Bob Trezise has been President & CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and LEAP Foundation since 2011, representing the Lansing, Michigan region (Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties) with an MSA population of near half a million.

During Bob’s tenure with LEAP, the tri-county Lansing regional economy welcomed private sector investment projects totaling over $7.2 billion, along with more than 10,191 direct-private jobs. This economic development success grew LEAP into a nationally recognized top 20 economic development organization (Site Selection Magazine, 2021 MacConway Award Winner).

LEAP successfully attracts companies from around the world to the region, helps to retain and expand existing companies, operates a robust multi-tiered small business, entrepreneurial and innovation eco system as well as people/place making programs ranging from childcare, art and culture, main street enhancements, inclusion and work force development.

Through contracts, Bob and LEAP also manage the Lansing Regional SmartZone and Ingham and Clinton county’s economic development departments.

Beyond LEAP, Bob ledthe city of Lansing’s economic development efforts from 2006 - 2011, serving as president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) and Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (LBRA). From 2011 – 2022 Bob acted as both president and CEO of the LEDC/TIFA/LBRA and LEAP.

In 2011, Bob received the Michigan Economic Developer’s Association (MEDA) Economic Development Medalist of the Year award and, in 2016, received MEDA’s prestigious President’s Award. Bob’s projects have also received numerous International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Gold and Silver projects of the Year awards. Bob was also named by Western Michigan University’s School of Public Policy Affairs as National Alum of the Year in 2020 and was named as a nation’s Top 50 Economic Developer in 2020 by Consultant Connect.

Bob’s pinnacle project, the $182 million revitalization of the long-abandoned, downtown Lansing riverfront “Power Station” into a national corporate headquarters, won the National Brownfield Association’s Region 5 Phoenix Award and was the National #1 Runner Up winner. The Arts Council of Greater Lansing has recognized Bob and LEAP’s cutting-edge placemaking efforts with the Business Leadership Award. Bob and LEAP’s staff were also recognized by the US Small Business Administration’s Administrator for outstanding regional entrepreneurial efforts.Other signature projects, during Bob’s career, that he played a major role in if not led are: Ultium $2.5B electric battery plant, $250M mixed use Red Cedar project on Michigan Avenue, downtown East Lansing high rise City Centre, Knapps historic building downtown Lansing, Lansing Poet Laureate program, Glanbia dairy production facility in St. Johns, re-organization of the downtown Lansing Principle Shopping District, riverfront development downtown Lansing, Medtech and Agtech initiatives.

During the pandemic, Bob led a special LEAP team effort that distributed, in two year’s time, approximately $25M to several thousand small businesses throughout the three-county area.

In the early days of Bob’s long-standing economic development career, he served as the Managing Director and creator of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Community Assistance Team (CATeam) from 2001 – 2006 (still in place today). Additionally, Bob is the founder of the Michigan Main Street program (still in place today after 20 years) and worked on hundreds of community revitalization projects across Michigan. Additionally, Bob served as vice president of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) board and Director of Delta Township’s economic development department. In both roles, Bob was part of the successful Keep and/or Retain GM campaign.

Bob grew up in the city of Lansing, is married to Kerri and they have four children. Bob is a proud graduate of the Lansing School District, James Madison College at Michigan State University and the Public Administration/Public Affairs Graduate program at Western Michigan University. He is also a published poet.