Posts

Jerry Mallot is executive vice president of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and president of JAXUSA Partnership, formerly Cornerstone. Jerry directs a staff of 12 in the areas of business development, international, workforce and research. Jerry led the formation of a seven-county economic development program to expand high wage jobs in northeast Florida. During his tenure, Jacksonville has seen its greatest number of new and expanded companies, as well as new jobs created, in the city’s history.

Prior to coming to Jacksonville in January of 1994, Jerry was senior vice president of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Tampa Bay Partnership, a six-county regional economic development program. Jerry served as Mayor Alvin Brown’s economic development advisor in 2011 and 2012.

Jerry is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of Jacksonville University School of Business, THE PLAYERS Council, Community Connections and the Gator Bowl Association. He is a past president of Leadership Jacksonville and the Florida Economic Development Council, as well as the World Trade Center Association of Florida. Jerry has served on the Board of Enterprise Florida, the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, Visit Jacksonville and the World Affairs Council.  He has been named the Economic Development Professional of the Year in both Florida and Kansas. He has won awards such as the Northeast Florida Business Hall of Fame, Ultimate CEO by Jacksonville Business Journal and Florence Davis Community Achievement Award from Community Connections.

Jerry received a Bachelor’s degree in business and a Master’s degree in economics from Wichita State University. Jerry has also earned the Certified Economic Developer and Certified Chamber Executive designations.

Dan FosterDan Foster heads the incentives practice of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Global Corporate Services as a Managing Director. Dan has over 20 years of experience managing corporate site selection engagements, business incentives projects and economic development consulting assignments.  Dan’s experience and expertise includes domestic and international site selection and location analysis, economic incentives research and acquisition, target industry analysis, program development and demonstrating the economic and fiscal impacts of a wide variety of projects to both corporations and governments.

Prior to joining Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Dan was a director in Duff and Phelp’s Business Incentives Group, based in Detroit. Dan has also previously served as a senior manager and regional practice leader with the credit and incentives practice at Deloitte & Touche and as a senior manager for business incentives services at Ernst & Young LLP.  In addition to Dan’s core expertise, he has significant experience in advising clients in other areas, including manufacturing rationalization and consolidation, relocation feasibility, strategic cost reduction, large capital investment program management, commercial and industrial site evaluation and due diligence methods, detailed labor market/workforce analysis and public sector economic development strategies.

Dan has spoken on a variety of economic development topics at the Tax Executive Institute; New Mexico Governor’s Summit on Economic Development; Expansion Management’s Roundtable in the Rockies; and at various local economic development organizations and Chambers of Commerce.  Dan has also provided expert testimony to the Michigan Senate and House Joint Select Committee on Economic Growth.

Dan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Hope College and a Master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Brett DoneyBrett Doney has 29 years of experience in community economic development and public/private partnerships. As President and CEO of the Great Falls Development Authority in Montana, Brett is responsible for implementing the organization’s strategic plan, marketing the Great Falls region, managing the staff team and strengthening relationships with investors and partners.

Prior to joining Great Falls Development Authority, Brett was president of Enterprise Maine. Brett is the past director of the International Economic Development Council, the treasurer at NeighborWorks Great Falls, the director of Montana Economic Development Association and the past president of the Great Falls Rotary Club. Brett has earned his Certified Economic Developer credentials and a CoreNet Global Senior Leader Corporate Real Estate (SLCR).

Brett received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, his Masters of Public Policy in business government relationships from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government and his Economic Development Institute degree from the University of Oklahoma.

 

Gray SwoopeA recognized leader in economic development, Gray Swoope leads the VisionFirst Advisors, LLC team, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer.  After a successful 30 year career managing state, regional, and local economic development organizations, Gray helped launch the VisionFirst economic development consulting practice in March 2015.  The firm, a wholly owned subsidiary of Butler Snow LLP, works with a diverse base of private and public sector clients focusing on ways to gain a competitive edge. Current client work includes location advisory services, designing high performance organizations, business development planning and result driven marketing and communications strategies.

Gray is known for building highly effective teams noted for their ability to devise and implement strategic plans with positive results.  He most recently served in Governor Rick Scott’s administration (2011-2015) as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce and President & CEO of its principal economic development organization, Enterprise Florida, Inc.  Under his leadership, Enterprise Florida completed a record fiscal year in 2013-14 and increased competitive projects by 40%, resulting in 73% more new jobs and 95% more capital investment than in 2011.  During Gray’s tenure, Florida announced competitive project wins involving dozens of leading companies including Amazon, Bristol‑Myers Squibb, Deutsche Bank, Embraer, GE, Hertz, Navy Federal Credit Union, Northrop Grumman, USAA, United Technology Corporation and Verizon.

Prior to his tenure in Florida, Gray served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority under then Governor and current VisionFirst Advisors board of director’s chairman, Haley Barbour.  During his tenure at the Mississippi Development Authority, Gray played a vital role in recruiting companies such as Toyota, PACCAR, GE Aviation and SeverCorr (now Steel Dynamics) to the state, resulting in a refocus of the state’s efforts to aggressively support business recruitment, retention and expansion.  He also launched the Priority One Program targeting existing businesses, resulting in a measurable increase in jobs saved and/or created.

In addition, Gray worked with the legislature and the state’s private sector partner, Momentum Mississippi, to enhance economic development performance, thus laying the groundwork for significant new investment and expansion opportunities.  Throughout his service at the MDA, Gray created a team that was recognized as one of the most responsive state economic development organizations in the nation.

Gray earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mississippi State University.

Rod MillerRodrick Miller is a results-oriented leader with over 10 years of experience in economic development, strategic planning, trade and foreign investment, and project finance. He is respected globally for his ability to maneuver in extraordinarily complex political and business environments, and craft strategies and structure deals to provide long-term value to communities and investors.

Currently, Rod is serving as President & CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC). As CEO of DEGC, Rod is firmly committed to enhancing strategies and programs that are aggressive and effective, thoughtful and focused, and that play to the inherent strengths of the local market. Previously, Rod served as the founding president and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA), the official economic development organization responsible for ensuring the long-term economic vitality and driving job growth for the City of New Orleans. In that role, his team was responsible for nearly $900M in new private sector investment and over 7,500 new jobs. Prior to that position, Rod served as the Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber where he managed day-to-day operations, developed strategic initiatives, and helped deliver on the firm’s $20M capital campaign. He has held other roles in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Rodrick holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Science degree in international business from St. Augustine’s College. He also earned a Graduate Diploma in Finance from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) as a Fulbright Fellow.

A scholar practitioner, he is a sought after lecturer and contributes to various publications. He is a term member of US Council on Foreign Relations, is a board member of the International Economic Development Council, and sits on the Federal Reserve Board’s Community Advisory Council. Rod has received numerous accolades including Ebony Magazine’s 30 under 30, Phoenix Business Journal’s Top 40 under Forty, Top 100 Tech Influencers in the Silicon Bayou, Young Economic Developer of the Year by the International Economic Development Council, and numerous others. He enjoys playing the piano, reading, and spending time with his son. Rod is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese.

 

Seth MartindaleSeth Martindale is a Managing Director with the Economic Incentives Group (EIG) within CBRE Consulting. He has extensive experience in location analysis analyses and economic incentive negotiations engagements. Seth currently helps clients like Microsoft, Kawasaki, Bank of America, Visa, Pepsi Bottling Group and Walt Disney Corporation by acquiring the most advantageous incentives offer through the creation of negotiating leverage utilizing a variety of proven techniques.

Seth has extensive experience working on multiple different location analysis and incentive negotiation engagements which have varied widely in size, function, and scope. His combination of skills and experience, blended with an MBA concentrated in strategy and leadership provides a unique and very beneficial skill set to clients.

Seth currently works as an engagement manager on multiple location analysis and incentive negotiation projects. Additionally, he provides financial support in the analysis and evaluation of incentive offers from state and local jurisdictions led by other engagement managers.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Claremont McKenna College, and a Master of Business Administration from Claremont Graduate University with a concentration in Strategy and Leadership. Seth is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the state of California.

Jonathan SangsterJonathan Sangster serves as general manager of economic development for Georgia Power. Jonathan is responsible for business recruitment and support services for the strategic location decision process. Jonathan’s team of statewide project managers assist in the location, expansion or start-up of businesses wishing to invest in Georgia, helping companies identify potential communities, buildings and sites throughout the state. Support services include engineering evaluation and analysis of sites, as well as preliminary site design and industrial park development. Custom mapping capabilities, industry-specific research and demographic data provide additional project support. Jonathan is also responsible for the Georgia Resource Center, a world renowned multimedia facility for assistance with strategic location decisions.

Before joining the Economic Development team in January 2013, Jonathan was the senior managing director at CBRE Consulting, a nationally recognized business location and site selection firm. In that role, Jonathan led a consulting team that helped clients find “best fit” locations for corporate headquarters relocations, customer care operations, manufacturing, distribution and research and development operations.

Jonathan is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, Industrial Asset Management Council and the Utility Economic Development Association. Jonathan also serves as a Working Partner with Georgia Allies, the state’s public-private collaborative marketing initiative.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor’s in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s in Business Administration from Georgia State University. He is an active volunteer at Dunwoody Baptist Church and enjoys tennis, softball, music and drama.

PaulHamptonAs managing director, Paul Hampton specializes in conducting analysis and developing strategy for target industry identification, economic cluster analysis, feasibility studies, market studies and economic impact analysis at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank. Paul is skilled in integrating advanced analysis techniques into the decision-making process to help develop and validate recommendations. He has worked with numerous governmental entities, private developers and economic development organizations of various sizes to help them identify key assets and develop strategy to promote economic growth.

Prior to joining Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Global Corporate Services, Paul was an economic development consultant at Vierbicher Associates for three years, where he helped the firm grow its practice in industrial/business park development and market studies for the retail and office sectors. Other past experience includes a research position with the University of Wisconsin-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development.

Paul has led projects throughout Wisconsin, including the development of an industry recruitment strategy for Douglas County and the City of Superior, office development strategy for a gateway development in the City of Madison, feasibility and operations planning for an advanced manufacturing focused business incubator in Dane County and a business recruitment plan for a business park in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, equipped with a municipal fiber optic network.

Paul has a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning/Economic Development from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication from the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Gary ThompsonGary Thompson, CPA has had a career has ranging from accounting to sales to economic development. He began his career as an accountant in public service and then private industry for several years before he began to work in sales for a large architectural and engineering firm in Toledo, Ohio. Gary was recruited to an architectural firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan where he worked in business development. Returning to Ohio, he joined the Oregon Economic Development Foundation where he worked for five years.

In 2012, Gary was recruited to join the Regional Growth Partnership as executive vice president and manage the JobsOhio program for the Northwest Ohio Region as its director. He is the past marketing chair of the Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development Association (NORED) and past chair of the Toledo Metro Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) Communications Committee. Gary currently serves on the board of the Ohio Economic Development Association.

Gary is married to Dawn, an educator, and together they are raising three young men, Alec, Owen and Evan. Gary is a graduate of the University of Toledo.

 

Thomas PearsonTom Pearson is an executive vice president in the industrial division and a member of the Supply Chain Real Estate Advisors Team, SIOR in the Dallas-Fort Worth office of Colliers International. Tom’s industrial specialization includes land, building, leasing and investment sales. Tom’s extensive experience in almost every area of industrial real estate has enabled him to bring significant value to numerous Fortune 500 companies, as well as developers and institutional owners. Tom has played a key role in handling the national relocation of the distribution center for a Fortune 100 company in addition to selling major properties for some of the largest corporations in the United States.

Prior to joining Colliers in 2006, Tom worked at Cushman & Wakefield as a senior director. While there, Tom was a member of the capital markets and industrial group, where his experience of industrial real estate secured the sale of over 7,600 acres of land. During Tom’s 35-year real estate career, he was also the executive vice president at The Fults Companies and vice president at Joe Foster Company.

Tom has served as director and chairman of the board of governors for the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors, is a former president of SIOR’s North Texas Chapter, a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and a member of the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR).

Tom received his Bachelor of Science in business from Louisiana Tech University and his Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University.