advisor to the former U.S. House of Representative member, John L. Napier. He advised the Congressman on a variety of key issues, including commerce, foreign relations and transportation. Prior to that he was Director of European Sales for the Powell International Corporation, where he coordinated and directed sales to Europe and Russia.

Before joining the MBREDC, Mr. Owens had been engaged in running his own economic development-consulting firm in Columbia, as well as providing business development services in the southeast for Thomas P. Miller and Associates, a strategic planning firm based in Indianapolis.

His education and experience include a Masters of International Business Studies degree from the University of South Carolina. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History form the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. He has also studied at L’Universite catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Mr. Owens is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Southern Economic Development Council and the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association.

Christianne E. Parker, CEcD
Assistant County Administrator
Washington County, Virginia

Christianne Parker currently serves as Assistant County Administrator/Community and Economic Development Director for Washington County, Virginia, a position she has held since January 1996. In this position, she provides staff support to the county Administrator and the Washington County Board of Supervisors, along with the Washington County Industrial Development Authority. She has direct responsibility for industrial park development, recruitment, existing industry expansion, tourism and commercial development and regional workforce training initiatives. In addition, she coordinates activities in other areas such as transportation, sewer, and capital improvement planning. Prior to her employment in Washington County, Ms. Parker also held the position of Director of Economic Development in Tazewell County, Virginia; Assistant County Administrator in Alleghany County, Virginia; Administrative Assistant for the Virginia State Commission on Local Government and intern for United States Senator Bob Packwood.

Ms. Parker received Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) status through the International Economic Development Council in 2005. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Economic Developers Association and is a member of the Virginia Local Government Managers Association. She currently serves as Chairman of the Ninth District Development Financing, Inc. (A regional tourism revolving loan fund established by Congressman Rick Boucher); Treasurer of the Tri-Cities TN/VA All-America City Partnership; and Treasurer for the Washington County United Way.

Ms. Parker holds a BS in Public Administration/Political Science from James Madison University in 1986 and completed honors work in Public Policy at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 1991. Ms. Parker is also a nationally ranked fencer, competing in both the 1985 and 1986 National Fencing Championships.

John B. Parks
Associate Vice President for Economic Development
Executive Director, Innovista
University of South Carolina

John Parks serves as Associate Vice President for Economic Development at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and as Executive Director of Innovista, the University’s new urban research district. His responsibilities also include Intellectual Property, and Incubation for USC.

Until February 1, 2007 John served as Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development for the University of Kentucky with responsibility for the Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization Center (ASTeCC), the Office of Intellectual Property Development, and the University’s 735 acre Coldstream Research Campus. In addition, John served as President of Kentucky Technology Incorporated, a for-profit subsidiary of the University of Kentucky Research Foundation.

John has a broad background in research park development, start-up formation, seed capital, and technology commercialization and is working to develop innovative strategies to enhance university research and further the economic development opportunities for the University.

He formerly was Chair of the Iowa Seed Capital Fund and held positions on the Boards of the Bluegrass Venture Fund, the Kentucky Science and Technology Council, the Kentucky Life Sciences Organization and is a past Board member of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education.

Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, John was founding Director of the Research Park at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator program. At Iowa State University, John served as President and CEO of the Iowa State University Research Park Corporation and Director of the Iowa State Innovation System. He has also owned three businesses and was a 5-term council member and Mayor Pro-tem for the City of Ames, Iowa.

John is a graduate of Iowa State University with an BBA degree in Finance and an MBA. He is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Honoraries.

Patrick Phillips
President
Economics Research Associates

Patrick Phillips coordinates all aspects of Economics Research Associates’ organization, strategy, business development, and service delivery. Mr. Phillips has over 23 years of experience in the economic analysis of real estate and land use issues, with a particular focus on the intersection of private investment and public policy.

His consulting practice focuses on economic and feasibility analysis, strategic planning, and transaction-related services for real estate investors and developers, public agencies, financial institutions, universities, and non-profit organizations. His work has involved all major categories of land use, for such clients as Forest City, Pulte Homes Corporation, General Growth, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Riverside Health Systems, TIAA, Alcoa, the University of Maryland, Meadwestvaco, Coca-Cola, Hines, and numerous public agencies and non-profit organizations.

Mr. Phillips often advises public agencies and non-profit organizations on issues related to public-private partnerships for complex real estate development initiatives. This practice has concentrated on development and revitalization of historic buildings, downtown areas, waterfronts, and neighborhood commercial districts.

A recent emphasis is the market, economic, and financial aspects of a new generation of downtown and suburban mixed-use projects. These initiatives often combine housing with retail, sports, entertainment, and civic or cultural uses. Notable recent projects include Mockingbird Station in Dallas, Peabody Place and One Beale Street in Memphis, Atlantic Station and Coca Cola Park in Atlanta, and the Southeast Federal Center in Washington DC. Relevant public planning efforts include the Hudson Yards in New York City and the plan for Houston’s Buffalo Bayou. He has also worked with several cities, including Kansas City, Pittsburgh, New York, and Washington DC, on issues related to in-town sports facilities.

Mr. Phillips is a frequent speaker on urban development issues, and is the author or co-author of eight books and numerous articles. He is a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute, and is active on ULI’s Mixed-Use Council. He recently led a nationally prominent economic development expert team as part of ULI’s post-Katrina rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. He is also a board member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and the Sheridan School.

Mr. Phillips teaches at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design Executive Education Program and at the Carey Business School of Johns Hopkins University. His academic training includes a graduate degree in public management and finance from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Before joining ERA, he was a senior manager with the real estate consulting group of Ernst & Young.

Phillip Phillips, PhD, CEcD
Manager, Business Retention & Expansion
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Phillips is Director of Business Retention and Expansion, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Through experience in the private and public sectors Phil Phillips has gained a broad background in economic development management, marketing, and strategic planning and implementation. Phil’s responsibilities at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce include response to problems and issues of local companies and providing direct support to local firms expanding in the Omaha area, supervising an ongoing business visitation program in which over 40 volunteer Ambassadors call on 300 businesses per year, playing a major role in development of the Nebraska “Advantage Nebraska” incentive program; also played a major role in preparing the Chamber’s 2004-2007 Strategic plan, conducting education and information programs for the business community through Business Assistance Workshops and other outreach programs. From 1995-2004 he also served as Director of International Programs for the Chamber (since elevated to separate full-time position).

Prior to joining the Greater Omaha Chamber, Phil served as Director of the Office of Corporate Relations and Community Development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1968 to 1993. Phil was a consultant, assistance vice president and vice president of the Fantus Company (now Deloitte Touche) in Chicago from 1978 to 1986. Phil also served as a faculty member at the University of Kentucky from 1972 to 1978 where he taught courses in economic geography and urban studies. He also served as adjunct professor at the University of Illinois, University of Chicago and Creighton University. He holds a distinguished list of affiliations and certifications.

Phil holds a BA and MA degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He is author of numerous articles in publications such as the Economic Development Review and Site Selection and is author of several books, including Retaining and Expanding Local Business and Industry, Strategic Planning for Community Economic Development and Economic Development for Small Communities and Rural Areas.

Samuel Powers, CEcD
Director, Economic Development
City of Asheville

Sam Powers is Director of the Office of Economic Development for the City of Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville regularly appears in national lists as one of the top cities in the US in the arts, retirement, manufacturing, business climate, sustainability efforts, outdoor recreation opportunities, and quality of life. Asheville’s vibrant downtown, with a mix of eclectic locally-owned shops, restaurants, and live entertainment scene, is increasingly becoming a national destination.

The Office of Economic Development has a staff of five employees and includes the city’s real estate management, economic/product development planning, and minority business program. The Office supports the City’s Downtown Commission, the Asheville Film Commission, and the Hub Project, a regional economic development initiative. The Office of Economic Development also provides office space and in-kind support for the regional office of US Small Business Administration and the non-profit Asheville Downtown Association.

Mr. Powers has an extensive background of public service to communities in Appalachia. Mr. Powers has been assisting localities in meeting development challenges for over 28 years. Prior to joining the City of Asheville, he served as Vice President of Industrial Marketing for AdvantageWest NC, a regional partnership serving 23 counties in western North Carolina, and as Economic Developer for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. He also held economic development and city/county management positions in Southwestern Virginia. His work as a Circuit-Riding Town Manager was featured on the CBS Morning News with Charles Kuralt.

Mr. Powers is a graduate of Appalachian State University and has studied on the graduate level at Appalachian and Virginia Tech. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council, and is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. He is active in numerous professional, civic, and community organizations in Asheville and western North Carolina.

James S. Russell, CEcD
Executive Vice President
The Pizzuti Companies

Jim leads the Pizzuti Solutions team, a division dedicated to public/private partnerships. Pizzuti Solutions’ current project list includes a new $105 million courthouse for Franklin County, Ohio; a new training facility and soccer complex for Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew; and a site and economic impact analysis and construction phasing plan for a proposed new city hall in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jim brings an in-depth understanding of the economic development process combined with a practical experience in strategic planning and development to his clients. His creativity and broad background in government have coupled to make Jim a valuable team member in the development process, particularly in recognizing and crafting public/private partnerships.

Jim was awarded the designation as a Certified Economic Developer in 1996 by the International Economic Development Council.

His professional affiliations include the American Planning Association (APA); Florida Redevelopment Association; National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP); and the Ohio Economic Development Association.

Jim Schumacher
Assistant City Manager
City of Charlotte

Jim Schumacher is Assistant City Manager in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this position, he coordinates the City Council’s Transportation Focus Area, as well as planning, transportation and land use initiatives. He chairs a multi-department team charged with developing and implementing policies and initiatives that manage Charlotte’s growth in a sustainable way – promoting a strategy that provides a higher quality of life for all citizens through more choices for living, working, leisure and mobility. Jim also represents the City on issues related to the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, and the Charlotte Arena. He is currently leading the City team designing and constructing the NASCAR Hall of Fame and expansion of the Charlotte Convention Center.

Prior to becoming Assistant City Manager in 2007, Jim spent nearly 29 years in the City’s Engineering Department, and was appointed City Engineer in 1999. Accomplishments during that time with the Engineering Department include managing the design and construction of the New Charlotte Arena, a tunnel through the Convention Center for vintage trolleys and light rail trains, and infrastructure along the Lynx light rail line, all completed on time and on budget. In addition, Jim led development of Charlotte’s storm water utility and acquisition of the City’s federal storm water permit, North Carolina’s first such utility and first storm water permit.

Jim is a graduate of West Virginia University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He has served as President of the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies and the Water Resources Division of the North Carolina Chapter, American Public Works Association.

Lisa Shpritz
Senior Vice President of Corporate Workplace
Bank of America

Lisa Shpritz is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Senior Vice President of Corporate Workplace for Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina. As Environmental Manager of the Portfolio Group, she is responsible for environmental programs and compliance for the approximately 96 million square feet of space occupied by Bank of America associates. She works to integrate sustainability into the workplace as part of Bank of America’s commitment to maintaining the workplace as a competitive advantage. Lisa also serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Green Building Council, representing the Finance and Insurance industries.

Prior to joining Bank of America, Lisa worked in international environmental management, managing risk for telecommunications companies. She was responsible for the development and maintenance of environmental health and safety programs, ISO 14001-registered environmental management systems and electronics recycling programs for facilities throughout the US and Canada.

Lisa holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University in the program of chemistry, toxicology and risk assessment, an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill with concentrations in real estate and sustainable enterprise and a BA in Biology from Cornell University.

Myriam Sido-Simmons
Sr. Group Manager, Public Partnerships
Target Corporation

Ms. Sido-Simmons has 10 years experience in the corporate tax planning and tax incentives/location benefits field. She currently manages the Public Partnerships Program at Target Corporation, a program that she designed and implemented and which has assisted Target with its current aggressive build-out program.

Ms. Sido-Simmons has personally negotiated with local authorities for a wide variety of incentives, from tax increment financing agreements to sales tax sharing agreements to training funds for both Target Corporation and Sears, Roebuck and Co. Her expertise has assisted Target in building and remodeling stores that might otherwise not have been feasible due to growing site and construction costs.

Prior to joining Target Corporation, Myriam was an attorney in the Sears, Roebuck and Co. Tax Department where she was primarily responsible for negotiating incentives for all of the Sears entities. She is also a member of Corporate Funding Solutions, LLC, a location benefits and tax incentives firm.

John Silvia, Ph.D.
Chief Economist
Wachovia

Dr. John Silvia joined Wachovia Corporation in February 2002 as chief economist. Previously, John worked on Capitol Hill as senior economist for the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee and chief economist for the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Prior to that, he was chief economist of Kemper Funds and managing director of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.

John holds a B.A. and a Ph.D. degree in economics from Northeastern University in Boston and has a Master’s degree in economics from Brown University in Providence, RI.

John serves as a member of the Blue Chip Panel of Economic Forecasters and also serves on an informal advisory group for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. He is a director of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). He serves on the Economic Development Board for the State of North Carolina as appointed by Governor Mike Easley. He was a member of the Economic Advisory Committee at the American Bankers Association and was President of the Charlotte Economics Club. In the past, John has served on economic advisory committees to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Public Securities Association.

In addition, John is a member and former Treasurer of the Board of Directors for The Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, a Charlotte civic association. He is currently a member of the Business Advisory Committee for the City of Charlotte and he serves on the President’s Council for Charlotte’s Central Piedmont Community College as well as a member of the Advisory Council to the Business School at Appalachian State University.

Matthew Spriggs, AICP
Senior Planner/Redevelopment Spcialist
Riverfront Development

Matthew Spriggs works as a planner for the City of Yuma and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area specializing in river restoration, redevelopment, and historic preservation. His major projects include:

Yuma East Wetlands (YEW): A 1440 acre wetlands restoration project along the Colorado River. The YEW required consensus building among over 28 major stakeholders ranging from the states of Arizona and California to private property owners to the US Army Corps of Engineers and US Bureau of Reclamation. Today over 400 acres of wetlands has been restored and another 200 acres will be under construction in 2008.

Pivot Point, Yuma: Pivot Point, Yuma is a twenty-two acre vacant and underdeveloped site located at the north end of the City of Yuma and adjacent the Colorado River. The site saw its last private investment in 1927. After assembling land from a variety of state and federal agencies, including an act of Congress, and lifting an historic covenant that prevented construction within the National Historic Landmark, a 150 room hotel and 20,000 square foot conference center are under construction. The total private investment is estimated at over $100 million. This project won the IEDC Partnership Award in 2007.

Kyle Spurgeon
Vice President, Customer Service and Business Development
Jackson Energy Authority

Kyle Spurgeon is Vice President, Customer Service and Business Development for the Jackson Energy Authority. The Energy Authority provides electric, water, wastewater, gas, and broadband services to the Jackson, Tennessee area.

Spurgeon served as Marketing Director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and as Director of Economic Development for the Jackson, TN Chamber of Commerce. He has helped facilitate project locations representing more than $1.7 billion in capital investment.

Recently, he, along with Tom Hanson, helped lead the effort in Jackson, TN to establish the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex, a 17-field baseball/softball complex situated adjacent to Interstate 40 and surrounded by a new retail development and a AA minor league baseball team. The $11 million facility opened in the fall of 2006 and will host more than 30 travel tournaments in 2008.

Spurgeon presently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Tennessee Board for Economic Growth after being reappointed in 2008 by Governor Phil Bredesen to a second term on the Board. He also serves as Chairman of the Tennessee Building and Finance Commission.

He is a past President of the Tennessee Industrial Development Council and past Board member of the Southern Economic Development Council.

Matt Valley
Editor-in-chief
National Real Estate Investor

Matt Valley is the editor-in-chief of National Real Estate Investor, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008. In his role, Matt directs the coverage of NREI’s print edition as well as its expanding suite of online products. Matt signed on as editor of NREI in 2000 and previously served as editor of Midwest Real Estate News and Shopping Center World (now known as Retail Traffic). NREI is widely recognized for its no-nonsense analysis of trends in commercial real estate, with a special emphasis on tracking the capital flows. Under Matt’s direction, the magazine has won several regional and national journalism awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. In 2008, NREI was a finalist in the prestigious Jesse H. Neal Awards contest. Matt is based in Atlanta.

Robert Walsh
Commissioner
New York City Department of Small Business Services

Robert W. Walsh was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) by Mayor Bloomberg in January 2002. SBS is the first City agency completely dedicated to helping New York City's 200,000 small businesses form, grow and compete.

Under Commissioner Walsh's tenure, 15 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have been created across all five boroughs. New York City is now home to 59 BIDs - the nation's largest network-- which annually provide $83 million in services to more than 70,000 businesses. Commissioner Walsh has created NYC Business Solutions Centers in every borough to provide one-on-one assistance to business owners and built a landmark program to help minority and women-owned businesses grow and access contracting opportunities. In 2003, he assumed responsibility for the City's adult workforce programs, which he reconfigured to serve the hiring needs of businesses while increasing the number of New Yorkers placed in jobs from 127 to 4,300 per quarter.

Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Walsh was President of Charlotte Center City Partners, an organization dedicated to improving and growing Charlotte, North Carolina's central business district. From 1989 to April 1997, he led the Union Square Partnership, where he played a key role in the neighborhood's revitalization.

Richard C. Ward, CRE, CEcD, AICP
Vice President, Development Management
Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C.
ONCOR International

Richard is Vice President and a member of the Development Management Group of Zimmer Real Estate Services with offices in St. Louis and Kansas City. His principal areas of focus include: shaping and advising public/private ventures and partnerships; developer selection and development agreements; site selection and acquisition strategies; incentive agreements between local governments and private investors; litigation support and expert testimony relative to redevelopment and eminent domain, land use controls, and public/private partnerships; and master developer arrangements for complex multi-developer projects. Prior to joining Zimmer in 2007, Richard was a principal and chief executive of Development Strategies, consultants in real estate, economic and community development located in St. Louis with assignments nation-wide. Richard is a certified economic developer with the CEcD designation of the International Council for Economic Development (ICED); a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE); and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He has been an active member of ICED for over fifteen years, having served as a member of its Board of Directors for the past ten years. He is also a member and former chair of the Public/Private Partnership Council of the Urban Land Institute. He holds graduate degrees in business administration (major in finance) and urban design from Washington University in St. Louis and in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech.

Chris William
Senior Executive Consultant, Private Client Group
Wachovia

Chris William is a Senior Executive Consultant in the Private Client Group of Wachovia, Moderator and Executive Producer for the long-running, syndicated PBS television program Carolina Business Review, which is seen each week in 22 markets throughout North & South Carolina. William is also the host and co-founder of The Forum for Corporate Conscience. An organization of nearly 150 CEO’s that discussed issues around corporate sustainability, ethics and values. In addition, he is host and Director for the Forum on Sustainable Business and the creative round-table IF: INNOVATION FIRST. He participates annually in, and authors numerous business and industry panels and conferences across the Carolinas.

Jeffrey T. Wise
Executive Director
US National Whitewater Center

Jeff Wise was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and attended University of Richmond where he majored in political science and history. Wise graduated from Emory University School of Law and was in private practice from 1989-1995 with Sullivan, Hall, Booth and Smith in Atlanta, GA where he focused primarily in healthcare law.

Wise returned to Charlotte in 1995 and worked with First Commerce Bank during their formation period from 1995-1996. In 1997 Wise co-founded and became president of Consentsys, a healthcare information systems company that developed electronic clinical information management systems.

At the beginning of 2002 Jeff became the Executive Director of the non-profit US National Whitewater Center, Inc. The US National Whitewater Center is a unique outdoor recreational and learning venue for newcomers and seasoned experts to participate in outdoor recreational activities such as paddlesports (e.g. kayaking, rafting), biking, rock-climbing, trail-running etc. in order to promote healthy, active lifestyles; develop our environmental stewardship; and encourage family bonding and social-civic engagement

Outside of work, Jeff looks for any opportunity to get into the outdoors. He is an avid kayaker, biker, backpacker, runner, and competes in triathlons.