As Vice President of Business Attraction at LEAP, Keith spends much of his time engaging with site location consultants and industry executives who are actively considering prospective locations for new business operations. Keith works to inform, facilitate and persuade around the value proposition of a new-to-market company – whether US-based or international – choosing to locate a project and invest in the Lansing region. Taking a highly client-centric approach, Keith is also responsible for leading industry retention and expansion programs and projects connected to existing companies across the tri-county area. Keith works closely with 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.

Prior to accepting this role at 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 business attraction projects – constituting over $1 billion in committed private investment and over 2,500 new jobs.

Keith represents LEAP as a commissioner of the Lansing Regional Sister Cities Commission, Executive Committee member to the Capital Area Manufacturing Council and 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 is excited to be back in his home state of Michigan helping to take Lansing to the next level in industry growth and inclusive community prosperity.