The 2026 State of Economic Development

Judge Gerald E. Rosen (ret.) served as a federal judge on the Eastern District of Michigan court for almost twenty-seven years, including seven years as its chief judge.

Prior to taking the bench, Judge Rosen was a partner with Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone in Detroit. He began his professional career in the US Senate, serving as a legislative assistant to US Senator Robert P. Griffin of Michigan. He obtained his law degree at George Washington University Law School and his undergraduate degree at Kalamazoo College.

Judge Rosen taught evidence at a number of law schools as an adjunct professor for twenty-six years and is the coauthor of two widely read law books. He has lectured frequently both domestically and internationally on a wide variety of topics.

He is now with JAMS, the largest provider in the world of mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution services, and has mediated some of the largest civil cases in the United States, including as the chief mediator for the Detroit bankruptcy, the largest and most complex municipal bankruptcy in our nation’s history.

Judge Rosen lives in Franklin, Michigan, with his wife, Laurie, and their Anatolian Pyrenees shepherd, Athena. He and Laurie have a son, Jake.

Jason M. Hickey, President and CEO of Hickey & Associates, the global conglomerate of site selection, incentives, analytics, and consulting companies with offices around the world representing a diverse set of multi-national businesses.

In addition to leading the most experienced and dynamic site selection and incentives advisory team in the industry, Jason focuses on the implementation of strategic modeling and ‘big data’ analytics for the firm’s most active customers. With a diverse background in the field, Jason utilizes a proactive and proven approach to ensuring clients are making strategic decisions in a complex and ever-changing world.

While working for the firm, Jason has been often called upon to assist elected officials and economic development leaders with the development of public policies and new regulations at the federal, state, and local levels.  Recognized as a leader in the industry, Jason is one of the original members of the coveted Site Selectors Guild and is an IAMC Fellow.

Jason is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and has served as an Officer of the Northwestern University Alumni Association.  He also serves as a board member of the Michael P. Hickey Foundation, a scholarship program for economic development professionals.

Most importantly, Jason is also a proud husband and father of four children and an always energetic miniature dachshund.

Ms. Casey brings extensive and diverse experience in leadership, public administration, marketing, business development and retention, and strategic planning as the leader of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, a nonprofit organization working to create a prosperous and diverse economy for Southern Nevada.

Previously, she served as President & CEO of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance since October 2020, during which she transitioned the organization with the delivery of a new Strategic Plan, achieved the status of Accredited Economic Development Organization, engaged formally with regional community partners, renamed and restructured its bylaws and nonprofit status to a 501c3 public charity, and received numerous recognition awards – specifically in 2024 the Bronze Award for Economic Development Organization of the Year from the International Economic Development Council.

Prior to her leadership at AREA, Ms. Casey served as the Executive Vice President for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and oversaw the organization’s business development, marketing and communications, investor engagement, research, and strategic initiatives critical to advancing economic growth in Greater Sacramento. She led the comprehensive launch and execution of a best-in-class national site selection consultant strategy and established first-ever memorandums of understanding with seven local commercial real estate brokerage offices, receiving a Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council in 2020 for a joint publication she spearheaded with CBRE. She established critical internal efficiencies with revisions to all organizational practices from database management to budget development and oversight. Even in the wake of COVID-19, the organization succeeded in meeting all its annual metrics and job creation goals and launching a regional business retention and expansion outreach program.

From 2013 – 2018, Danielle served the well-known City of Scottsdale, Arizona as its Economic Development Director. Under her leadership, the department received six awards of excellence from the International Economic Development Council, status as an Accredited Economic Development Organization, the 2015 ‘Large Community Economic Development Organization of the Year’ award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development, and unanimous Council approval of a Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan – the first for the community in more than 15 years. During her tenure, the department was directly involved in projects accounting for more than $24 million in 5-year direct revenue impact to the city, $7 billion in 5-year total economic impact, 4,428 or more new jobs in the first 12 months of business operation alone and $160 million in new capital investment.

Ms. Casey served in various executive roles at the City of Maricopa, Ariz. Starting in 2005, lastly as the Assistant City Manager. Departments under her oversight included economic development, community and development services, capital improvement, public works and City-wide marketing and communications activities. She managed several noteworthy tasks in the establishment of the City’s economic development office, such as the creation of an Industrial Development Authority, the City’s first Redevelopment District and Area Plan, the establishment of a local economic development 501 (c) 3 (the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance), City-wide branding and Economic Development Strategic Plan. Prior to her time in Maricopa, she attained significant experience in the non-profit sector working in fundraising, marketing, and event and membership management at the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art in Phoenix, Arizona and at Save The Bay in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ms. Casey received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and Master of Administration from Northern Arizona University. She is both a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) as well as a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). She is a member of the International Economic Development Council and serves on its Board of Directors as Vice Chair. She also serves as an instructor at the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute and serves on its Board of Directors . Danielle is a proud Past President of the Arizona Association for Economic Development, a statewide professional association with more than 500480 public and private members, and on numerous volunteer leadership boards within past and current communities.

In May 2010, Ms. Casey was the honored recipient of the ‘Economic Developer of the Year – Small Community’ award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development and in January 2017 she was recognized as a national top ‘40 under 40 Rising Star’ in economic development by Development Counsellors International. In addition, she is co-founder of the Arizona Chapter of Women Leading Government.

An Air Force brat, Ms. Casey has had the great privilege of living in Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, Utah, Rhode Island, Arizona, California and New Mexico throughout her life. A past frequent visitor, she is thrilled to now call Las Vegas, Nevada her permanent home, along with her trusty English bulldog Sophie, heeler/cattle dog mix Persie, and her amazing and supportive husband Steve.

Governor Joe Lombardo appointed Tom Burns Nevada Governor’s of Economic Development (GOED) Executive Director on January 30^th, 2023.

Burns started his career by attaining his Certified Public Accountant designation with Deloitte and was subsequently the Assistant Corporate Controller at United Gaming, the predecessor of Bally Gaming Technologies.

In 1991, Burns joined Cragin & Pike. He became a shareholder in 1998 and served as President from 2010 to 2022.

Burns has served on numerous professional boards, including charitable organizations and government-appointed committees. He served on the Government Affairs Committees and Board of Trustees for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce where he also served as chair for two years beginning in 2020. He was named to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance Board in 2023.

A University of Nevada, Reno graduate, Burns enjoys spending time with his wife of 34 years, Shelly and his two children, JT and Megan.

Congressman Jon Porter (ret.) is the founder and CEO of Porter Group, a bipartisan federal government relations, lobbying, public affairs and business consulting firm with offices in the nation’s Capital. Jon’s distinguished career is unique. It combines an entrepreneurial business background with that of an elected government official at major levels of government.  

In addition to Porter Group, which represents a diverse array of clients across the country, Jon founded and successfully grew a Nevada-based financial services business earlier in his career. He also has been elected to several offices, serving multiple terms as a city councilman, mayor, state senator and, ultimately, Member of the United States House of Representatives.   

Having experienced the pressures of running a business and holding political office, Jon has an exceptional grasp of the nexus between policy/politics and business, providing the depth needed to offer strategic solutions to complex issues that are not always apparent. This quality is amplified by the sizable network of trusted relationships he has built with decision makers at the highest level of business, government and political leadership. These combined attributes enable him to connect people to new opportunities, find unique pathways to government and legislative solutions, and provide deep insights for those pursuing ventures or expanding into new business models. 

In the U.S. Congress, Jon served on the powerful Committee on Ways and Means, as well as the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Education and the Workforce. He co-chaired the U.S. Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus where he was instrumental in gaining support for the Travel Promotion Act (later known as “Brand USA”) which created the Corporation for Travel Promotion, a public/private partnership that still exists today to promote tourism in the United States. While in office, Congressman Porter also was instrumental in bringing about funding for numerous transportation, construction and infrastructure projects benefiting Southern Nevada. After his time in office, Jon has continued to play an instrumental role in gaining landmark legislation for Nevada such as the designation of Interstate-11. 

In the Nevada State Senate, Congressman Porter served on the Transportation Committee and Judiciary Committee with jurisdiction over all gaming regulation and law enforcement in Nevada. As an elected official in local government, he was appointed to a variety of regional government and quasi-government roles in areas such as water, travel/tourism and health, serving the entire southern Nevada region. He also was elected Chairman of the Nevada League of Cities and recognized as an elected official of the year. His board and council affiliations have included Chairman and Trustee, Las Vegas Events; Charter Board Member, Southern Nevada Water Authority; District Board of Health for Southern Nevada; Board of Directors, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Nevada Development Authority Board; Nevada League of Cities; Civilian Military Council, Nellis Air Force Base; Board of Governors, The Valley Health System; Board of Directors, Farmers New World Life Insurance; and Music Maker Relief Foundation.  

Jon is a keyboard player and has been playing in bands since junior high – including a group of bipartisan Members of Congress that toured military bases in Europe and the Middle East when he was in Congress. His outside interests include all things family, music and boating.