You’re sitting at your desk and see a job posting for the next President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council. What goes through your mind?

Several years ago, my wife asked what job might make me consider leaving RCAP. I loved RCAP and still do. The work, the mission, and the people make it a special place to work every day. The answer was if Jeff Finkle ever retired, that the IEDC would be an interesting opportunity. My background and passion lie in economic development, and the IEDC is the thought leader and driver of the economic development profession.

My economic development journey began while I was working for then-Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. We visited the Electrolux manufacturing plant in Greenville, which provided jobs to thousands of residents. When the company announced it was shutting the facility, the community was devastated.

The governor spent an entire afternoon talking with the workers, listening to their stories, and coming to grips with the fact that the community did not have a backup plan, nor an economic development strategy to offset the loss of Electrolux. That experience lit a fire under me to try to ensure that no community had to undergo that type of economic dislocation without a plan in place.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work at the state and federal levels, lead teams around specific city approaches to economic growth, engage in broader strategies to drive rural opportunity, and learn from so many leaders across the economic development spectrum. IEDC is the foremost leader in this area, and the opportunity to build upon its success is unlike any other. It is one that I take very seriously, and I am excited to start.

Where do you see the economic development profession today versus five years from now? What is IEDC’s role in shaping that future?

We are at a critical juncture in the economic development field. Economic developers will continue the momentum of thinking regionally, building collaboration, and acting more holistically. They will address not only common economic development issues such as job creation and small business growth but other critical issues within the economic development ecosystem that drive more equitable economic opportunities.

To drive more equitable economic outcomes in communities of all sizes, economic developers will tailor approaches and investments to communities and focus on building capacity, better utilizing existing assets, coordinating resources, and working collaboratively and inclusively with communities. Collaboration, rather than competition, is vital.

Future approaches are about building regional economies and how new locally owned businesses will leverage those regional assets and opportunities. Economic developers will continue to prioritize small businesses and entrepreneurs alongside employers of all sizes, and create the quality of life, talent, and infrastructure necessary to drive prosperity regardless of place.

In the end, it is up to all of us to drive approaches that will lead to wealth-building strategies that benefit everyone. We need to come together to lift one another, share and collaborate. This is where IEDC will continue to lead, convene, and collaborate. I am excited to hear from voices across the economic development spectrum to understand where IEDC can build upon its foundation and impact from past decades and how we can work together to shape the future of our industry and profession.

As you assume the role of CEO, what leadership qualities will you most heavily lean on in the weeks and months ahead?

For me, leadership starts with listening. I plan to spend plenty of time getting to know leaders across the country, hearing what issues and opportunities are seen and felt in this industry, and learning directly how IEDC can continue to build upon its strong foundation of service and progress. I believe in collaboration and look forward to engaging with others to find ways to work together and to bring a more collective voice to the issues that are important to the economic development community.

What excites me the most about leading the organization is creating a vision for the future and helping to execute. It is not just about “big ideas,” although I am known to think big. A leader must be able to see the opportunity in an organization where others cannot, to help others see and help shape that opportunity, and to create the space and capacity for that vision to come to fruition. Sometimes that means that you or your organization shine, and sometimes it is about creating the space for others to shine, all with a shared goal that drives opportunity and value for those we serve.

Lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as economic and environmental justice, are top issues facing our members and the communities they serve. What role will IEDC have in helping to address these centuries-old issues?

In too many places across this country, the ZIP code where you were born dictates your ability to thrive. We are at a moment in time where all organizations must recognize and understand the role they can play in addressing disparities, especially those in marginalized and vulnerable communities where economic and environmental progress has languished. Greater equity calls for all of us to do more and do better. IEDC’s members know what issues are most important to their community and how to address them. IEDC’s mission to provide leadership and excellence in economic development for our communities, members, and partners means that we have to advance conversations and actions around the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry. IEDC’s Equity in Economic Development Playbook and Fellowship Program are initiatives in that direction. We remain committed to helping to address these issues, holding space for conversations, and advancing new ideas, with the end goal of driving towards more equitable economic outcomes for everyone.

IEDC staff have a long and hallowed history of being from and loving all things Ohio. What can you tell us about your upbringing in Michigan that might be as cool, if that is possible?

First, I must start by saying Go Green! I am a Spartan through and through, and you will see me openly championing the green and white year-round. Of course, Michigan is the best! Where else can you demonstrate your hometown by showing someone your hand? In all seriousness, our Michigan roots run deep.

Michiganders are welcoming people, polite but tough, resilient, with optimism that lingers even on the coldest of days. We know our state is special, but are modest in our approach, unless of course, you are talking about football or basketball, where we routinely beat the Buckeyes (and yes, that is just a Michigan State thing, for now, UM doesn't quite have those bragging rights yet). My wife and daughter can’t be consoled when the Detroit Lions lose in football “again.”

Michigan pride and love run deep and so does our love for the people back in our home state. Michigan is resilient, humble, and undervalued. Anyone who has visited or lived there knows just how beautiful she is…a hidden gem that when explored shows you her true beauty.

Everyone has adopted coping mechanisms, during this pandemic. What is the favorite new ‘thing’ that you and your family hope to keep up when we finally get past COVID?

We are one of those families who got a “COVID puppy.” Evangeline (Eva) is a one-and-a-half-year-old basset hound puppy and sister to Penelope, our other basset hound. When not napping or eagerly awaiting food, they are running around the yard trying not to trip over their ears.

Eva’s favorite thing to do, however, is also another COVID tradition of ours – and that is going to the beach. We are less than three hours from the ocean in Delaware and have spent weekends throughout COVID at a little-known beach on Fenwick Island. The beach brings our family peace and a chance to unwind. It feels like a world away from our everyday lives. It has become our respite during the toughest of times in COVID and will be a tradition that lasts a lifetime.

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