David A. Dodd, CED has 25 years of experience in economic development as a volunteer, practitioner, and consultant. He began his career in banking and as a volunteer established an economic development program in the small town of Logansport, Louisiana.  There, he worked to re-develop the Logansport Industrial Park and facilitated location of a successful wood products company. 

From that beginning, David went on to become the manager of business development and financial assistance at the Shreveport, Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.  Under his tenure, job creation increased by 130%, and he was named Outstanding Young Leader in economic development by Site Selection magazine.  He was also a representative of the Louisiana Partnership for Technology and Innovation, which provided pre-seed capital and technical assistance to emerging technology-based companies throughout Louisiana.  David then joined noted consultant Ed Morrison, becoming Senior Partner of Morrison/Dodd Group, LLC, an international economic development and business consulting firm.  He launched DADCO Consulting, Services, Inc. in late 1999, and with his long-time collaborator Chris Feduccia, co-founded development finance consultancy Confluence Advisors, Inc. in 2002.   

David has extensive experience in development finance, having helped establish the Business and Industrial Development Corporation (BIDCO) industry in Louisiana, which provides capital to high growth companies.  In 1996, he helped launch and fund the first BIDCO in Alaska, Alaska Growth Capital BIDCO.  David was lead consultant in creation of the Oklahoma City Business Network, a consortium of economic development organizations electronically linked to provide information and assistance to businesses. 

He is a pioneer in the emerging principle of inter-firm collaboration, business networking, and cluster-based economic development.   He is a member of the Competitiveness Institute, an international network dedicated to promoting inter-firm collaboration and cluster-based development,  He helped develop a cluster-based marketing strategy for the State of Tennessee, and most recently completed a comprehensive cluster-based strategy for the Greater New Orleans, Inc. economic development organization.  He has been a strategic advisor for cluster development efforts in the Far North Queensland region of Australia for over two years and advised in development of a strategic cluster-based plan for creation of the Sunshine Coast Economic Development Council in central Queensland.  He developed a cluster-based strategy for the North Mississippi Cluster Consortium, covering the northeastern 1/3 of Mississippi.  David also participated in a cluster-based strategy for the Montana Office of Economic Opportunity with frequent collaborators Regional Technology Strategies, Inc.   

David is also a leading force in taking economic development to the regional level.  He has worked extensively with the Tennessee Valley Industrial Development Association, a consortium of eight regional development associations.  While with Morrison/Dodd Group, he led development of a marketing plan, brand-building campaign, and a communications system to more effectively monitor performance.   David is also chief architect of the Southern Economic Development Council’s “A Matter of Choice” strategic action plan, for which he received an award of merit at their 1998 annual conference, and was asked to return in 2000 to draft a follow-up plan, “Raise the Sails Again”.   

When disaster struck the U.S. gulf coast, David was called upon to organize and facilitate the Gulf Reinvestment Forum, sponsored by the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, the International Economic Development Council, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  The Forum created many of the suggestions that went into the Gulf Opportunity Act.  David has also worked extensively on economic issues along the U.S./Mexico border, from transportation to education, and is currently leading a biotech assessment and marketing plan for the state of Baja-California.  In his own backyard, David has worked extensively with the Consortium for Education, Research, and Technology and the Foundation for Arts, Music, and Entertainment on development of digital media and film industries in Northwest Louisiana.  He also conducted a regional labor market analysis and workforce strategy for Alliance Northwest for the 10 parishes (counties) of northwest Louisiana and launched the successful “BrainsMatter.org” workforce web portal.  David also works directly with the film industry on tax credit and financing issues. 

David’s international experience includes presentations before the Australian Parliamentary Library and strategic planning engagements in Queensland and New South Wales.  He has also made presentations before South Australia’s Vision 2010 and the Cairns Regional Economic Development Corporation.  Most recently, David made a series of presentations on regional development to senior officials of the Development Bank of Japan.  David has also advised clients in Europe, including Electricity D’France under a cooperative endeavor agreement with PPL Utilities.  David has also worked on individual engagements in Poland and the Philippines and has made presentations to audiences in Hong Kong and South Africa.  His newest venture, the Global Economic Opportunity (GEO) Network, will bring information and networking opportunities to communities around the world via a highly interactive Internet Television platform. 

David was co-author of “Economic Development in the New Millennium”, published by the American Economic Development Council, and he has contributed articles to “Economic Development Review” and various other publications.  David holds degrees from Louisiana Tech University, and the Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University.  He is also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OU/EDI), the national graduate-level knowledge source for economic development professionals.  David is one of the all-time highest-rated faculty members at EDI, and is former Dean of the institute. David led successful efforts to launch formalized economic development professional education in Mexico.  In collaboration with CETYS University, he launched three basic economic development courses and facilitated a strategic alliance between CETYS and OU/EDI to offer the Institute throughout Mexico.   David is also a highly popular speaker, delivering dozens of presentations on economic development every year.    

What does this mean to you?  It’s simple:  there is no substitute for experience.  David has experience in every level and every facet of economic, community, and business development.  When it’s important, you want the best.  You want an innovator, someone who can translate complex problems into simple solutions.  You want David A. Dodd, CEcD.