Brent Case (Vice President, International Business Services for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce)
Brent Case is vice president of international business services at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and works directly with the Capital Region Airport Authority to assist businesses utilize Port Lansing’s Global Logistics Centre and Foreign Trade Zone.
In his role at the Chamber, Case also collaborates with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on the State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP) Program, as the Lansing Regional Chamber was selected to host one of four Regional Export Networks (RENs) around the state. Case works with economic development partners across a 19 county area to help businesses increase export volumes and enter new foreign markets.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Case was the executive director for the Mid-Michigan Innovation Center (MMIC) where he managed a business incubator and assisted early-stage businesses grow their ventures. While at MMIC Case started BlueWater Angels, a private investment group comprised of high-net worth individuals interested in investing millions of dollars of their private capital into promising companies.
Case has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Industrial Technology and Management from Central Michigan University. Case was a paratrooper in the US Army, a veteran of the Gulf War, and later served in the Michigan National Guard’s only Airborne Ranger unit. Case has two sons, Austin – 10 and Ayden – 8.
Carolyn Gawlik (Senior Director, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Program at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce)
Carolyn Gawlik works on the economic development team at the Detroit Regional Chamber as senior director of the transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL) program. She is in charge of TranslinkeD, an initiative to advance the region as a cluster of excellence around the logistics and supply chain sector. Gawlik recruits powerful partners for promoting the region as a logistics hub and identifying opportunities for improvement and investment in the TDL industry. She is responsible for engaging the private sector, marketing regional advantages and creating a value proposition for increasing TDL business investment and job creation.
Gawlik joined the Chamber in 2007 as senior director for insurance operations and previously worked at Lear Corporation as a senior account manager and program manager for the Ford Edge and Explorer interior components. She has over 10 years of transportation and supply chain management experience. Gawlik earned an MBA from University of Detroit Mercy and a BA from Michigan State University in materials and logistics management. She lives in Dearborn with her husband Rob and their two daughters.
Janice Karcher (Vice President of Economic Development for Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce)
Ms. Karcher has been employed in economic development in Genesee County since 1988, holding positions of advancing responsibility and authority. Her current duties include the coordination of economic development strategy and support of economic development staff activity at the Regional Chamber. She is experienced in business retention and expansion activity. Much of her work with existing companies involves incentives and financing, as well as market and product diversification. She has also conducted international business attraction with a focus on Asian and European markets. Karcher has been actively involved in economic development fundraising campaigns and ongoing investor relations programs at the Regional Chamber.
Ms. Karcher is an active member of the Rotary Club of Flint, Michigan, having served as Club President in 2005-2006. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Economic Developers Association in 2008 and now serves as Secretary of the Association. She has been a member of that organization since 1996.
Ms. Karcher holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University.
David M. Lick (P3 Group Director for Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.)
David Lick is a shareholder with Foster with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC and serves as the leader of the firms Commercial Litigation Practice Group and the Public Private Partnership (“P3”) Section. Dave’s varied experience in Finance, Construction Law, Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Administrative law and Alternative Dispute Resolution has helped him in many P3 projects.
He has been a pioneer in developing P3 models for various types of infrastructure and transportation projects; including a material recovery facility, was financed, constructed and operated without any additional costs to the citizens of the authority which project won an award from the National Council for Public Private Partnerships; a unique real estate enhancement for the improvement of an expressway interchange; development of operation and maintenance contracts with concession payments; and capitol projects for water, waste water and municipal buildings utilizing small issuance exemption financing.