1. Bret Weber
680 48th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312 bret.h.weber@gmail.com 515-279-8432 515-822-3044
Senior Economic Development Executive
Twenty-six years of extensive experience in site location services including recruitment, retention and
expansion of industries. Development of marketing efforts in targeted industries such as data centers,
biotechnology and bio-based chemicals; coordinating with local and regional organizations such as the Greater
Des Moines Partnership.
Iowa Department of Economic Development, Business Development Division
Project Manager, April, 1985 – August, 2011
Project Management
Coordinated and evaluated corporate research for more than 2,000 companies resulting in 50 plus expansions
with a corporate investment of $4.083 billion and over 8,000 jobs created/retained in the past six years.
Clients included Cargill, DuPont, Genencor/Danisco, Ball Corporation Allied/Nationwide Insurance, Nestle
Purina, Kemin, Monsanto, Google, and Microsoft.
Professional Expertise
Project management of site selection process, marketing and business development, strategic analysis,
communication, financial packaging, problem solving, presentations
Accomplishments
Performed strategic analysis of site locations to meet clients’ requirements for facilities, site,
infrastructure, labor and logistical needs
Facilitated the marketing, recruitment and expansion of new and existing businesses resulting in
increased investment, tax base, and jobs creation
Directed communication with industry executives to identify expansion and job creation
Coordinated marketing efforts with local and regional organizations
Managed the proposal review process from application through the approval and award cycle of state
economic development incentive programs
Facilitated communication and problem solving with government agencies/permitting and regulatory
issues
Targeted industry experience in hi-tech industries including data centers, biotechnology and bio-based
chemicals
Facilitated cooperation with state, local and regional economic development agencies, research and
university institutions and industry associations to coordinate the development of the life science
industry cluster; research and recommend business assistance and incentive programs for the
bioscience industry
Managed Community Economic Preparedness Program for economic development professionals and
volunteers to provide program training, making executive calls on local industries, and ensure proper
and timely follow-up to project related requests
2. Demonstration of Project Success
Cargill in Fort Dodge (2011) Biorefinery campus planned at former Tate & Lyle ethanol facility. Investment of
approximately $200 million and 104 new jobs.
Challenge – Non-functioning ethanol plant requiring substantial upgrades by company and infrastructure.
Action – Secured $2 million funding for the project.
Result – Successful acquisition of the facility, community commitment to install water, sewer, gas, electric and
roads plus the announcement an additional project location of a Korean company investing over $200 million.
Monsanto located new facility in Independence, IA (2008) – New seed corn production facility sited in
Independence creating 47 new jobs and $90 million in a state of the art seed corn production facility.
Challenge – Company wanted incentives approved before final site selection determined. (They wanted huge
incentives.) Site selection process narrowed to Black Hawk County. County Supervisors did not approve.
Action – find new location, Independence, with local incentive approvals.
Result - IDED Board to approved new location retroactively. Expansion also included Ankeny with $11.5
million, Boone-$55 million, Grinnell-$35 million and Williamsburg-$3 million.
Google Data Center in Council Bluffs, IA (2007) The Company purchased over 900 acres for long term growth
of data center operations, investing $600 million and creating 200 jobs.
Challenge – Iowa tax structure was not competitive with alternative locations.
Action – Extensive work with drafting new legislation and moving it through the approval process.
Result – New legislation approved for large web portal business and total investment of $1 billion
Allied/Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines, IA (2005) Located new headquarters in downtown Des Moines
with initial investment of $142 million and a 486,000 s.f. facility.
Challenge – Greater Des Moines Partnership had no economic development director.
Action – Recruited assistance of MidAmerican Energy and GDMP research staff. Took my own aerial photos.
Result – After representation of 37 sites, expansion occurred in downtown. Followed up with two more
expansions for a total of
1.167 million s.f. and now have a total of 5,500 employees in Des Moines.
Tools
Microsoft Office, Word, Outlook, Excel, Internet, Lotus Notes, in-house CRM (Contact Resource Management),
Syncronist (existing industry program survey software), LOIS (Location One Information System), PowerPoint
and project presentations
Memberships
Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI – more than 25 years)
Iowa Biotechnology Association (IBA) 1995-2011, staff liaison and board member 1996-1998
EDUCATION
Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa
BA Business Administration