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Charles Van Rysselberge....You Had a Great 40 Year Run!
By Jay Garner, CEcD, CCE, FM, HLM President, Garner Economics LLC
Charles Van Rysselberge was my first boss. He hired me in December of 1981 as the first Executive Director for the new Whitfield County Economic Development Board in Dalton, Ga. Charles was the Chamber of Commerce president and the EDB was a new affiliate of the Chamber. I learned a lot from Charles. His unassuming demeanor, an ego that was clearly in check, the desire to help any and all that he came into contact with and so much more, endeared him to so many. For forty years, he has given tirelessly to every community he has worked in to make it a better place for all. Recently, Charles announced his upcoming retirement effective next March from the Chamber profession and from the Charleston (SC) Metro Chamber. Wherever he has worked, he has left a positive legacy of betterment for the Chamber's he has served and in the communities he's lived. Read more about Charles by clicking here. |
Dubois County (IN) Area Development Corporation Selects Garner Economics to Conduct Industry Targeting
The Dubois County Area Development Corporation recently selected Garner Economics to conduct an industry targeting and competitive realities assessment for the County. Our work will include an economic and labor analysis, an assets and challenges assessment and then industry targets with a marketing strategy to communicate to those targets effectively. |
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We've recently completed projects for the Wilkes County (NC) EDC, The Research Triangle Park Foundation (NC), The City of Missoula, MT, and the Bartlesville (OK) Development Corporation. Here's what we did:
For the Wilkes County Economic Development Corporation, we conducted a comprehensive economic development strategy which included an economic analysis and assessment of their county and region, a labor market analysis, an assets and challenges assessment of the County from the eyes of a site location consultant, a GIS assessment of the County benchmarking themselves to all 100 North Carolina counties, industry targeting and recommendations, and short and long term implementation recommendations.
In partnership with Applied Marketing, we provided company names for the Research Triangle Park Foundation to use in its external marketing efforts related to the attraction of life sciences and technology related companies to the Park.
Mayor John Engen of the City of Missoula, Montana engaged us to conduct a Competitive Realities Report of Missoula which included an Assets and Challenges Assessment and Industry Target Recommendations. We also provided organizational recommendations for the City to begin a new economic development organization to enhance its service delivery effectiveness.
We updated the Bartlesville Development Corporation's strategic plan. This included an economic and labor market analysis, assets and challenges assessment, industry target recommendations and short and long term implementation guidance.
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Garner Economics Research Economist Tom Tveidt begins terms as Chair of the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER)
Arlington, Virginia -Tom Tveidt, a research economist for Garner Economics LLC in Atlanta GA was elected Chair of the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) for a term beginning July 2010 through June 2011.
C2ER was created in 1961 as a membership organization to promote excellence in community and economic research by working to improve data availability, enhance data quality, and foster learning about regional economic analytic methods. The organization is highly regarded for its research, professional training, networking, and advocacy on behalf of public statistics.
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Jennifer Karmel joins Garner Economics as a Senior Project Manager
 Jennifer Karmel is a Senior Project Manager with Garner Economics. She is also a Marketing Consultant and the former Marketing Manager for an international design-build firm based in Atlanta.
In her career, she has marketed to community and corporate entities across the United States and abroad. Prior to moving into a management role, she served as her firm's West Coast Marketing coordinator, based out of Orange County, CA.
Jennifer's skills and experience include: market research, business development support, creative & business writing, graphic design, presentation strategy, creative concepting, team management, web site coordination, media buying, and event planning.
Jennifer's background leads her to approach projects in a creative way, finding "outside the box" solutions to questions and situations. She approaches every new assignment with passion and energy.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Advertising with a minor in English from The University of Georgia. |
Michael Olivier joins Garner Economics Advisory Board
Jay Garner, President of Garner Economics, is pleased to announce the additon of Michael Olivier, CEcD as an Advisory Board Member.
 Michael Olivier is the CEO of the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc. The Committee of 100 is a private sector non-profit business advocacy group intent on building coalitions and partnerships to bring business and economic development to Louisiana. The membership is comprised of the CEOs of the top private sector companies statewide as well as University Presidents in Louisiana. The Committee of 100 was formed in 1992 to provide leadership and resources for positive change in government, education and the economy to improve the quality of life for all the people of Louisiana. Michael was recruited to serve as the CEO of the Louisiana Committee of 100 in October of 2009. Olivier most recently served as Regional President for the Americas for Future Pipe Industries, Inc. where he was responsible for the management and growth of the Group's operations in the Americas region from North to South America.
Prior to joining the Group Mr. Olivier served as Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development to Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco from 2004 to 2008. His appointment
won praise from Louisiana business leaders and national and international leaders in the field of economic development, who have called him aggressive, experienced and knowledgeable. Olivier's expertise in business development, recruiting, site selection, project management and a reputation for deal-closing are hallmarks of his career.
Prior to his serving on the Cabinet of Louisiana State Government, Olivier served over 17 years as the Executive Director and Chief Executive of the Harrison County Development Commission in the casino and industrial region of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Involved in all aspects of regional economic development he has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally. He won the American Economic Development Council's Distinguished Service Award in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and was twice appointed to the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation by Governor Kirk Fordice and Lt. Governor Amy Tuck. He has been president of the Southern Economic Development Council and a ten year board member and officer of the American Economic Development Council to which he was named a Fellow Member. In 2001, Olivier led the effort to secure the Accredited Economic Development Organization designation from the International Economic Development Council for the Development Commission, the first in the State of Mississippi. Business Week named him Mississippi's Economic Developer of the Year in 1999, and in 2002, Southern Business and Development magazine named him one of the "Top 10 Economic Developers of the Decade". In 2005 Olivier led Louisiana Economic Development to achieve the ISO 9001 certification and the Accredited Economic Development Organization designation, both "firsts in the nation" for a state economic development agency.
In 2006 and 2007, Olivier was named as "One of the Top 10 in the U.S. to make a difference in Economic Development" by Southern Business and Development magazine. His work lead Louisiana to be named "State of the Year" for the first time by Southern Business and Development magazine.
The International Economic Development Council named Olivier as the 2006 winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development. CORENET Global gave Louisiana Economic Development the 2007 Economic Development Leadership Award in Strategies and Innovation for the business recovery work accomplished after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Michael and his wife Penelope are Louisiana natives and alumni of the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. He is a Certified Economic Developer, Honorary Life Member and Fellow Member of the International Economic Development Council.
Click here to read more about our Board of Advisors. |
Recent and Upcoming Speaking Engagements
- BEDC at UNC Chapel Hill, August 2
- ACCE, Milwaukee, WI, August 4-6
- West Tennessee Industrial Association, Jackson, TN September 8
- Site Selection Network, Columbus, OH, September 23-24
- IEDC, Columbus, OH, September 19-22
- EDI, Kansas City, MO, Nov 14-18
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From site location assistance and locational audits to economic assessments, comprehensive economic development strategies, industry target identification, workforce evaluation, implementation assistance and more, our talented team of experts offers a full range of economic development services and solutions.
Jay Garner, CEcD, CCE, President
715 Birkdale Drive, Atlanta, GA 30215 | 770.716.9544 (p)
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