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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8-4-10 Praxis Stmt - Econ Dev Statement of Qualifications 1 Praxis Strategy Group Statement of Qualifications Praxis Strategy Group is a growth strategy company that works with economic development corporations and agencies, research and development organizations, entrepreneurs and companies to develop and implement economic initiatives and business ventures. We specialize in economic strategies for small to medium-sized metropolitan, micropolitan and urbanizing rural regions. Our clients include communities, regions, states and private-public partnerships, many involving the “triple helix” comprised of businesses, Universities/colleges, and government. We have worked with communities and regions throughout the United States, as well as England and Wales. Our core services for economic development organizations focus on industry analyses, competitive assessments, quality of life assessments, development strategy and the specification of new business development opportunities. We offer expert assistance in formulating strategy, identifying opportunities and implementing solutions that best meet our clients’ capabilities and requirements. The Praxis Strategy Group has considerable experience in research, analysis and assessment work for clients in business, economic development, workforce training and development, technology and innovation, and housing. We take an iterative approach to use data to identify the key themes in the community, both positive and negative. This gives us a valid data-supported foundation to create strategic initiatives with high potential to capitalize on real momentum and address specific problems. We use data to weave a web of meaning, not just spit out numbers based on a boilerplate and leave it to you to analyze and interpret them. This razor-like focus on analyses that we have found to be useful in formulating strategies can then be coupled with the interests and goals of local leaders and citizens to design effective initiatives and meaningful projects that get desired results. Our strategic planning approach doesn’t stop at just demographic research and economic indicators. We immerse ourselves in our client communities and use dozens of personal interviews, focus groups, online surveys and highly interactive community meetings to gather the input and uncover and develop all local initiatives, large and small. Any successful community and economy-building efforts must account for and build upon the personality and the identity of the region. Statement of Qualifications 2 Innovators in Research, Policy and Practice Praxis Strategy Group is at the forefront in creating innovative economic initiatives and policies for rural America. Praxis Strategy Group is an eight-time winner in the Small Business Innovation Research program. This $1 million plus in research funding from USDA has resulted in innovative techniques, methods and tools to 1) help economic developers and business leaders create an entrepreneurial culture, identify technology industry opportunities that have the most promise for success in their region, and 2) work more effectively with entrepreneurs and innovators in technology and information industries. Delore Zimmerman, President of Praxis Strategy Group, and PSG Associate Joel Kotkin, co-authored a study for the Washington, DC-based New America Foundation entitled Rebuilding America’s Productive Capacity: A Heartland Development Strategy. Our economic and population analysis work has recently appeared in Money Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal. We have also recently completed comprehensive analyses of the Houston and New York metropolitan areas and a major study for Job Service North Dakota identifying labor availability and skill sets required for 4 targeted industry sectors in the Grand Forks region. Recent Projects Praxis Strategy group works with many communities throughout the United States. We recently worked with East Grand Forks, Minnesota in the development of an economic development strategy and are currently working with the City of Salinas, California to define an economic roadmap for the future, focusing on downtown revitalization and innovation in agriculture. For Valley City, North Dakota we are designing and helping to implement a skilled worker recruitment program for a business solutions software company. We are working with a French agronomic information systems company to develop and implement a North American roll-out strategy. In Brookings, South Dakota we are helping the City to develop economic scenarios that will help to weave a multi- industry tapestry for the future of that region. On the Mesabi Iron Range of Minnesota we are part of a team that is studying ways to make the higher education system a more effective engine of economic development. Praxis Strategy Group manages the Coordinating Center of the Red River Valley Research Corridor, an initiative championed by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan to build world-class research centers and create new economic opportunities and higher-paying jobs. Statement of Qualifications 3 Red River Valley Research Corridor, Grand Forks and Fargo, ND Praxis Strategy Group operates the Coordinating Center for the Red River Valley Research Corridor initiative. The Corridor builds on the research capacity of North Dakota’s major research institutions to help build and attract high-tech businesses, generate new economic opportunities, and create good-paying jobs for the region. The goal is to become an epicenter of innovation, technology-based development and commercialization that creates new economic opportunities for North Dakota and the Upper Great Plains. The state’s two major research institutions anchor the Corridor. Labor Availability Surveys and Skill Set Studies, Job Service North Dakota This report, co-authored by Social Science Research Institute, identifies labor availability and skill sets required for four targeted industry sectors in the Grand Forks region. The six-county area, impacted by realignment of the Grand Forks Air Force Base, is working to diversify the region’s economy, attract new industries and provide gainful employment within the region. Findings of the report will help businesses and community leaders identify new growth opportunities and capitalize on training and educational efforts within the region. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Study of Higher Education Needs in the Mesabi Iron Range Region Strong economies compete on the basis of high value, not solely low cost. Within the Mesabi Range region, the ability to provide the high-value-added products and services necessary to compete in a global marketplace is augmented by the region¹s strong post- secondary institutions that provide advanced skill sets and a growing knowledge base in emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing processes and industry specific expertise. Praxis Strategy Group, in collaboration with DMD Consulting conducted a study of student demand and employer needs for higher education in the Mesabi Range region of Northeastern Minnesota. Rebuilding America’s Productive Capacity: A Heartland Development Strategy, New America Foundation The report highlights regions that are leading the way in building America’s new technology-based economies. The basic building blocks of these regional innovation systems include entrepreneurial companies, universities and colleges, basic and applied research laboratories, technology transfer mechanisms, regional public and private development organizations, finance institutions, capital investment programs, business incubators and Statement of Qualifications 4 activities helping to vigorously network firms and organizations. Wenatchee Valley Washington Working collaboratively with the City of Wenatchee, Washington and the Port of Chelan County we developed a strategic plan that focused on jobs with higher earnings, preservation of the quality of life, diversification of the economy and improved coordination & processes of civic and government sectors. Brookings, South Dakota We are currently working with the Brookings Economic Development Corporation using a scenarios-based approach to create a vision for the community’s future. Salinas, California Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group have been working with the City of Salinas and the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce to develop an economic roadmap for the future. Two areas of focus have emerged for the initiative including urban revitalization and sparking innovation in agriculture. “Opportunity Urbanism: A New Paradigm for the 21st Century,” Greater Houston Partnership Praxis Strategy Group served as a demographic and economic consultant to the Joel Kotkin authored report focusing on the Houston metropolitan region. The report outlines a new development philosophy using Houston as a model city: an engine for upward mobility and city of aspiration for residents. East Grand Forks Strategic Plan, EGF Minnesota Economic Development and Housing Authority Through extensive community based meetings and interviews, Praxis Strategy Group developed a long-range strategic plan that provided a coordinated approach of integrating programs and projects developed locally with external partners and programs to increase economic development in East Grand Forks. This included a review, assessment and development of new or refined organizational strategies for accelerating economic development in the community. Unmanned Aviation Business Development Roadmap – Base Realignment Impact Committee, Grand Forks, ND The roadmap includes the identification of attainable near and long-term business opportunities in unmanned aviation for North Dakota and Grand Forks. The plan outlines tactics and implementation strategies for how the Grand Forks region can take a leading role in this emerging industry. Statement of Qualifications 5 The Future of the Middle Class in New York City, Center for an Urban Future Praxis Strategy Group is the lead economic and demographic analyst for an upcoming study and strategic report examining the current state and future of the "middle class" in New York City. Analysis and Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Los Angeles, Bank of America Praxis Strategy Group, Joel Kotkin, and New American Dimensions, LLC (Los Angeles) are collaborating on an ongoing project to provide market analysis and impact of Immigrant entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Los Angeles and Riverside California market areas for Bank of America. The New America Foundation The report highlights regions that are leading the way in building America’s new technology-based economies. The basic building blocks of these regional innovation systems include entrepreneurial companies, universities and colleges, basic and applied research laboratories, technology transfer mechanisms, regional public and private development organizations, finance institutions, capital investment programs, business incubators and activities helping to vigorously network firms and organizations. Analysis and Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Los Angeles, Bank of America Praxis Strategy Group, Joel Kotkin, and New American Dimensions, LLC (Los Angeles) are collaborating on an ongoing project to provide market analysis and impact of Immigrant entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Los Angeles and Riverside California market areas for Bank of America. Regional Defense Diversification Project in the Great Falls, Montana region Praxis Strategy Group is leading an Economic Diversification Project on behalf of Cascade County and the Sweetgrass Development District in Montana (five counties, including Great Falls). This study is funded by grants obtained from the Secretary of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and the Montana Department of Commerce. Elements of the project include a comprehensive baseline assessment, assessment and development of strategic action steps related to energy (passive and fossil), agri-processing and alternative agriculture, entrepreneur and small business development and completion of a regional workforce assessment. The goal is to provide a cohesive and attainable set of action steps to support the development and expansion of new and emerging business opportunities in the region. Statement of Qualifications 6 Associates Delore Zimmerman, Ph.D. President Delore is a strategy consultant with twenty-five years of domestic and international experience working with local and regional economic development groups, companies and universities. He co-developed the High- Performance Community Initiative while a Senior Fellow at the Denver- based Center for the New West at a time when the Center coined and popularized the concept of “lone eagle” entrepreneurs. As a research principal investigator he has been awarded seven Small Business Innovation Research awards from USDA to develop leading-edge practices and tools for use by development professionals and community leaders in “micropolitan” and urbanized rural regions to work more effectively with entrepreneurs and to build competitive, innovation-based economies in the global, networked economy. Delore serves as the Director of the Coordinating Center for the Red River Valley Research Corridor, an initiative championed by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan to build world-class research centers and to provide support to the region’s growing technology sector. He is also a board member of the National Network for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (N2TEC) Institute, a nationwide consortium of major research universities, Fortune 1500 corporations, and governments whose mission is to increase the level of innovation and technology commercialization in the United States. Delore served as the lead consultant for the Business Development Workgroup of the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission, formed by the United States Congress in 1997 to develop a five-state regional strategy. He has worked in Wales, England and South Korea advising regional technology and development organizations and has worked with business delegations from Russia in agricultural processing and construction to advise them on productivity and competitive strategies. Delore authored "The Mobilization of Territorial Alliances to Enhance Economic Development" and co- authored "High-Performance Communities: New Economy Ideas into Action" with Phil Burgess. He has also co-authored “Redeveloping America’s Productive Capacity: A Heartland Development Strategy” with Joel Kotkin. He is currently writing a book titled Jump Country about rural companies, communities and regions that are thriving in an innovation-driven global economy. He has received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Dakota and a doctoral degree from the Pennsylvania State University where his work focused on the Statement of Qualifications 7 mobilization of territorial-based alliances for economic development. Douglas McDonald Senior Associate Doug is a co-founder of Praxis Strategy Group. He has over 20 years of applied research, planning and development experience focusing on community and economic development, environmental impact assessment, socio-economics and demography. He is a sociologist and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Dakota. Doug’s business consulting experience includes assignments in aerospace, value-added agriculture, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. He has co-authored many significant reports including “Labor Availability Surveys and Skill Set Studies”, “Unmanned Aviation Business Development Roadmap”, “Aerospace: An Industry Sector Poised for Flight” for the Aerospace Power Group of the New Economy Initiative, “Advanced Manufacturing Opportunities in North Dakota’s Leading Edge High Tech Industry Sectors”, a study for the Economic Development Administration and North Dakota’s Economic Development and Finance and “An Information Technology Strategic Plan for North Dakota’s Rural Economic Area Partnerships.” Roger Reierson Senior Consultant Roger makes things grow. In 1976, he joined the Flint Communications when it employed 13 people, and has since expanded the operation to include agencies in Grand Forks, Duluth and St. Cloud plus AdFarm offices in Calgary, Guelph and Kansas City, with a total complement of more than 165 employees. His greatest strength, aside from plain old stamina, is his ability to bring a team together to create a strong path forward, one that identifies the challenge, uses experienced strategic thinking to find solutions that help build a solid direction for the client. He also has an uncanny ability to recognize ideas that work. Roger holds a B.S degree in marketing and finance, and has enhanced it with on-going education in the form of seminars and college electives — as well as more than 30 years of experience in communications and business development. His experience includes working with institutions of higher education in engaging with their communities on economic growth by identifying the assets available, building new resources and applying them for implementation in a changing economy. Also a high-profile presence in community and professional associations, Roger is a member of the Board of Trustees of the North Central Association for the Higher Learning Statement of Qualifications 8 Commission, Member of the North Dakota Roundtable on Higher Education, past President of Fargo Chamber of Commerce, the Greater North Dakota State Chamber Association, the North Dakota New Economy Committee and the Northern Plains Chapter, Public Relations Society of America. Mark Schill Associate Mark Schill’s work focuses on the intersection of economic and population trends with economic development strategy. Mark has experience in strategic planning, demographic research, marketing strategy, business planning, web site development, Internet community management, and event planning. Mark’s economic and population analysis work has recently appeared in Money Magazine, L.A. Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He recently completed an extensive analysis of the Houston economy and is currently working on a comprehensive analysis of the New York metropolitan area. He also recently completed analytical work on a major study for Job Service North Dakota identifying labor availability and skill sets required for 4 targeted industry sectors in the Grand Forks region. Mark earned a Business Development degree from the University of North Dakota, and has held positions with local and federal government and in the scientific research and customer service sectors. Mark has founded networking organizations, served on numerous economic development task forces, and is president of an arts and cultural non- profit organization. Matthew Leiphon Associate Matthew is a Research and Development Analyst for Praxis Strategy Group. A native of Crary, ND, Matthew graduated from the University of North Dakota in with a master’s degree in public administration. As a student, Matthew’s research focuses included community and economic development, intergovernmental relationships, and public policy development and implementation. He has also collaborated on research studying small business start-ups and challenges facing new entrepreneurs. In addition to his graduate degree, Matthew also holds a B.A. in political science and history from the University of North Dakota. Prior to joining Praxis Strategy Group, he served as an intern for the North Dakota Legislative Council, in Bismarck, ND, conducting policy research and support work for legislators Andy Reierson Associate Based in Duluth, MN, Andy Reierson is the Director of Business Development for the Praxis Strategy Group. He is responsible for developing new initiatives, shepherding clients through Statement of Qualifications 9 initial project phases, and assisting with strategic planning projects. Andy graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Labovitz School of Business with a business administration degree in finance. Prior to joining Praxis Strategy Group, Andy was a trauma consultant for the orthopedic division of Smith & Nephew Inc. During his tenure with Smith & Nephew, Andy spent time advising and providing product technical support for hospitals and surgeons in Northwest Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota. He also was responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives to increase Smith & Nephew’s market share in Northwest Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota. Joel Kotkin Senior Consultant Joel Kotkin is Presidential Fellow at the Roger C. Hobbs Institute at Chapman University in Orange, California. He is a highly respected speaker and futurist and consults for many leading economic development organizations, private companies, regions and cities. He is the analyst for INC magazine’s annual Best Places to Do Business Rankings. Joel works frequently with Praxis Strategy Group on engagements related to public policy, trends, rural economic development strategy, planning and development. Joel is the author of the critically acclaimed book, THE CITY: A GLOBAL HISTORY from Random House/Modern Library. Published in China, Spain, Great Britain and the British Commonwealth, editions in Japanese and Korean are planned for later this year. He is also author of the widely best- selling title, THE NEW GEOGRAPHY, How the Digital Revolution is Reshaping the American Landscape (Random House, 2000). Currently he is writing a book on the American future for Penguin Publishing, which will look at how the nation will evolve in the next four decades. He lectures widely in the United States, UK, Asia, Australia and Europe and is highly sought after as a speaker by major business and financial organizations. He served as West Coast Editor for Inc. Magazine for five years and continues to contribute to the publication. His work also appears in The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Weekly Standard, The American and The Wall Street Journal. Dave Roby Chief Operating Officer Dave has over 30 years of real world business experience starting and rapidly growing businesses. For the past 16 years, Dave has owned and operated his own consulting firm primarily focusing Statement of Qualifications 10 on business planning, finance, and economic development working with private and public funding source. He holds a self directed degree in University Studies with a focus on business, economics, management and finance from North Dakota State University. Dave has served on local economic development boards, local and regional health care boards as their finance chairperson and has developed and deployed a comprehensive managerial selection and training program. Featured in the Tom Peter’s 1996 newsletter “In Search of Excellence” for his uniquely empowering work environment, self managed work teams and their flat organizational structure while producing outstanding results in sales and profits. As an entrepreneur and consultant, Dave brings a keen perspective of being able to look at projects from both sides of the table and develop strategies that can meet each sides needs. Dave’s consulting experience includes work in mining having developed a long range plan and assisted management in the securing of $250 million in private capital resources for the development and operations of the mining company. He has assisted two not-for-profit humanitarian foundations in the planning and development of funding resources and has helped secure $40 million in assets to be used for the foundations mission. Dave has consulted with a United Kingdom based company on the acquisition of new clients for their commodity sales as well as raising capital for their investment activities. Dave also has consulted with small business in the areas if business planning, acquisitions, workforce planning and has assisted several companies in raising seed capital and on-going operational and growth capital using both private and public resources. Dave also has extensive experience in intellectual property specifically within the medical community having worked as a consultant for a medical firm in developing their strategy, developing their business plan, analyzing their capital structure and future needs and assisting in the analysis of the best method in taking the patented and patent pending technologies to market. Currently this firm is in negotiations with a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company for the licensing of the technology. At the request of the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Dave assisted an entrepreneur in the development of the business plan, work force plan, funding plan and private placement for a specialty foods processing company. Statement of Qualifications 11 The Praxis Strategy Group Advanced Research Team Kim Kemmer, Praxis Strategy Group Director of Customer Insight, and team member for 14 plus years, leads the area of research planning and market research for corporations, universities and not-for-profit entities. His practical experience in the field of communications and background in creativity provides an excellent combination of preparation, analysis and interpretation. Kim has experience at working first- hand with target audiences through focus group facilitation, interviewing, survey creation and deployment as well idea facilitation. (Idea sessions) Kim’s work has provided insight to clients and account teams in developing communication strategies, product development, fact finding and opportunity engagement. The resulting work has proven effective to influence attitudes, awareness or usage patterns with the intended targets. Kim has a B.A in Communication Design from Minnesota State College and continues his education through advanced study programs. Kim is active in civic groups and several community not-for-profit boards. Lindsey Bernier, Research Associate, focuses her efforts on specific survey design, delivery and interpretation with a direct focus on the scope of work as well as the deliverables of the project. Her skills with the use of technology for electronic surveys and analysis are world class. Lindsey also has practical experience in telephone interviewing, profile development and project specific survey design and development. Lindsey has excellent report writing skills and is highly skilled at secondary research….the answers behind the answers. Lindsey has worked with clients in healthcare, insurance, food service and manufacturing. She earned her B.S. Degree from the University of North Dakota in Marketing. Lisa Johnson, Research Associate, although relatively new to the Praxis Team, has experience in online community and panel management. Lisa manages relationships for several of our clients with over 500 community members on a monthly basis and provides detailed project driven experience reports to our clients. Lisa also is also very skilled at secondary research. Lisa holds a B.S. Degree from Truman State University of Missouri in Communications Psychology and adds a critical element to the Praxis Research and Development Survey design and reporting functions. Statement of Qualifications 12 Sertich Consulting Group Joe Sertich, Ed.D. Strategic Alliance Dr. Sertich’s professional career includes serving as the founding president of the Northeast Minnesota Higher Education District from 1999 to 2008. The district is comprised of five community colleges with a combined enrollment of more than 8,000 learners and approximately 500 employees. In his role as president, Joe attended the Minnesota Governor’s Afterschool Opportunities Summit on May 1, 2008 at Governor Tim Pawlenty’s invitation. Under President Sertich’s leadership, the five college district achieved accumulating the largest foundation assets of any of the two year institution in the Minnesota system. Of his 36 years in public education he spent 18 teaching at the K-12 and higher education levels and was recognized as Teacher of the Year in Wisconsin at a middle school. He also developed out- of-school programming for gifted children, in addition to mainstream approaches. His passion for and firsthand knowledge of OUT-OF- SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS provide a contextual advantage for this project As the facilitator for the McKnight and Blandin Foundation’s sponsored Regional Economic Development (RED) Group, he coordinates, manages and summarizes meetings that lead to regional action agendas. He also facilitated a Leadership Council of the Applied Learning Institute consisting of 16 school superintendents and five provosts. Their planning resulted in government, school and private funding for a K-14 regional model of collaboration for the state of Minnesota. He was affiliated with the six Initiative Foundations and the Minnesota Council on Foundations when he served for nine years on the Northland Foundation, two of them as Chair. Dr. Sertich has received the David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Labo Award, which recognizes an individual with a history of leadership in economic development. Joe chaired the national Rural Community College Alliance and continues to serve on its Board of Directors. He was an active Board Member of Minnesota Campus Compact and has worked on the national, state, regional, and local levels in securing funding for innovative programs—and managed them once funding was secured. He has a B.S. in education, and a master’s in educational administration from Bemidji State University. His Ed.D. is from the Leadership Academy of the University of Minnesota in educational policy and administration. Joe has been president/CEO of Longyear Incorporated of Chisholm since its inception in 1983. Sertich Consulting is a wholly owned division of Longyear. Statement of Qualifications 13 John Ondov (Senior Consultant, Sertich Consulting) John has been applying a blend of creative, marketing, communications, and strategic tools by achieving larger goals for his clients in both the public and private sectors for more than forty years. Beginning as a Department Head for a theatre program in a then new high school in Hopkins, John became Executive Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board and worked as a City Spirit team member for the National Endowment for the Arts focusing on urban renewal. A major responsibility of his position included fund-raising. John was a founding partner for Media Ventures, a MN based entertainment production company, with offices in Los Angeles, CA. He was the Creative Director and Managing Partner of McCracken Brooks Communications, a large full service agency and then founded the Lifelab Institute, a not-for- profit organization focusing on the evolving workforce, education and training needs across North America. John has actively and successfully raised money in both the private and public sectors for a wide range of clients. One such example is the Class Act Program at Itasca Community College, an innovative teacher preparation program for first and second year college students. He has worked with several colleges and universities in the Minnesota State colleges and Universities system. He is a close collaborator by nature and builds strong relationships with leaders who are seeking to make aggressive and progressive changes in large, systemic organizations. John is writer, producer, project manager, strategist, and communicator with special interests in the dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship that co- exists between the worlds of learning and work. Warren Enyart Strategic Alliance Mr. Enyart joined the Praxis Strategy Group in a Strategic Alliance in 2008 and brings broad expertise in energy and business development related fields. Enyart has nearly 40 years of related professional experience that can be categorized in three areas of expertise: Science and Technical, Business Development, and Administration. Besides direct employment in these categories, he has provided professional consulting services in these and related areas. Much of his professional consulting experience is in energy-related industrial development including: wind resource development studies, power requirement studies, facility sighting, environmental impact assessment and management, landowner/public relations, project management (including budget control and personnel allocations), permitting, regulatory compliance, and site reclamation. Statement of Qualifications 14 During the past three years, he has been intimately involved with the development of a major wind farm in Griggs and Steele Counties. This 150 megawatt project is the first community- based, locally owned wind farm in North Dakota. Enyart was one of the founding members of M-Power, LLC and has been instrumental in negotiations with developers, turbine suppliers, institutional investors, and local and regional electrical utilities. Enyart has been involved with economic development projects in North Dakota and elsewhere for nearly 35 years. This work ranges from studies of the socio- economic impacts of major energy development while employed with the Lewis and Clark Regional Development Council in the early 1970s to achieving sustainable economic development strategies for the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone in 2008. He also has experience in international business. In 2001, Enyart negotiated an engine supply agreement with Walter Aircraft Engines, and Avia Aircraft Propellers; both companies based in the Czech Republic. Last year, GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company, bought the Walter Aircraft Company. GE is currently, the leading supplier of wind turbines in the US market and has alliances with at least one major North Dakota manufacturer. On assignment with USAID, Enyart was instrumental in establishing a food processing grower-owned cooperative in South Central Hungary in 1994 involving negotiations with business and political leaders in Hungary, Poland, Estonia, and Finland. And again in 1998, he was assigned to assist in the development of a food processing cooperative in Moldova. Enyart is an experienced training consultant specializing in: manufacturing best practices, small business development, strategic planning, risk assessment/management, and directorship training. Besides his broad background in economic development, Enyart has experience in municipal government, business management, and citizen participation in planning; all gained from direct personal experiences such as: Deputy Director of Science and Technology for the North Dakota Department of Economic Development, CEO of the Technology Transfer Corporation, State Director of the Manufacturing Technology Partnership, City Auditor of Stanton, Mayor of Lincoln, and the founder and owner of several businesses. Warren Enyart’s forty years of professional experience, including his most recent affiliations with several of the major players in the wind energy development business, will be applied to this project through the Praxis Strategy Group. Statement of Qualifications 15 N.C. Doty & Associates LLC Agri-Business Expert Strategic Alliance N.C DOTY & ASSOCIATES, LLC joined the Praxis Strategy Group in a Strategic Alliance in 2008 and is a business development company that employs expertise, content, behavior, and skill to produce effective results for the benefit of client businesses and their associated economic development entities, lending institutions, and investment groups. Doty strives to bring real world experience, ideas, strategies, tactics, and solutions for clients to produce increased organizational value and substantial results. Doty’s business development activities include start-up business development; business improvement planning, business acquisition assistance, and business recruitment for value added manufacturers, economic development organizations, investment groups, and lenders. His company offers expertise in market research and development; leadership and management development; operational improvement; and financial analysis and forecasting. With emphasis on finding a viable business and evaluating its potential, including its product, market, and management, Doty’s work goes well beyond “lead generation.” In addition to producing numerous feasibility studies, marketing plans, and business plans, N.C. Doty & Associates, LLC, has successfully provided strategic planning services to investment groups and economic developers to enhance the value of regional human, capital, and commodity resources. His company has been particularly helpful in identifying and constructing strategic alliances among producers, distributors, and marketers along supply chains within specific industries. Doty employs the methodology of developing strategic alliances through the identification and communication of common objectives among potential alliance partners. N.C. Doty & Associates, LLC, has exhibited the expertise required to guide clients to develop strategic alliances in grain and oilseed value added processing; electric vehicle marketing and manufacturing; and beef, pork, and fish value added processing. As one of the original investors in Global Electric MotorCars, LLC, Fargo, ND, a worldwide leader in the manufacture of neighborhood electric vehicles, N.C. Doty & Associates, LLC, commenced the successful development, manufacturing, and marketing of electric vehicles in the U.S. and abroad. Doty’s company provided start-up corporate business planning and management, which culminated in selling the company to Daimler Chrysler in less than three years of operation. Doty & Associates also recently conducted feasibility study services for two unrelated oilseed crush/biodiesel production start-up companies; soy crush in North Dakota and canola crush in Oklahoma. Statement of Qualifications 16 N.C. Doty & Associates, LLC, is committed to building organizations that create meaningful jobs, offer growth opportunities, and increase community wealth. This valuable principle and many years of successful experience in lead generation and viable business development will be brought to bear on this project by Dr. Doty through the Praxis Strategy Group. Megha Mukim Chief Economist Strategic Alliance Megha is currently reading for her DPhil at the London School of Economics in England. Her main focus is on economic clusters and their relationship with urbanization, growth and development. After completing her undergraduate degree in Economics and a post- graduate qualification in London, she spent a few years in Geneva, Switzerland carrying out economic research for the World Trade Organization and then with the World Health Organization. During the course of her professional experience, at the macro-level, she carried out general equilibrium studies and cost-benefit analysis at the micro- level Subsequently, Megha began her MPhil degree at the University of Cambridge, after the completion of which she was an international visiting fellow at Yale University in the United States. It was also during her stay in America that she began to be appreciative of the links between academic research and its application in the public and private sectors. She has since been involved in a number of projects that have criss- crossed between and over strict academic, private and public sector lines. She has managed and executed projects on the economic impact of trade agreements on specific industry sectors, the legal and market ramifications of changes in bio-patent laws, forecasting consumption patterns in emerging economies and analyzing why and how economic clustering affects urbanization to provide specific examples. A partial list of Megha’s work includes economic studies and forecasts for Nestle, The Ministry of Commerce for India and the International Telecommunications Union.