Brian Doudna Email & Phone Number

United States

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States

Looking forward to advancing the business, community, talent and economic development efforts of Sheboygan County. This is truly a world class destination for business, talent, innovation and recreational opportunities. Very blessed to have a dedicated local business community focused on creating the future they want for this remarkable county!

Madison

First full time Executive Director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association. Our association is the voice of Economic Development for over 400 professionals involved in economic development activities. Have designed and implemented several new services and programs to advance the Association as part of a three year plan while enhancing government relation efforts. Efforts and or programs launched include: CRA Network of Wisconsin, Economic Development Academy of Wisconsin, Community and Economic Development Awards, association insurance offering, adding in-house legislative staff, Native American economic development training program and MOUs with 5 statewide associations to leverage training and educational opportunities to expand awareness of economic development tools and services.The CRA Network is now placing the association in a service provider role by helping to facilitate projects with financial institutions with interest in certain types of projects and markets.

As a contracted professional, served as Association Management staff for the 11 workforce boards in the state of Wisconsin. Work to enhance statewide partnerships and collaborations to increase return on investment of federal and state workforce development funding. Created the Talent Development Council (TDC) structure to inform, educate, and align workforce programming. The TDC meetings are designed to allow customer feedback from association members (sectors) and also inform the associations on the tools and challenges of the workforce system.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin Area

The Economic Development Corporation mission is "advancing economic prosperity through business and job growth. This mission is implemented around four main strategies: Business Recruitment, Business Expansion and Start-Up services. In addition, added strategies for the Critical Talent (Recruitment) needs of area employers. Implemented and created programs to address gaps in the economic development ecosystem:1) The Idea Challenge, which works to advance early-stage product ideas. In its first year, the program assisted in the formation corporation, patent and equity investment of $700,000. 2) Creation of a Near Equity Fund to matches private equity investment in rapidly growing firms without diluting the equity position of the current investors. 3) Managed incubator and secured grants to update systems, building design, operational efficiencies and refined services to tenants.4) Lead effort to design, create and implement business park and secured initial private projects/investments to capitalize on past municipal investments.5) Managed marketing, site selection, financial packaging/capital stacks, developers agreement terms, government relations, facilitated public meetings in efforts to close deals.Other Activities:- Managed design, consultants, implementation and public briefings of Wisconsin Competitiveness Study - (Be Bold), which transformed statewide economic development efforts and endorsed by all political parties and candidates for Governor (6).- Served as President of Wisconsin Economic Development Association Board of Directors- Founded Innovation Foundation of Western Wisconsin and secured grants to launch organization and hire staff for three year launch.- Skills Gap Report - Provided roadmap for local and regional agencies to align workforce efforts.- Inserted CFO into driver industry with high potential for bank loan default due to recession. Technical assistance resolved company challenges with no displacement of employees.

Stevens Point, Wi

First Director of a merged Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation with a board of 34 people. While in this position, still managed four (4) corporations (boards and 8 staff) with the following management activities or general activities to its organizational structure: - Lead economic development agency - county-wide- Created MENU of Services process to transition legacy programs not aligned with mission of merged organization.- Constructed 3 industrial buildings through for-profit LLC to create available industrial space (all sold with profit). - Created 3 business parks in three different communities and located projects in each; developed and implemented financial packages that supported both the business and public investments. Secured real estate transactions to provide positive ROI for park owners upon implementation.- created TIF plans in concert with communities to spur development and redevelopment efforts.. - Grant writer - federal grant for worker training consortium- Implemented fundraising campaigns to construct two office buildings with no debt. - Contract awarded to serve as Steering Committee on Workforce Development efforts to support govt agency to implement changes to skills training programming to welfare recipients.- Created Employers Education Exchange to provide access to soft skill training through consortium of in-house corporate trainers. -Organizer of SEATS committee -convened businesses to negotiate & secure improved commercial air service. - Managed staff that coordinated School-to-Work program and student placement for seven different school districts in three counties- Developed, fund-raised and coordinated Stevens Point successful application to Wisconsin Main Street - Increased chamber membership by over 30% members through value added new services.- Landed Fortune 500 company to spark 420 acre County owned business park. - Supported and led municipal commercial development and redevelopment plans

Rhinelander And Minoqua

Operated a revolving loan fund program for the county through a contract for services. Coordinated the regional economic development effort for the region. Assisted the Downtown Rhinelander Association in renovations to their downtown. Coordinated financing of business projects and site locations proposals.

Sparta Wisconsin

First Manager of this downtown development corporation, which had a Main Street designation. Successfully submitted applications for the Wisconsin Conservation Corps to construct a trail corridor along the creek to connect downtown to the bike trail. Implemented projects county wide in order to build necessary partnerships. Applied for and received a federal grant to create a downtown loan program.