About Us
As a leading provider of community engagement and economic development services, CES and its affiliates offer the greatest number of consulting options for state and community economic development agencies, companies that are looking to expand their operations, and site consulting firms looking to grow or enhance their client relationships in the Midwest or other international locations. The CES team has a track record of success having been engaged in providing site location and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attraction services with the Michigan Global Partnership and other state and community economic development agencies. In addition, CES principal Dennis Marvin, has led the community engagement process for the siting, permitting, development and construction of multiple utility scale power generation projects including four 100 MW+ wind farms, two major solar projects, as well as, development of plans for locating industrial parks in Morocco and Australia. Marvin has also led the community transition process for the decommissioning of three coal fired power plants including facilitation of potential redevelopment strategies.
The CES team includes
Dennis Marvin, Principal: Marvin has over 30 years of experience in community engagement programs having spent most of his career with Consumers Energy and its parent, CMS Energy (Fortune 500), in various roles including Regional Economic Development Director for the company’s Australian, Asian, and African markets; community engagement manager for its wind energy and power plant development group, and as leader of the Michigan Global Partnership (MGP), a private-public sector organization set up to promote the State of Michigan in international markets. Marvin organized and led MGP Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) attraction missions to Japan, Korea, and China. In addition, Marvin also developed FDI attraction strategies, including plans for industrial park development, in countries where CMS Energy had investments including Victoria, Australia, Jorf Lasfar, Morocco, and Entre Rios, Argentina. Marvin’s community engagement experience also includes serving as Executive Director of the Consumers Energy Foundation, as well as, significant experience in media relations and organization of corporate community events and FDI attraction seminars.
Affiliates:
Walter Borda: Mr Borda is Principal of Borda Lorenz, a multi-client legal firm offering a range of services including contract, immigration, and commercial and general litigation.
Linda Ferri: Ms Ferri is President and CEO of Advanse International, a multidimensional and cross-cultural business consulting firm specializing in the European and North African markets.
Jan Burland-Frantz: Ms Frantz is Executive Director of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone at the Port of Battle Creek. She is a licensed U.S. Customs broker and an Accredited Foreign Trade Zones Specialist.
Jim Hettinger: Mr Hettinger is former President of Battle Creek Unlimited and offers strategic planning and target market analysis and other expert services that enabled him to successfully develop the Fort Custer Industrial Park.
Stacey Kim: Ms Kim is based in Korea and offers in-country bilingual services to companies, states, or communities looking to expand or grow in this market.
Ken Masumoto: Mr Masumoto is former Japanese Account Manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Executive Vice President with II Stanley, a Japanese automotive supplier based in Battle Creek, Michigan. Mr Masumoto offers bilingual consulting services in the U.S. and Japan.
Jim Walton: Mr Walton is CEO of Brand Acceleration a consulting firm that focuses on just one thing: economic development marketing. Our team of branding, marketing communications, and public relations professionals uses their experience and specialized expertise to help clients with effective, commanding message strategies that impact and motivate their target audiences.
Yvonne Warmbier-Ramp: Ms Warmbier-Ramp is former Managing Director of the State of Michigan trade and investment office in Shanghai, China and currently Principal of Tech Connect International. Fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) and Spanish, Ms Warmbier-Ramp offers bilingual consulting services in multiple Chinese industries including automotive, renewable energy, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
