James F. Hettinger
President & CEO
Battle Creek Unlimited, Inc.
269.962.7526
hettinger@bcunlimited.org
Jim
Hettinger was born in Albion, Michigan. He is a graduate of Albion High
School. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science
from Western Michigan University. He then went on
to the University of Missouri to pursue a Doctorate in
Public Administration.
While
pursuing studies, Jim worked as a Local Government Specialist
for the University
of Missouri's Governmental Affairs Program. He
returned to the Battle Creek area in 1978 as the Marketing
Director for Battle Creek Unlimited. In December
of 1979, he was promoted to President and CEO of Battle
Creek Unlimited.
During that time, Fort Custer
Industrial Park has grown from an abandoned military base
to a modern global industrial and business park with investments
from Japan, Germany, Austria, Denmark, and the United States,
providing gainful employment for thousands of people.
Jim
has written and published a book and numerous articles
dealing with economic development. He
is listed in the Who's Who of the Oxford Elite Professionals
and has made many presentations to national groups and
conferences including the National Governors' Association
Center for Best practices and the International City Managers'
Association.
He
has served on the transition teams of two Michigan Governors
and was Governor Engler's
first Economic Developer of the Year in 1995.
He is an instructor for the
International Economic Development Council and has served
as an Adjunct Professor at Western Michigan University
and Michigan State University.
Jim
enjoys Great Lakes history, photography, reading, and
walking on the beach. It
would be an understatement to call him an avid hockey fan.
