A businessman with a strong entrepreneurial background and 19 years of experience as a consultant, private business owner, and even a four-year veteran golf course superintendent role is joining Cornerstone Alliance as the economic development team's Business Development Manager.
Shane Kissack, who studied at both Penn State University and the St. Louis University's international development curriculum, will work the Cornerstone business development team to support the business retention and expansion initiatives and business attraction efforts for Berrien County's lead economic development organization headquartered in downtown Benton Harbor.
Kissack will work to attract new industry to Michigan's Great Southwest and partner with Berrien County companies by connecting them with the resources and tools available at the local, state and federal levels.
Kissack, who most recently has served as an Advising Partner to Taps, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, comes to Cornerstone with a strong business background having launched and grown several small businesses throughout his career including Chicago's In Fine Spirits, a retail and online Wine Shop which he founded. He has also utilized Tax Increment Financing and business recruitment initiatives while working with community economic development corporations. He served for seven years on the Board of Directors of Andersonville Development Corporation in the Chicagoland area. Prior to that he served as Golf Course Superintendent at Riverside Golf Club in North Riverside, Illinois.
Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland says the organization is fortunate to have someone "with the talent and real-life experiences that Shane brings to this role." He adds, "It says a lot about the organization to be able to recruit someone of Shane's caliber. His background is a perfect fit for what we need to strengthen the economic vibrancy of Michigan's Great Southwest. Shane's strengths compliment the already strong team we have in place and we are well-positioned to grow and attract new business to Berrien County."
Kissack says, "I am looking forward to joining the team at Cornerstone Alliance. This position will allow me to apply my business and entrepreneurial experience as we work with the Berrien County businesses on their expansion initiatives as well as bringing new industry to the region." Kissack will start on Monday, October 31st with the Cornerstone team.
Cleveland also tells us that Cornerstone staffer Cathy Tilley has earned a promotion to Business Development Manager. He says, "She has done an exceptional job meeting the changing demands of business development, and taking a greater load in recent weeks."
Cornerstone Alliance is a non-profit, investor-governed, economic development organization primarily focused on increasing employment opportunities, private sector capital investments and the local tax base in Michigan’s Great Southwest; with specialized business services offered in economically distressed areas.
