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A. James DeBellis provides Ethicom with the skill, expertise and insight that comes from more than 30 years of experience successfully addressing the economic development issues of a variety of public and private entities. From community development, industrial and commercial park design, sales and marketing activities allied to business retention and the attraction of businesses to site selection, plant location, as well as travel and tourism promotion and marketing, he has excelled at enabling clients to reach their development goals.
For almost 20 years, he served the City of Virginia Beach as its first Director of Economic Development. During his tenure on the City Manager’s staff, he developed comprehensive marketing plans, directed staffing, budget, and industrial park development, coordinated advertising programs to stimulate the retention and expansion of businesses and attractions, stimulated and coordinated the location of new industry, and coordinated the daily activities of the Development Authority. His work in Virginia Beach included the design and marketing of Lynnhaven Industrial Park, Airport Industrial park, Oceana West Industrial Park, and private mixed-use parcels ranging from one acre to more than a hundred acres. He and his staff helped locate many businesses in Virginia Beach including Lillian Vernon, Stihl Inc., Hermes Abrasives, Eastern Computers, Inc., Raytheon, Unisys and other foreign and domestic firms.
Recently, as an economic development consultant, he worked with Virginia Natural Gas to establish economic development initiatives and service area outreach programs. With his experience and an impressive educational background including a BS in Commerce from Grove City College, Real Estate Appraisal at University of Pittsburgh, Real Estate Financing at Pennsylvania State University and a Utility Executive Course at Georgia Tech, Mr. DeBellis brings to Ethicom not only a wealth of knowledge, but a depth of wisdom in addressing economic development needs. |
