William Hearn
Senior Vice President CBRE Atlanta’s Location Consulting GroupWilliam N. Hearn is Senior Vice President of CBRE Atlanta’s Location Consulting Group, as well as an affiliate member of CBRE’s National Location Incentives Group, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Hearn has consulted global companies on issues of expansion, consolidation, relocation, divestiture and M&A projects as it relates to location and transition programs. Mr. Hearn has completed over 200 site selection assignments, ranging from $5 million to $1.5 billion in capital investment. Mr. Hearn leverages his experience to ensure that clients focus on the most critical aspects of a project, resulting in smooth decisions, comprehensive client input and a commitment to schedule and cost requirements.
Mr. Hearn has completed assignments in all regions of the US and Canada, with significant experience in Asia, Europe, South central Europe and Mexico, leveraging technical expertise, gleaned while leading a site selection consulting group at a global engineering and design firm. Mr. Hearn has supported clients across industries including advanced manufacturing, mission critical data centers, chemicals and process manufacturing, financial and insurance, biotech and life sciences, R&D, energy, shared services and call centers. Mr. Hearn has supported foreign direct investment projects from Germany and Japan into the US.
Mr. Hearn is a founding member of The Site Selectors Guild, a national association of site selection professionals founded in 2010, and has served as an advisor to states and regions, addressing economic development and investment policy. In 2008 and in 2010, Mr. Hearn led consulting engagements at The World Bank and USAID to address transitioning economies in Eastern Europe, resulting in the creation of nine Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to encourage foreign investment.
SPEAKING EXPERIENCE:
Select Speaking Engagements
Southwest Indiana Economic Development Leadership Conference: Keynote Speaker, 2013
Site Selectors Guild: FDI Panel / Moderator for Advanced Manufacturing Sessions / Innovation Panel Plenary, 2012, 2013, 2014
WT100 Global Logistics Forum: Evolving Logistics Infrastructure and Site Selection, 2012
Southeastern Economic Development Council: Advanced Manufacturing, 2011
International Economic Development Council: Trends in Biotech, 2011
Roundtable in the South: Trends in Foreign Direct Investment, 2011
Duke University Center for Global Initiatives: China / U.S. Research Park Seminar, 2010
Basic Economic Development Course: (North Carolina, Alabama), 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010
International Economic Development Council, 2002, 2008, 2011
State Economic Development Association Conferences (Alabama, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia), 2002-2010
Roundtable in the High Desert: The Research Park Option, 2008
Roundtable in the Rockies: Trends in Site Selection, 2006
Duke Power Economic Development Retreat: 2007
PUBLICATIONS
“The Broad Metals Industry,” Trade and Industry Development, 2008
“Observations on 2007 Site Selection Survey,” Area Development Magazine, 2007
“The Research Park Option,” Area Development Magazine, 2006
“The Research Park Option,” Association of University Research Parks Newsletter, 2006
“Strategic Site Selection Practices for Biotech Companies,” Area Development Magazine, 2006
“Negotiating Financial Incentives, A Case Study,” Hanover Trade Fair, 2000
“Investing in Canada,” Area Development Magazine, 1999, 1998
“Public Sector Incentives – Supporting the Bottom Line,” American Management Association Newsletter, 1998
BOOK CHAPTER
“Economic and Community Assessment,” Community Development Handbook, University of Central Arkansas, 2006
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The Site Selectors Guild (Founder)
American Arbitration Association: Feasibility of office consolidation for over 600 employees in four offices
EDUCATION
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – MRP
Contact Info:
Phone: 404 504 5926
Email: william.hearn@cbre.com