News

We’re always looking for ways to continue the conversation around site selection and how we can help companies just like yours.

Take a look at where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Area Development Magazine Interviews SDG President, Mark Williams, on Impacts of Climate Change on Corporate Site Location Decisions

by Strategic Development Group | Dec 21, 2020

In a recent article published by Area Development, SDG President, Mark Williams was interviewed about the implication of climate change concerns on corporate site selection decisions. At Strategic Development Group, evaluation of site characteristics is key element of our site selection process. We understand that selection of a flawed site creates operating cost and event risk implications for our Clients that continues in perpetuity.

SDG President, Mark Williams, Interviewed by Bloomberg on what the Future May Hold for Traditional Financial Hubs

by Strategic Development Group | Dec 15, 2020

In today’s business environment, as working remotely continues to gain acceptance, we anticipate many more organizations will re-evaluate the size and physical location of headquarters and office facilities in dense, high-cost markets when talent can more readily be virtually accessed from many locations. In a December 11th Bloomberg article, SDG President, Mark Williams, weighs in on what the future may hold for traditional financial hubs like New York and Chicago as companies adapt to the post-pandemic world and the work from home movement.

Happy Holidays from Strategic Development Group

by Strategic Development Group | Dec 10, 2020

At Strategic Development Group, giving back and working to enhance opportunities for others is a core part of our culture. This Holiday Season, we ask that you join us in helping Harvest Hope in their mission to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in South Carolina during this especially difficult time. Please help us multiply the positive impact of our contribution to Harvest Hope through our GoFundMe page in the link below. SDG will match every donation dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000.

PLG Consulting and Strategic Development Group Announce Partnership

by Strategic Development Group | Nov 11, 2020

Chicago, IL, November 11, 2020 – PLG Consulting of Chicago, IL and Strategic Development Group (SDG) of Columbia, SC today announced a strategic partnership that provides major industrial customers, transportation and logistics service providers, and other investors with a powerful slate of services for managing complex projects involving new capital investment and supply chain/logistics design and optimization.

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Upcoming Speaking Engagements

April 19-20, 2021
Site Selectors Guild
One Day One Sector Summit
Supply Chain Management and Data Centers
Nashville, Tennessee

Recent Speaking Engagements

February 8-9, 2021
Site Selectors Guild
Site Selectors Summit, February 8-9, 2021, San Antonio, Texas

November 10, 2020
Powering Florida Illumination
2020 Virtual Conference
Impacts of COVID on Site Selection and Corporate Real Estate

October 28, 2020
Site Selectors Guild
October 2020 Virtual Table Talk

October 27, 2020
North Carolina Economic Development Association
2020 Virtual Site Selectors Summit
Meet the Consultants Roundtable

August 26, 2020
North Carolina Economic Development Association
2020 Virtual Annual Conference
Site Selection Consultant Panel

August 17, 2020
Southern Economic Development Council Meeting
Nashville, TN
Site Selector Panel Session

August 12, 2020
Site Selectors Guild Webinar
COVID-19 & the Changing Landscape of Site Selection
Panel Session

July 17, 2020
Site Selectors Guild Podcast
Insights into Location Resilience as a Factor in the Post Pandemic Era
Featuring Mark L. Williams | President

March 19, 2020
South Carolina Power Team 2020 Economic Development Review
Featured Speaker – Why Site Readiness Matters?
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Mark L. Williams | President

March 9-11, 2020
Site Selectors Guild Annual Conference
Conference Chair and Panelist
Atlanta, GA

NOVEMBER 7th-8th, 2019
North Mississippi Industrial Development Authority Local Developer Summit
Keynote Speaker
West Point, MS

NOVEMBER 1, 2019
Nexsen Pruet Agribusiness Seminar
Top 10 Mistakes in Site Selection
Columbia, SC

OCTOBER 18, 2019
Greenwood Partnership Alliance Annual Meeting
Speaker
Greenwood, SC

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
Bradley Forum
Breakout Leader and Panelist on Site Selection Trends
Nashville, TX

SEPTEMBER 9-11, 2019
Site Selectors Guild
2019 Fall Forum
Breakout Chair
Dallas, TX

JUNE 18, 2019
Site Selectors Guild
2019 Site Readiness Roundtable
Roundtable Member
Atlanta, GA

JUNE 14, 2019
South Carolina Economic Developers Association
Advanced Symposium
Session Leader
Greenwood, SC

JUNE 6, 2019
JAASC Business Forum
Keynote Speaker
Greenville, SC

MAY 21, 2019
Research Division at the S.C. Department of Commerce
Research Symposium
Speaker
Columbia, SC

APRIL 24, 2019
FPL Powering Florida: Illumination
Jacksonville, FL

APRIL 18, 2019
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Champions Breakfast
Speaking Panel
Charlotte, NC

MARCH 25-27, 2019
Site Selectors Guild Annual Conference
Various Presentations on Site Selection
Salt Lake City, UT

“Their fluid and flexible approach helped us to reachour project goals and timelines during our multi-state evaluationof sites for a new manufacturing facilitY.”

“Strategic Development Group truly understood that our project needs were evolving. Their fluid and flexible approach helped us to reach our project goals and timelines during our multi-state evaluation of sites for a new manufacturing facility in New Castle, Indiana. SDG’s ability to present concise summaries of site conditions, development costs, incentives and recommendations were critical for our management’s ability to make a final site location decision.”

– Ted Moore

Vice President of Operations, MICRONUTRIENTS, INC.

Mac Farr

Consultant

Mac Farr joined Strategic Development Group in 2017 as a project consultant and works closely with the Company’s senior team on activities related to incentive negotiation and site location analysis. In addition, he undertakes demographics and workforce analysis for SDG’s clients.

Prior to joining SDG, Mac worked in the commercial development industry and, in his time with a boutique development firm, led a diverse team to undertake all aspects of the development process, including project budgeting, site selection, pre-construction due diligence and construction management. He is a licensed real estate broker.

Mac earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina with a focus on Real Estate and Marketing. Mac lives in Columbia and when he is not working he enjoys exploring the mountains of western North Carolina.

Danielle Campolo

Senior Principal

As Strategic Development Group’s Senior Principal, Danielle Campolo works closely with clients to conduct site evaluation, site selection, and incentive negotiation projects for major US and multi-national corporations in automotive, aerospace, chemical, rubber, healthcare, energy, and nutraceutical industries. She enjoys working with corporate decision makers to select the optimal site for their business ventures, while considering operational, logistical, labor, and other business related costs.

From providing in-depth analysis related to specific business locational cost comparisons, to incentive negotiation strategies facilitating successful site location, Danielle collaborates with decision makers on projects of all sizes to maximize the value of economic benefits and to ensure incentives offered are on time and as stated.

Danielle has been instrumental in the successful completion of numerous site location projects for large global corporations, including JTEKT / Koyo Corporation, Nutramax Laboratories, LKQ Corporation, BP Chemical, and Bridgestone / Firestone. Her most successful projects are due, in large part, to her specialized service and attention at every level. And when it comes to public sector work, Danielle continues to offer strategic planning, goal setting, marketing studies, site evaluation and certification, best practices analysis, and organizational evaluations to numerous county, regional and state economic development programs across the country.

Danielle has a joint degree in Marketing and Small Business Management, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business.

Jeannette Goldsmith

Vice President

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.

Mark Williams

President

As Founder and President of Strategic Development Group, Mark Williams specializes in manufacturing and office facility site selection and negotiation for mid- to large-size US and multinational corporations in automotive, distribution, life science, steel and chemical sectors. From strategic planning to marketing studies, Mark also provides a variety of economic development consulting services to state, regional and local economic development organizations across the US.

Prior to founding Strategic Development Group, Mark served as Chief Development Officer for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, where he directed South Carolina’s domestic and global business recruitment activities, including the operation of Commerce’s international offices in Frankfurt and Tokyo. He has served as an advisor to US governors, mayors, legislators and directors of state development agencies in matters related to business retention, strategic planning and target marketing initiatives.

Nationally recognized as an expert economic developer, Mark has earned the professional designations of Certified Economic Developer (CED) and Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). He chaired the former American Economic Development Council’s Certification Board, which certified professional economic developers in the US and Canada, and was President of the South Carolina Economic Developers Association.

Mark is currently an active member and Chairman of the Site Selectors Guild, a professional association comprised of the world’s most respected site selection consultants, and is a frequent US and international speaker on site selection trends. Other recognitions include being named “One of the Top 10 Site Consultants that know the South Best” and “One of the Top 3 Site Consultants in South Carolina” by Southern Business and Development magazine. Mark has also received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor that can be given to a South Carolina citizen, for his success in business recruiting.