Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Tim Daman has announced the hiring of Brent M. Case to the newly created position of director of the Foreign Trade Zone and International Development.
Case will be responsible for overseeing marketing and development efforts of the new Foreign Trade Zone that is expected to be located at Capital Region International Airport. Case will also lead the growing number of LRCC initiatives in international education and Port Lansing development.
“Brent Case is the ideal individual to lead two of the most important economic development initiatives in the region,” said Daman. “His leadership and knowledge will be essential in helping our businesses gain a stronger foothold in international markets.”
Case brings a wealth of experience in economic development and strategic planning in manufacturing and technology to his new position. He spent the past two years as executive director of the Mid Michigan Innovation Center in Midland. He also launched and managed the BlueWater Angels, a private investment group.
Before his work with the MMIC, Case was director of business development at the Central Michigan University Research Corp. and manager of business development for The Right Place in Grand Rapids. Case also served as advanced manufacturing business development manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Capital Region International Airport applied for the FTZ status as part of the airport’s overall air cargo development program. The U.S. Commerce department is expected to approve the FTZ application in the next few weeks. In 2008, the airport became a U.S. Port of Entry and recently opened a new $4.3 million, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station to enhance its ability to process international passenger and cargo traffic.
“The Foreign Trade Zone has the potential to become one of the real economic development success stories in our region if we can develop the right leadership to help the business community understand how to leverage this important asset,” said Robert Selig, executive director of Capital Region Airport Authority. “Brent Case has the demonstrated ability to communicate our vision for this project in a way that will make the Foreign Trade Zone a huge success.”
Case will also work closely with several organizations in the region to help grow a highly successful series of international education and market development initiatives. LRCC has partnered with the MSU International Business Center, Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan and Foster Swift Collins and Smith, P.C. to provide a series of educational forums that are helping regional businesses understand how to compete in the international marketplace. Organizations involved in the international education partnership are working closely to development new programs that meet the growing interest in global opportunities.
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