As the COO of LEAP, Keith brings over a decade of economic development experience and strategic thinking to LEAP operations, and plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing projects and initiatives that advance our mission of catalyzing economic progress across the tri-county region. Keith oversees the day-to-day operations and performance of various departments, working to ensure smooth delivery of our diverse range of economic development services and programs and an efficient and collaborative work environment.

Since 2017, Keith has also acted as the Vice President of Business Attraction, leading LEAP's Regional Growth department, which conducts the organization's business attraction program including lead generation, prospecting, site selection and attraction project management, runs the regional business retention program and management of business expansion projects, and services economic development contracts with Ingham County and Clinton County. Keith works closely with his LEAP teammates, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, local government partners, regional counterparts across Michigan and a multitude of private sector allies on shared priorities that drive investment and job creation into the area.

Previous to returning to LEAP, Keith led the business recruitment program for Charleston County Economic Development in South Carolina, where he employed innovative and data-driven tools to maximize business attraction results in that rapidly growing market. During his time in Charleston, Keith also gained experience with targeted business attraction and foreign direct investment missions across the United States and Europe.

Before his time in South Carolina, Keith served the better part of three years as LEAP's Tri-County Development Manager, where he worked to foster strong relationships throughout the region while leading a dynamic slew of projects ranging from crowdfunded creative placemaking in public spaces, to complex incentivized business expansions, to a federally-funded brownfield redevelopment program.

Since 2014, Keith has served as project manager for dozens of economic development projects – a majority of them business attraction projects – constituting over $3.6 billion in committed private investment and over 3,500 new jobs.

Keith represents LEAP as a commissioner of the Lansing Regional Sister Cities Commission and as Vice Chair of Insuring MI Future, a statewide organization focused on developing and connecting talent for the rapidly growing insurance industry.

Keith graduated magna cum laude from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from James Madison College, an added major in Economics and a specialization in International Political Economy.

Keith is a strong believer in the power of a good job, and loves serving his home state of Michigan helping to take the Lansing region to the next level of industry growth and inclusive community prosperity.