2019 Selection Committee
We’ve teamed up with leaders who have a broad range of expertise, including previous 40 Under 40 winners, site selectors and industry leaders. Learn more about their backgrounds below.
Chris Camacho, President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council

A proven leader with over 10 years in executive management roles, Chris Camacho serves as the President & CEO at one of the longest standing public private partnerships for economic development across the country. He previously served as the organization’s Executive Vice President.
During his tenure, GPEC has led the attraction of more than 322 companies creating 55,617 jobs and $5.6 billion in capital investment. Some of the more notable projects include Apple, Silicon Valley Bank, Zenefits, GoDaddy, Yelp, Amazon, Garmin, General Motors and many others.
He oversees the domestic and international business development and market strategies while serving as GPEC’s executive leader in community interactions. He has particular expertise in emerging technology, tax policy and international economic development. Since 2008, he has taken an active role in addressing the region’s competitiveness position on cost and taxation.
In 2015 and 2016, Chris was named to Consult Connect’s Top 50 U.S. Economic Developers. In 2013, he was named among an international group of “40 Under 40” by Development Counsellors International, a New York-based firm recognizing rising talent in economic development. And in 2012, he also received a “40 Under 40” award from the Phoenix Business Journal, which each year identifies talent throughout Arizona. Camacho is the past president of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), the statewide association of economic development practitioners. In 2011, AAED named him Economic Developer of the Year.
Viewed as a dynamic community figure, Camacho was recognized as the Chamber of Commerce Leader of the Year in 2007. In 2006, he served on the Arizona Global Network Board, which was developed to create a foreign-direct investment platform for the State of Arizona. He also developed Yuma’s first Business Retention and Expansion Program to support the local manufacturing and food technology sector.
Camacho graduated from Southern Illinois University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. He also attended the University of Oklahoma for the Economic Development Institute. He resides in Scottsdale with his wife and three children.
Jeannette T. Goldsmith, Vice President, Strategic Development Group

Jeannette Goldsmith is Vice President of Strategic Development Group, where she specializes in site selection and incentive negotiations for clients worldwide.
Jeannette’s background spans more than 20 years in site location consulting, incentive negotiations, and economic development consulting with McCallum Sweeney and then with her own company, Goldsmith Strategy. Her specific experience includes a heavy focus on manufacturing (specifically, aerospace, logistics, advanced materials and automotive sectors), as well as office sectors. Recent clients include Suntory, Boeing, Nissan North America, Suncoke Energy and Vought Aircraft. Among Jeannette’s most notable projects, are Nissan North America’s headquarter relocation from Los Angeles to Nashville, the Boeing 7E7 Final Assembly siting project and the Vought Aircraft / Alenia Aeronautica 7E7 supplier site project.
Her most recent economic development assignments include evaluating automotive assembly sites for NCRR and developing and implementing a site certification program for Mississippi Power Company. In addition, she recently completed an economic development strategic plan for Transylvania County, NC and Citrus County, FL. Jeannette has designed several site certification programs, including the South Carolina Department of Commerce Certified Site Program, the Mississippi Power Certified Site Program and the site evaluation program for Duke Energy.
Jeannette achieved a Masters of Public Policy from Duke University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Smith College. She was honored with the Graduate Student of the Year Award from the Terry Sanford Institute in 1995 and is a proud member of the Site Selectors Guild, South Carolina Economic Developers Association, as well as the International Economic Development Council.
John Longshore, Senior Consultant, Global Location Strategies

Over the past 6 years, John has helped numerous clients involved in dozens of industries make sound decisions for the relocation and new investment of large manufacturing operations. He has conducted studies in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. The projects John has worked on in this time have totaled more than $10 billion in investment and over 3000 jobs.
John is a graduate of Clemson University’s Civil Engineering undergraduate program, as well as their master’s program for City and Regional Planning. When not performing site selection work, John enjoys spending time with his two munchkins, Mills and Maggie. He is also heavily involved at Bridgeway Church in helping out his wife, Jessica, where she serves as the Children’s Pastor.
Jennifer Owens, President, Lakeshore Advantage
Lakeshore Advantage President Jennifer Owens delivers direct business attraction, expansion and retention services while providing overall leadership to the organization. Since joining the organization in 2013, she has helped various major business expansion and attraction projects. She has more than 15 years of leadership experience in business retention, expansion and attraction working at various state and local economic development positions throughout Michigan.
Prior to joining the Lakeshore Advantage team, Jennifer held the positions of vice president at Southwest Michigan First and principal of Consultant Connect, an organization that cultivates relationships between economic developers and location consultants. At Southwest Michigan First, Jennifer led the firm’s new business attraction efforts. In addition, Jennifer held key positions at Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Her accomplishments also led her to various awards and recognition, such as being named an Athena Award Finalist (2017), Grand Rapids Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year Finalist (2015 & 2016), Corp Magazine Most Valuable Professional (2017) and Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan (2018). In her free time, Jennifer and her husband Mike enjoy spending time with their three action-packed and athletic sons.
Peter Tokar III, President and CEO, McKinney EDC

Creativity and Innovation have always been a passion for Peter Tokar. Earning his degree in advertising and graphic design, Peter planned on winning Addy awards for a big NY Ad firm. However, his career path took a creative turn of its own during the great recession. Working odd jobs in hospitality, sales and whatever freelance work he could find, Peter went back to school to get his Masters of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University who offered the degree with a specialization in Entrepreneurship.
After graduating, Peter found himself working of all places, in the economic development department of a local government. Economic Development was different though. If there is a creative sliver of government, it is economic development. In the 13 years since, Peter has been crafting community outreach programs, business assistance programs for local businesses, launching innovation centers for start-up tech entrepreneurs, sponsored kids coding programs in the local community and help bring life and vibrancy to the cities he has been a servant to.
Peter is passionate about what he does and is always trying to find that innovative element that will bring positive change and growth to a community.
View the Honorees
2017 40 Under 40 Winners
1. Joe Agostinelli, Southwest Michigan First, Michigan
2. Max Ault, Columbia River Economic Development Council, Washington
3. Megan Barnett-Livgard, Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership (Greater MSP), Minnesota
4. Scott Jeffrey Bowles, City of Provo, Utah
5. Danielle Casey, City of Scottsdale, Economic Development, Arizona
6. David Colligan, City of Austin, Texas
7. Jennifer Conoley, Gulf Power Company, Florida
8. Grant Cothran, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Virginia
9. Ashley Elrod, Indy Chamber, Indiana
10. Jonathan Ferry, Saint Louis Development Corporation, Missouri
11. Peter Frosch, Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership (Greater MSP), Minnesota
12. Jeremiah Gracia, City of Dublin, Ohio
13. Cecilia Harry, Envision Greater Fond du Lac Inc., Wisconsin
14. Justin Horvath, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership, Michigan
15. Devin Howland, City of Fayetteville, Arkansas
16. Mike Kamerlander, Greater San Marcos Partnership, Texas
17. Michelle Kauk, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Arizona
18. Gord Knowles, Atikokan Economic Development Corporation, Canada
19. Ana Liss, Greater Rochester Enterprise, New York
20. Kevin Little, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin
21. Carmen Lorentz, State of New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, New Hampshire
22. Meridith Marshall, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Colorado
23. Alexander M. McCoy, Greater Lawrence County (PA) Regional Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania
24. John McPherson, Vancouver Economic Commission, Canada
25. Paul Nguyen, City of Hayward, California
26. Colin O’Leary, Venture Kamploos, Canada
27. Jillian Ochs, Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland
28. Nathan Ohle, U.S. Economic Development Administration, Washington D.C.
29. Scarlett Phaneuf, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, Alabama
30. Scott Poag, Augusta Economic Development Authority, Georgia
31. Jake Rishavy, Denver South Economic Development Partnership, Colorado
32. Jose Romano, Texas Governor’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism, Texas
33. Charles Sexton, One East Kentucky, Kentucky
34. Crystal Stiles, Florida Power & Light Company, Florida
35. Jenna Studds, Kanata North Business Association, Canada
36. Andrew Tate, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, North Carolina
37. Ben Teague, Asheville-Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition, North Carolina
38. Peter Tokar, City of Alpharetta, Georgia
39. Brent Willett, Iowa’s Cultivation Corridor, Iowa
40. Gabrielle Zurita, JAXUSA Partnership, Florida
2015 40 Under 40 Winners
1. Joel Akason, Greater MSP, Minnesota
2. Jake Austin, Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Florida
3. Jason M. Ball, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, Kansas
4. Patrick E.W. Barker, Frederick County Economic Development Authority, Virginia
5. Todd Battle, Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Wisconsin
6. Jamie N. Beier Grant, Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, Ohio
7. Jonathan S. Bittner, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Alaska
8. Emily J. Brown, International Economic Development Council, Washington, D.C.
9. Lisa Corcoran, Calgary Economic Development, Alberta
10. Andrew Duffell, Research Park at Florida Atlantic University, Florida
11. Thomas Ashley Edwards, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, Mississippi
12. Matt Forshee, Georgia Power, Georgia
13. David Gilford, New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York
14. Heather Gramm, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Maryland
15. Broderick Green, JAXUSA Partnership, Florida
16. Michelle Hadwiger, Colorado Office of Economic Development, Colorado
17. Liz Hayden, City of Hamilton, Ohio
18. Jennifer R. Hernandez, The Beacon Council, Florida
19. Amy Jauron, Economic Development Officer, Corvallis Benton County Economic Development Office, Oregon
20. Mandy Lambert, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky
21. Chris Lawson, The Hamilton Mill, Ohio
22. Ann Marie Miller, Buda Economic Development Corporation, Texas
23. Mark Morrissey, City of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
24. Tim Mroz, The Right Place, Inc., Michigan
25. Katie Perry, Southwest Michigan First, Michigan
26. Chris Petroff, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Arizona
27. Jeremiah Quarles, DeSoto Economic Development Corporation, Texas
28. Matt Rookard, Greater New Orleans, Inc., Louisiana
29. Paul Rumler, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, Illinois
30. Janet Scott, Enterprise Saint John, New Brunswick
31. Madison C. Silvert, Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, Kentucky
32. Christina Stimpson, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama
33. Angela Talbot, Greater Phoenix Economic Development Council, Arizona
34. Timothy Terrentine, Executive Vice President, Southwest Michigan First, Michigan
35. Nicholas T. Terzulli, Nassau County Industrial Development Agency, New York
36. Stephen Thompson, Ontario International Marketing Centre, Ontario
37. Alan Tio, Whitley County Economic Development Corporation, Indiana
38. Jefferson Traywick, Birmingham Business Alliance, Alabama
39. Jennifer Wakefield, APR, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Florida
40. Kara L. Wood, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
2013 40 Under 40 Winners
1. Jon Baggett, Dorchester County Economic Development, South Carolina
2. Clay Banks, State of Tennessee Economic & Community Development, Tennessee
3. Charles Beasley, Mississippi Enterprise for Technology, Mississippi
4. Jerry Bologna, Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, Louisiana
5. Kendra Borgen, Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta (EDA), Alberta
6. Jennifer Bosser, Wake County Economic Development, North Carolina
7. Dan Bowman, Allen Economic Development Corporation, Texas
8. Lisa Bradley, City of Gulfport, Mississippi
9. Edward Calvesbert, Government of Puerto Rico
10. Chris Camacho, Greater Phoenix Economic Development Council, Arizona
11. Steven Ceulemans, Birmingham Business Alliance, Alabama
12. Cathy Chambers, JAXUSA Partnership, Florida
13. Chris Chung, Missouri Partnership, Missouri
14. Dusty Duistermars, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan
15. Amber Egnor Martin, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Oklahoma
16. Kelly Flenniken, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Colorado
17. Kristen Fletcher, Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, North Carolina
18. Matt Forshee, Fayette Economic Development, Alabama
19. Steve Fritsch, Team NEO, Ohio
20. Chris Gahl, Visit Indy, Indiana
21. Ken Harris, Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, Michigan
22. Victoria Hirschberg, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, Tennessee
23. Kevin Hughes, City of Suffolk, Virginia
24. Mohammed Khudhier, Anbar Economic Development Council, Afghanistan
25. Cameron McCoy, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma
26. Roderick Miller, New Orleans Business Alliance, Louisiana
27. Kim Moore, City of Dallas Office of Economic Development, Texas
28. Jennifer Owens, Southwest Michigan First, Michigan
29. Trevor Pawl, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan
30. Jonas Peterson, Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, California
31. Harold Pettigrew, DC Department of Small & Local Business Development, Washington, D.C.
32. Scott Resnick, City of Madison, Wisconsin
33. Joel Richardson, Government of New Brunswick
34. Sarah Roberts, Greater Waco Chamber
35. Gilberto Salinas, Brownsville Economic Development, Texas
36. Shelby Schneider, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, New York
37. Jay Schwedler, Sumter Economic Development, South Carolina
38. Joshua Smith, City of Hamilton, Ohio
39. Kadie Ward, London Economic Development Corporation, Ontario
40. Claudia Zimmermann, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama
View the Honorees