Doug LawyerDoug Lawyer is the Vice President of Economic Development at the Knoxville Chamber. Doug leads efforts to recruit new jobs, wages and capital investment into the Innovation Valley region. Doug joined the Chamber in 2001. He is also the past President of the Tennessee Economic Development Council as well as Past Chair of the Tennessee Economic Partnership.

Doug received his Bachelor of Arts in geography and political science from Wittenberg University and his Masters in urban planning from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has also been awarded the Certified Economic Developer designation.

Doug loves everything outdoors, from hiking to biking to raising his amazing daughters. Doug also enjoys cooking for family and friends.

Brenda RobbinsBrenda Robbins is a senior project manager of economic development for Georgia Power. In this role, she is responsible for facilitating the location, expansion or start-up of businesses wishing to invest in Georgia. Brenda assists companies in identifying potential communities, sites or buildings throughout the state; she also provides market evaluation, construction information, engineering assistance, and serves as a liaison between the businesses and governmental agencies involved in the site selection process. Brenda has a strong background in information systems and software, establishing data centers and talent recruitment.

She has extensive expertise and experience with headquarters locations, information technology, finance and insurance, business services, bio science, health IT and data centers. Brenda has worked with more than 150 companies that have established a presence in Georgia, collectively investing more than $7 billion and employing more than 34,000 Georgians.

Brenda is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the Metro Atlanta Bioscience Leadership Council and the Alpharetta Technology Commission. She serves on the board of directors of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS® (ACBR) and was named the organization’s 2014 Affiliate of the Year.

Brenda graduated from Auburn University with a business administration degree in marketing. She completed her Masters in Business Administration at Georgia State University. Brenda is a volunteer with Atlanta Pet Rescue. Her interests include travel, whitewater rafting and gardening.

Janes JonesJana Jones has been with the Boise Valley Economic Partnership (BVEP) since 2006, and is currently the Director of Economic Development Services. During Jana’s tenure with BVEP, she has worked on a variety of business attraction projects, assisted with local business expansions and on advocacy issues. In addition to economic development, she is also co-owner of an Idaho winery, Crossings Winery, with her brother.

Prior to joining BVEP, Jana worked in the economic development field at the State of Idaho, Department of Commerce as Marketing Manager for the Economic Development Division. Jana has also spent time in the private sector, including 12 years as President and Owner of Silver Creek Inc., a regional distributor of fresh produce in Idaho and Utah.

Jana is also involved with a variety of organizations, including past president of the Idaho Economic Development Association and current co-chair of the Education Committee, and has been a board member for the past five years. She is also on the Board of Directors of SWI-MA, Southwest Idaho Manufacturing Alliance, former board member of Capital Matrix, an Idaho 504 loan program, a finalist for Idaho Woman of the Year 2013, an alumnus of Leadership Idaho Agriculture and regularly volunteers at charitable events in the Boise Metro.

Jana is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a double major in public relations and advertising.

Jay Foran 2Jay Foran is the senior vice president of Team Northeast Ohio (NEO). Jay helps businesses discover exciting growth opportunities in the Cleveland Plus region. He works with site selectors and corporate clients and helps them navigate through the regional economic development framework, partnering with local and state economic development groups.

Prior to joining Team NEO, Jay was vice president, Business Development for The Lake West Group LLC, a management consulting firm. Jay also served in a variety of key leadership positions with Procter & Gamble during a lengthy and distinguished career where he was responsible for a variety of business building initiatives that have been emulated throughout the consumer products industry.

Jay has an impressive record of leadership in enabling successful civic advocacy organizations, private and public campaigns, and assessments to support community sustainability. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees for Lakewood Hospital Foundation and is a Lakewood Alive Founder, Officer and Board Member.

Jay received his Bachelor of Science in marketing management from Miami University.

Wendy Dant ChesserWendy Dant Chesser is president and chief executive officer of One Southern Indiana, the chamber of commerce and economic development agency for Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana.

Prior to joining One Southern Indiana, Wendy was president of Cornerstone Alliance, an economic development organization in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  At the time, the Cornerstone chamber had 700 members and Wendy oversaw a $3.3 million annual budget and led a staff of 15.

Wendy has also worked in various aspects of economic and rural development for more than seven years with the state of Indiana. Wendy spent the last year of her government career as deputy executive director for program operations of the Indiana Department of Commerce.

Wendy is a member of the Economic Development Leadership group and Engage Alumni Network. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Indiana University Southeast.

Michael OganMichael Ogan is the director of business development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Mike’s responsibilities include managing the Chamber’s business recruitment program, staff and marketing of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area as a business location to local, national and international firms and consultants. Mike also works with the Chamber’s Business Retention and Expansion staff to support the growth of existing firms as well as assist Chamber leadership in providing policy analysis and recommendations on decisions or initiatives being considered by the City Council that impact the local economy or business climate. Mike is responsible for managing and coordinating the Chamber’s organizational and program support for the Greater Oklahoma City Partnership, a 10-county regional economic development partnership.

During his tenure in Oklahoma City, Mike has worked with more than 50 companies to help them locate or expand operations which directly added more than 17,000 new jobs and more than $1 billion dollars in capital investment to the Oklahoma City region’s economy. While in Portland, he assisted more than 80 firms that directly added more than 12,000 new jobs to the Portland region’s economy.

Prior to joining the Oklahoma City Chamber, Mike was the senior business development manager for the Portland Development Commission in Portland, OR. While there, Mike managed and participated in all phases of the business retention, expansion and recruitment processes. Mike was responsible for marketing and promoting the Portland metropolitan area as a business location. Mike also developed and negotiated services and incentives provided to firms, and managed the provision of organizational and program support to the Portland Regional Partners for Business, a 6-county regional economic development partnership.

Mike received his Bachelor of Science in urban and regional planning from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and his Master of Science in urban and regional planning from Portland State University.

Larry BurkhardtAs the Executive Vice President for the Fox Cities Regional Partnership in Wisconsin, Larry Burkhart has more than twenty years of leadership, managerial and marketing experience in city, county, regional and national economic development corporations. Larry’s economic development priorities include strategic planning and promoting discussion of the hard questions that result in a realistic community vision and increased success. He is a problem solver with a track record of results, known for his fiscal restraint and encouragement of co-workers to develop self-directed initiatives and goals.

Larry’s entire career has been focused on community building: city elected office, many policy boards, workforce development, economic development and community collaboration. Prior to joining Fox Cities, Larry was the president of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council in California and a former Councilman and Mayor of Longmont, Colorado.

Larry loves food and wine, finger style and ragtime guitar playing, and has a travel goal of two new countries a year. Larry is also a member of the Fox Cities Morning Rotary, a past president of Greeley Redeye Rotary Club and a member of the International Economic Development Council.

Larry received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Duns Scotus College, a Theology degree from St. Leonard College and an economic development degree from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

 

Owens_Newphoto-298x195Jennifer Owens joined the Lakeshore Advantage team as president in May 2014. Jennifer brings outstanding experience in business retention, expansion and attraction to the organization. Jennifer’s insight and understanding of economic development make her ideal to support or develop initiatives that help businesses thrive in West Michigan’s Lakeshore community. In her capacity, Jennifer delivers direct business attraction, expansion and retention services, while providing overall leadership to the organization.

Prior to joining the Lakeshore Advantage team, Jennifer held the position of vice president at Southwest Michigan First where she led the firm’s new business attraction efforts, leading to investments from companies such as General Mills, Hark Orchids and Newell Rubbermaid. Her accomplishments also led her to be named one of the nation’s Top Economic Developers Under 40 in 2013. In addition, Jennifer held key positions at Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

In Jennifer’s free time, she loves to run. Jennifer has run many road races and competed in several half and full marathons. Jennifer and her husband Mike have three sons who are always up for a race.

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Michigan State University and is pursuing an Executive Management degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Tim CowdenTim Cowden is senior vice president of Business Development (Corporate Relocation) for the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC). Tim leads KCADC’s prospect attraction efforts for the KC area, which is one of the country’s largest metro footprints for development. Tim has held this position for the past 16 years. Tim’s focus includes advanced manufacturing, headquarters, bioscience/animal health, logistics/transportation, energy and information technology projects. Some of the corporate recruitment successes that Tim has been involved with include projects related to Aviation Technical Services, MindMixer, Sedgwick LLP, Targeted Metrics, Netsmart Technologies, U.S. Bank, Sara Lee Corporation, Wal-Mart, Coleman, Kimberly Clark and Farmer’s Insurance, to name but a few.

With over 25 years in economic development, Tim brings solid skills to the development process from his private sector experience in real estate and business management. He also has a strong understanding of manufacturing, distribution operations and headquarters attraction. Tim has provided location consulting assistance and leadership to companies such as FedEx Ground, Wal-Mart, Farmer’s Insurance, US Bank, Intel and Mars Chocolate North America.

Tim received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is involved in many local volunteer organizations and is a big supporter of University of Oklahoma football.

Justin HorvathJustin Horvath is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP), the economic development organization serving Shiawassee County, Michigan. Justin has been with the SEDP for over 13 years, with various responsibilities including:

  • providing customized services to existing businesses in the county, encouraging retention and expansion of jobs and capital investment
  • implementing a business recruitment program, with a focus on fostering regional and statewide marketing partnerships
  • coordinating a public relations effort to gain support from program funders, community leaders, economic development peers and the public at large

Justin has also served as a councilman for the City of Owosso, ensuring local government services were provided to the community’s 15,000+ residents in an efficient and cost-effective manner. As part of this role, he represented the council on the City’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority/Local Development Finance Authority.

Justin is a member of the International Economic Development Council (and holds a Certified Economic Developer designation from the organization) and the Michigan Economic Developers Association. He has also served as the industry division chair of the Shiawassee United Way Campaign.

Justin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Master of Arts degree in Applied Economics and a Master of Public Policy degree, all from the University of Michigan.