FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2016
Contact:
Ron Kitchensmanaging partner
Consultant Connect
PO Box 50664
Kalamazoo, MI 49005
269.290.3546
ron@consultantconnect.org

Consultant Connect Announces
North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2016
KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap
between economic developers and site consultants, announces its 2016 list of North America’s Top 50
Economic Developers. The economic development professionals selected for this list were nominated bytheir colleagues in both the economic development industry and the site consultant community forexcellent practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve.
Each top 50 economic developer will be featured on the weekly podcast, From The Ground Up: North
America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. These industry leaders will be interviewed on the podcast to
share their expertise in the field of economic development and leadership insights they’ve learned along
the way.
“This annual list recognizing North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers is designed to acknowledge
the hard work of the top leaders in this field and elevate the conversation around economic development
and job creation,” said Ron Kitchens, managing partner of Consultant Connect. “Each of the leaders
represented on this year’s list are beyond deserving of this recognition for their efforts in building ourcommunities brick by brick and job by job.”
The complete list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers includes:
Adrianna Cruz, Greater San Marcos
Partnership
Alicia Hutchins, Kansas Department ofCommerce
Allison Gilbreath, Arizona Commerce
Authority - Midwest
Andrea Schruijer, Valdosta-Lowndes County
Development Authority
Annie Baxter, Georgia Department ofEconomic Development

Becca Hardin, Bay Economic Development
Partnership
Benjamin J. Snow, Rapid City Economic
Development Partnership
Beth Doughty, Roanoke Regional
PartnershipBill Adams, Tennessee Valley Authority
Economic Development
Blair King, Alabama Power Company
Brenda Robbins, Georgia Power-more-Brien Thorstenberg, Tulsa Regional
Chamber Economic Development
Broderick Green, JAXUSA Partnership
Charisse Bodisch, Austin Chamber ofCommerceCharles Wood, Chattanooga Area Chamberof Commerce
Chris Camacho, Greater Phoenix Economic
Council
Christopher Chung, Economic Development
Partnership of North Carolina
David Rumbarger, Community Development
Foundation of Tupelo
Grady Fitzpatrick, Greater New Orleans Inc.
Greg Canfield, Alabama Department ofCommerce
Greg Wathen, Economic Development
Coalition of Southwest Indiana
Holly Schroeder, Santa Clarita Valley
Economic Development Corporation
Jeff Edwards, Economic Development
Corporation of Utah
Jeff Hite, Nashville Area Chamber ofCommerce
Jerry Mallot, JAXUSA Partnership
Jill Frick, City of Hagerstown, MD
Jill McCarthy, Kansas City Area
Development Council
Jill A. Miles, Business Oregon
Jim Flanagan, DeSoto County Economic
Development Council
Jim Staton, Indiana Economic Development
Corporation

Joe Max Higgins Jr., Golden Triangle
Development Link
Johnna Reeder, REDI Cincinnati
Kenny McDonald, Colombus 2020
Laura Brandt, Metro Denver Economic
Development Corporation
Lisa Rivera Skubal, Greater Cedar Valley
Alliane & Chamber
Matt McCollister, Colombus 2020
Michael Hecht, Greater New Orleans Inc.
Michael Langley, Greater MSP
Misti Whitfield Martin, Cherokee Office ofEconomic Development
Rachel Pierson Delamain, Baton Rouge
Area Chamber
Randy Thelan, Greater Omaha Chamber
Rob O’Brian, The Joplin Area Chamber ofCommerce
Robert Leak, Winston-Salem Business Inc.
Ronnie Bryant, Charlotte Regional
Partnership
Steven S. Johnson, Missouri Partnership
Tim Eckerle, Grant County Economic
Growth Council
Todd Brightwell, Economic Development
Corporation of Utah
Tracye McDaniel, Texas Economic
Development Corporation
Valerie Shaffer, Economic Development
Corporation of Wayne County, IN
Wade Goodsell, Wisconsin Economic
Development Corporation

For more information about North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers or to subscribe to the weekly
podcast, visit http://consultantconnect.org/category/econdev-podcast/. The podcast series is alsoavailable via iTunes by searching “From The Ground Up: North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers.”
About Consultant Connect
Consultant Connect is designed to bridge the gap between leading economic developers and location
consultants through exclusive networking events and educational services. Consultant Connect not
only gives economic developers an inside look into the world of site selection – it gives them theapplicable information necessary to propel their communities forward. For more information, please
visit www.consultantconnect.org or call 269.290.3546.
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