Strategic Development Group (SDG), a leading site selection firm based in Greenville, SC, proudly announces the addition of industry expert Matt Szuhaj to their distinguished team. With a strong foundation in site selection consulting and a track record of success in global deployment strategy, market-entry, and corporate development, Matt brings over thirty years of invaluable experience to SDG.

Matt’s extensive background includes domestic and international site selection and development, making him a key asset to SDG’s mission of providing optimum solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. His expertise encompasses global deployment strategy, market-entry, footprint optimization, operating model design, supply chain strategy, real estate and site evaluations, infrastructure review, operating costs/conditions analysis, and business incentive and entitlement negotiations.

In his work at a leading international business consulting firm, Matt managed and executed global strategies for numerous corporate clients, spanning manufacturing, distribution operations, shared service centers, data centers, R&D facilities, and headquarters projects throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

In addition to his location strategy experience, Matt conducted comprehensive economic development strategies, including asset and liability analyses, target industry evaluations, site and infrastructure readiness assessments, military facility reuse strategies, business attraction strategies, innovation strategies, and incentive/entitlement/regulatory strategies.

Some of the prestigious clients Matt has worked with include AAA, Affymetrix, AK Steel, Amgen, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Novartis, Roche, and many more, showcasing his versatility across various industries.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt to our team. His wealth of experience and strategic acumen align perfectly with SDG’s commitment to delivering unparalleled site selection solutions. Matt’s presence heightens our ability to provide our clients the highest level of service,” says SDG President and Founder Mark Williams.

“Matt will be an incredible asset to our clients. We look forward to the fresh insights and perspective he will bring to our team. His client-focused, data-driven approach and years of industry experience brings depth to our team and will be an important advantage on projects.,” says Jeannette Goldsmith, SDG Vice President.

Matt Szuhaj holds a B.S. in Construction Engineering and Management from Purdue University and an M.B.A. in Finance and Real Estate from Indiana University, further solidifying his credentials in the field.

Strategic Development Group (SDG) is a specialized site selection consulting firm based in Greenville, SC, celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. The team promptly identifies optimum locations, maximizes incentive value, and minimizes risk for corporations worldwide. Founded in 1999, SDG has a proven track record of success across various industries, managing projects with capital investments ranging from $15 million to over $1 billion.

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.

1 Comment

Gregg Wassmansdorf on March 5, 2024 at 6:21 pm

Congratulations, Mark, Jeannette, Matt, and team for this great personnel addition and new phase of growth!

Matt: It’s time to update your headshot, which appears to have been taken during your first week at Deloitte! 🙂

Strategic Development Group Welcomes Industry Veteran Matt Szuhaj