Endorsements:

"Hiring the Mike Barnes as our Consultant is one of the best things we have done to put ourselves in the position to bring new enterprise to Lacy Lakeview. Mike's experience and knowledge has been extremely beneficial in our negotiations to bring this development to our community. Thanks to Mike, we have been able to market our strengths and build upon our weaknesses."

Mike Nicoletti,
Former City Manager, City of Lacy Lakeview

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 I found Mike Barnes, and his partners on our project, to be extremely professional and responsive. The Mike Barnes Group provided us an end product that included reinforcement of some thoughts that we shared, as well as some direction that I would consider more outside the box in relation to our expectations. Additionally, I feel that Mike has acted as a good sounding block for ideas and issues both within the plan and those not directly addressed in the plan.

I would recommend the use of the Mike Barnes Group for plans such as the one we have recently completed, and consider Mike to be a valuable ally and resource in the field of economic development moving forward.

Jim Wehmeier, Executive Director,
Lufkin EDC

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"Mike,
Thank you very much.  We dropped a letter of thanks to you in the mail today but it does not suffice in expressing the impact you had on our community leaders.  They have not stopped talking about how you generated a direction with ease in what you presented to them yesterday.  Many thanks."  –Joanne Brown, Executive Director, Lamar Institute of Technology

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“Working through Workforce 1 Partners, we were able to meld the experience of workforce development (Chara), business (Condon) and economic development (Mike Barnes Group) to give us the broad perspective necessary to map our communities assets and create a database for our ongoing use into the future.”

Christine Quinn, President
South Central Michigan Works!

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“Mike Barnes recognized the importance Piedmont Centre would play in North Carolina’s economy and moved very quickly to provide the necessary economic development assistance in bringing this project to fruition.” 

Lowell Easter, CCIM,
Developer of Piedmont Centre

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“Mike Barnes helped us tremendously in helping to identify our prospects and then recruiting them to New Albany.  His expertise in economic development helped us to get
the job done!”

Hon. Doug England, Mayor,
New Albany, IN

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"It was my privilege to work with Mike Barnes during the years I was a member of the Waco City Council.  He is a person of energy, integrity, and purpose, and he has a high level of expertise in the field of economic development.  I was particularly impressed with the high level of respect that he was given by the many prospects with whom he worked."

Dr. William Carden, President/CEO,
The Carden Group,
former city council member, Waco, Texas

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“…Barnes is a deal-maker.  He is tenacious in his pursuit of projects and is quite capable of closing the deal.  His knowledge of negotiation and strategy is superb.”

Phil McCauley, Member Indiana Ports Commission and former President of the Jeffersonville, IN City Council, former Deputy Mayor 

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"We are working with the Mike Barnes Group to develop an effective regional economic development effort that maximizes our resources and strategies. His broad experiences and insights are extremely valuable as we look to the future. "

Jim Rich
President
Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce

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"Mike Barnes knows what it takes to put deals together.  He has great insight in the real estate and site selection process.  I look forward to working with him again.”

Mike Carr, CCIM, Carr Properties,
High Point, NC

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“I have known Mike Barnes for over 25 years.  He understands the economic development  process, particularly what it means to put a project together.  He was very helpful in getting investment placed in Terre Haute.” 

Hon. P. Pete Chalos, Former Mayor,
Terre Haute, IN

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“We certainly enjoyed the time that you spent with our organization over the past few months and have found your insight and recommendations to be very valuable. I appreciate the extra time you have spent with me helping me understand the business of economic development.  Your work has been superior with our organization and I look forward to implementing the new ideas. I hope you know that you can always use the EDCLC as a reference in the future. I would recommend MBG without hesitation. Again, thank you for your hard work!”

Thanks!
Lisa Hardison, President/CEO
Economic Development Corporation of Lea County, NM

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