Biographies

The BEDA team has diverse and extensive economic development experience in both the public and private sectors with international business practice as well. Learn more about each BEDA principal and project manager by reviewing the provided biographies. Feel free to contact any team member directly to set up an introduction or consultation.

To view biographies of each of the employees of BEDA, please click on a name below:

• Jay Walters
• Linda Williamson
• Suzanne Davis
• Jenny Massey
• Sara McGoun

View and Print Jay Walter's Bio Jay Walters

317.968.5576 jwalters@binghameda.com

Jay Walters has an extensive background in economic development spanning more than 20 years in state and local government as well as the private sector. As a site selection consultant, he has managed hundreds of business expansion and relocation projects throughout the United States.

Jay has worked with a diverse group of business clients ranging from small, start-up business ventures to Fortune 100 corporations. His projects have included headquarters facilities, manufacturing plants, distribution facilities, data centers and tele-services operations.

During his career in government, Jay served as Deputy Director of Development Finance for the Indiana Department of Commerce where he managed the state's incentive programs and negotiated business attraction packages to attract new and expanding businesses to Indiana. Jay also served as Manager of Economic Development for the City of Indianapolis where he implemented development strategies and helped lead the city's effort to recruit new business.

Educational Background:
Indiana University, B.S. in Physics
Indiana University Kelley School of Business, M.B.A

Former Employment:
Economic Development Group, LLC
Indiana Department of Commerce
City of Indianapolis

Certificates:
Economic Development Finance Professional
 
Associations:
International Economic Development Council
Indiana Economic Development Association
World Trade Club of Indiana

Civic Involvement:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

View and Print Linda Williamson's Bio Linda Williamson

317.968.5573 lwilliamson@binghameda.com

Linda Williamson, Vice President, has over twenty years of experience in community development, economic development and business development at the local, regional and state level. Linda has worked in the areas of business recruitment and retention, strategic planning, collaborative marketing ventures, brownfield redevelopment, infrastructure planning, innovative real estate development partnerships, industrial site re-use planning, workforce development coalitions, and development of local incentive programs and guidelines.

Linda served as President of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership, for thirteen years where she was successful in building the organization, attracting new businesses to Bloomington/Monroe County, assisting existing businesses with retention and expansion projects, and in product development - including new business parks and industrial parks. Linda also led the launch of the Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership, the Bloomington Information Technology Sector, the IU Bloomington Business Partnership, Saving Crane, and the Indiana Life Sciences Training Institute.

In addition, Linda has experience with business development efforts at the state level including new business attraction and existing business retention and expansion efforts. Prior to working for the State of Indiana, Linda worked in local government and administered state and federal grants, developed local incentive programs and managed property tax abatement and local loan programs.

Educational Background:
Indiana University, B.A.

Former Employment:
Bloomington Economic Development Corporation
Indiana Department of Commerce
City of Bloomington

Certificates:
Certified Economic Development (CEcD) Designation
Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) Designation
Honorary Associate of Science Degree from Ivy Tech Community College

Board Membership:
Bloomington Hospital
Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools

Associations:
Indiana Economic Development Association
International Economic Development Council

View and Print Suzanne Davis' Bio Suzanne Davis

317.968.5574 sdavis@binghameda.com

Suzanne Davis, Vice President, has served in multiple capacities in economic development. As a private sector consultant, Suzanne worked to maximize strategic growth opportunities through effective site selection analysis, incentive procurement, community benchmarking and business climate evaluation for national and international corporations.

Suzanne has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. As the Director of Business Development for Pepper Construction Company of Indiana, a construction management firm active in the healthcare, retail, institutional and corporate markets, Suzanne built partnerships and relationships in a multi-state region. Pepper Construction Group is regularly listed as one of the top construction management firms in Engineering News Record.

Prior to joining Pepper, Suzanne was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Indy Partnership, a regional economic development organization representing the Indianapolis, Indiana region. At the Indy Partnership, Suzanne was involved in all aspects of operations, including fund raising, project management, marketing and communications, information technology and personnel management. During her tenure with The Indy Partnership, over $1.5 billion was invested by private sector companies in the Indianapolis region.

Educational Background:
Purdue University, B.S.
Indiana University Kelley School of Business, MBA

Former Employment:
Pepper Construction Company of Indiana
The Indy Partnership
Hendricks County (IN) Economic Development Partnership
Indiana Department of Commerce
 
Associations:
CoreNet
International Economic Development Council
Indiana Economic Development Association
Southern Economic Development Council

View and Print Jenny Massey's Bio Jenny Massey

317.968.5572 jmassey@binghameda.com

Jenny Massey, Senior Project Manager coordinates client projects for BEDA which includes oversight of incentive fulfillment as well as involvement in business development, international relations and strategic planning. Through training grant draws and various tax credits reporting, Jenny assures that companies take full advantage of incentive programs.

Jenny has extensive international experience in corporate strategic planning, business development, research, marketing and public relations work for some of world's largest companies.

During the five years she spent in Japan from 1998-2003, Jenny worked as a Strategic Business Advisor and Communications Director for many international companies. She lived and worked in Nagoya, Japan and also worked abroad in Italy, South Korea and Bali. While in Japan, she learned Japanese and has continued in her studies of the language. Her experience overseas helps create an appropriate and comfortable business atmosphere for transactions with international companies and personnel.

Educational Background:
Indiana University, B.A.
Murdoch University (Perth, Australia / Nagoya Daigaku campus), Post-Graduate Degree, Sustainable Development with emphasis in Environmental Law and Public Policy

Former Employment:
Dentsu, Inc.; Nagoya, Japan
Chubu Electric (Denryoku); Chubu Region, Japan
Toyota (Shokki); Toyota-shi, Japan
WB, LLC (Italia Division); Nagoya, Japan and Rome, Italy
Time T.I. (Asia); Osaka / Nagoya, Japan and Seoul, S. Korea

Certificates:
Japanese Level 2

Associations:
Indiana Council on World Affairs
Indiana University Alumni Association
Japan-America Society of Indiana, Inc. (JASI)
Nationalities Council of Indiana
World Trade Club of Indiana

Civic Involvement:
Honorary Ambassador to Aichi Prefecture, Japan
International Center of Indianapolis Volunteer

View and Print Sara McGoun's Bio Sara McGoun

317.968.5571 smcgoun@binghameda.com

Sara McGoun serves as Project Manager for BEDA, helping coordinate location analysis and economic development incentive services for new facility and expansion projects. Sara provides support to companies and community organization regarding economic development strategic planning and incentive fulfillment.

Sara served as the Events and Communications Manager of the Indiana Health Industry Forum, a public-private membership association focused on growing the life sciences industry sector throughout Indiana. While at IHIF, Sara worked with public and private sector organizations to strengthen life sciences in Indiana and coordinated state-wide events. Sara also served as Vice President of Programs of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in Bloomington, Indiana. Sara developed communication strategies, managed and executed fundraising and networking events, and coordinated the Chamber's branding plan update.

Educational Background:
Indiana University, B.S.

Former Employment:
Indiana Health Industry Forum
Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Certificates:
Leadership Bloomington - Monroe County
Hoosier Academy - Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Board Membership:
Central Indiana Chapter of the Indiana University Alumni Association
Indiana Biomedical Entrepreneur Network (IBEN)

Associations:
Indiana University Alumni Association
Leadership Bloomington – Monroe County Alumni Association
World Trade Club of Indiana

Civic Involvement:
Humane Society of Indianapolis