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Woody HydrickWoody Hydrick is a partner and senior principal of Global Location Strategies, where he provides site selection services and economic development consulting to companies and organizations worldwide. Woody has guided companies in the investment of billions of dollars worldwide. Woody provides strategic consulting services for capital investment projects including new developments, relocations, expansions or consolidations.

Prior to joining Global Location Strategies, Woody was a managing director for Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Business Consulting. Some of Woody’s clients include Novartis, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Orica Limited, and Shell Oil & Chemicals. Throughout his career, Woody has executed site searches for clients in North America, South America, Europe and Asia for manufacturing, distribution and headquarters operations representing billions of dollars in capital investments, as well as thousands of jobs. Woody is a recognized as a leader in the field with a particular specialty in life sciences investments.

Woody received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political Science from Athens State University. Some of Woody’s personal interests include travel, reading and family.

Neal WadeNeal Wade currently serves as director of the Economic Development Academy at the University of Alabama, where he is working to promote and develop strategic partnerships within the university throughout Alabama and the southeast U.S. to strengthen the environment necessary to grow and expand quality jobs and economies. The Academy will prepare emerging and mid-level professionals in the broad field of economic development. In addition, Neal and others are working on an Advanced Certificate for Economic Development that will be offered through a multi-university collaborative.

Neal has more than 25 years of experience in economic development at the private, state and local levels. Prior to joining the University of Alabama, Neal was the director of the Alabama Development Office (now the Department of Commerce) and served as the state’s chief economic developer for eight years. He was also the first president/CEO of the private Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and executive director at the Bay County, FL Economic Development Alliance.

Neal serves as chairman of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and chairman of the four-state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida) Aerospace Alliance, the 4th largest aerospace corridor in the world.

Neal received his Bachelor of Arts in history from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Gene DePrezGene DePrez is a Founder and Managing Partner of Global Innovation Partners, a group of world class innovation thought leaders assisting companies, economic development organizations and universities increase their global competitiveness and form strategic collaborations by accessing partners around the globe.

In addition to Global Innovation Partners, Gene is a Strategic Advisor for Citiscope. He is also a Visiting Senior Fellow for the International Economic Development Council.

In the past, Gene has led Global Business Location and Economic Strategy practices for PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Global Services, working with hundreds of corporate clients across all sectors and public sector officials from many countries. He worked for Fluor and Fantus where he led global consulting practices and was Chief Innovation Officer for the United Kingdom’s first comprehensive Economic Development Company with a mission to transform a major city-region’s economy.

Gene has been awarded the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Economic Development by the International Economic Development Council. He has also been named a Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in Finance and Science, and received the President’s Award for Public/Private Partnerships, Gold Award, American Film and Television Association.

Gene has been interviewed by major media outlets, has made global keynote presentations and has authored numerous articles in widely-read trade journals.

Gene received his Bachelors and Masters in communications design and urban affairs from Rochester Institute of Technology. Gene has also done post graduate work on Urban Affairs, Community Development and Adult Education at Syracuse University.

 

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.

barry pisanoBarry Pisano works as a Tax Manager for ADP Tax Credit Services based in the Greater New York Area. He has more than ten years of experience assisting companies with negotiation and procurement; and compliance and administration of credits and incentives. Barry has worked with Fortune 500 companies and in the industry clusters of financial services, banking, manufacturing, logistics and transportation.

He is frequently published in the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar and New York State Bar.

Barry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and international studies from the University of Richmond and his Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School.

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.

James BeattyJames Beatty founded NCS International in 1984, specializing in conducting location analysis and recommendations for corporate expansions and working with economic development firms and chambers of commerce internationally to develop strategies to attract corporate investment. As president, James’ primary focus is on customer service, support service, back office, information technology and business process outsourcing sectors. NCS International has conducted over 300 site selection projects representing over $3 billion in corporate investment and providing 30,000 jobs across the U.S.

Throughout his career, James has worked with hundreds of national, regional, state and local economic development organizations representing a variety of companies seeking new and expansion locations. He has been a national columnist and contributing editor/writer for multiple business and economic development publications and his work has been recognized by the world-renowned Aspen Institute, the National Governors Association and featured in the Wall Street Journal. James has written several books on economic development and conducted workshops and seminars training thousands of economic developers over the past 25 years for the International Economic Developers Council.

James has a strong history of involvement with civic organizations including the YMCA of Greater Omaha and The First Tee of Omaha/Hogan’s Junior Golf Heroes Foundation. He has been inducted into the Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame, and has served as vice chairman of the Omaha Metropolitan Transit Authority and of the Nebraska Economic Development Authority.

James received his bachelor of arts in mathematics from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska where he was a track star and was the first African American to major in mathematics.

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.

Brent PollinaAs vice president of Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Brent Pollina works closely with corporations in order to ensure that they achieve and surpass all of their real estate goals. Brent actively represents corporations in all aspects of the company’s real estate transactions, including site and building evaluation, lease negotiations, purchase contracts and lease administration. As a consultant, Brent assists clients nationally with strategic planning and all other forms of real estate consulting.

As part of the Pollina Corporate negotiating team, Brent is active in analyzing and negotiating state and local incentives on behalf of corporate clients. In addition to working for many corporate clients, Brent has performed numerous economic development studies for various regional and local economic development groups, as well as Chambers of Commerce.

Brent has authored multiple articles on site selection and state and local incentives, as well as contributed to the publication of the Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States. In addition, Brent is also a member of the International Tenant Representative Alliance, an association of tenant representative corporate real estate brokers with offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Brent received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Drake University, and then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Marquette University. Brent has been admitted to practice before the Illinois and Wisconsin Supreme Courts and is an active member of the American, Illinois and Wisconsin Bar Association.

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.