	Welcome to the Chicago Chapter	CoreNet Global Knowledge Center Login Contact Us
	Home About About CoreNet Global Mission How We Work Minutes Financial Statements Brochure - PDF Membership Join Benefits Directory Member Spotlights Members-In-Transition Leadership Message from the President Chapter Leaders Sponsorship Current Sponsors 2010 Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship Application Events Upcoming Events National Events Past Events Calendar Resource Center Presentations Photos 2010 Spring Networking Rat Pack New Lease On Leases Credit Where Credit Is Due Man Bites Dog Making the Grade 2010 Economic Forecast 2009 Holiday Party 2009 Year in Retrospect 2009 CoreNet Classic Summer in the City Prairie Stone Innovation Train What's the Attraction Member Appreciation Reception Count on It Going Mobile 2008 Economic Outlook WorkplaceWellbeing CapitalMarkets Newsletters Brochure - PDF Committees Committees Communications and Public Relations Community Reinvestment Economic Development Emerging Leaders Learning Membership Programs Special Events Sponsorship University Alliances About Membership Scholarship Resumes News 2009 Directory Search the Member Directory My Profile My Inbox My Contacts My Contact Preferences Blogs Groups and Networks Discussions Chapter Discussions eGroups Home Post Message Advanced Search My Messages My Subscriptions My Signature Code of Conduct Libraries Chapter Library Resource Libraries Add Document Search Library My Favorites My Documents

Membership

Member Spotlights

Chris Manheim Economic Development Committee Chair		Tell us about your company, position and what you do. I'm currently the President of Manheim Solutions, Inc., a consultancy specializing in community and regional economic development services. We work regularly with corporate real estate executives. Our expertise includes economic development planning and programming for communities, workforce development and government incentives. Since 1983, I have managed four community and regional economic development partnerships and the Small Business Development Center at Joliet Junior College. Where did you go to school? I hold an M.A. in Political Science with a Certificate in Public Administration from Eastern Illinois University. I also did post-graduate studies at both the University of Illinois Springfield and UIC in Public Policy Analysis. I am also one of a few Certified Economic Developers in Illinois, accredited by the International Economic Development Council. What's the most unique part of your approach to your job? I came to Economic Development by a path less traveled: I went from writing municipal bond prospectus to Industrial Revenue Bond applications to Small Business Administration loan applications for clients. The next thing I knew, I was a small business expert and running one of the brand new Small Business Development Centers. Because I was also a college adjunct instructor and had the Public Administration background, I've been able to merge several technical disciplines into economic development. What part of your job gives you the greatest satisfaction? Like most members of CoreNet Global, the part of my job that gives me the greatest satisfaction is “closing the deal.” Whether on the public or private side of a deal, I like to win. Helping communities assist a company with an expansion is greatly satisfying. Who was the biggest influence on your life? Personally, I was greatly influenced by my old scoutmaster who made sure I earned my Eagle Scout Award. Learning how to focus on a goal and lead were very important lessons to learn at a young age. Professionally, there were a couple of mentors who brought me into Economic Development: Dr. David Kolzow and Chicago attorney Lewis Matuwzewich. Lew still heads a EDC in Chicago. If you weren't in real estate, what would you be doing? I'm not exactly in real estate – economic development is a related but distinct field. So I'll turn that question on its head: if I were in something closer to a traditional real estate role, I'd choose to work in community development. Best advice someone ever gave you? Assume that any decision you make is going to be wrong, but make one using the best information available at the time. Then go back and correct your mistakes. What is the biggest challenge you are facing in your position right now? As a consultant, my biggest challenge is finding my niche, and finding the right fit for my specialty expertise in this economic environment. There's a lot of competition and my traditional markets - government agencies, financial institutions and real estate developers – are not spending a lot of money on economic development staff or consultants. That being said, Workforce Development, economic development impact analysis for planning, transportation and engineering consultants are my niches. What is the most important trend which will shape the real estate industry in the next 24 months? The most important trend facing the real estate industry is the slow economic recovery, particularly with consumer spending continuing to lag. It's going to be a while before existing commercial, office and industrial inventory is absorbed. Job growth is a real concern. What do you know now that you wish you knew then? In some ways, I sold myself short in my younger days. I would have been more of a risk taker earlier. Fast Facts about Chris: Currently reading David Brinkley's The Wilderness Warrior about Theodore Roosevelt Favorite guilty pleasure is playing the guitar LOUD Favorite TV show is Battlestar Gallactica Favorite album is any Chet Atkins albums. Probably a jazz album he did back in 1964 called Progressive Pickin'.