Gene Goddard, CEcD, EDFP is the Chief Business Investment Officer for the MetroHartford Alliance. The MetroHartford Alliance is Investor-based economic development partnership focused on business development and growth, retaining and attracting jobs and talent in targeted sectors, ensuring a strong urban core and promoting the Hartford Region. Our mission is to drive economic prosperity by promoting the Greater Hartford Region as an exceptional place to build a business, an industry, a career and a future. Gene has over 29 years of economic development experience at the local, regional and state level and is a creative, accomplished business development veteran, with proven track record in working with his clients to close high-profile and technology-based business expansions. He was most recently Senior Vice President and Consultant, Housing and Economic Development for Springsted which is now part of BakerTilly. Prior to joining Springsted he was Director of Business Investment for GREATER MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership). In addition, he has coordinated economic development projects that have invested nearly $4 billion in business expansion projects for small business and large corporate entities. Mr. Goddard has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Minnesota State University – Mankato and a Mini-Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from the University of St. Thomas. He is a Certified Economic Development Professional (CEcD) by IEDC, and is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) by NDC. In 2017 he was named by Consultant Connect as one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Economic Development from Finance and Commerce magazine. Gene is also a Series 50 certified Municipal Adviser.