Sharon Younger

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

YOUNGER ASSOCIATES, LLC
President, Market Research and Consulting Firm

UNION UNIVERSITY
Director, Center for Business and Economic Services
Assistant Professor: Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Advertising

BENDIX DIVISION, ALLIED SIGNAL CORPORATION
Senior Pricing Analyst

EDUCATION:

Ph.D., Business – The Union Institute, Cincinnati, OH
M.B.A., Management – University of Memphis, TN, magna cum laude
B.S., Accounting – Union University, Jackson, TN, magna cum laude

Specialized Skills

Strategic Planning
Economic Analysis
Market Research
Meeting Facilitation
Public Involvement
Project Management

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS:

Tennessee Valley Authority

Coordination of economic development marketing and research activities in the eight-state region for TVIDA, the coalition for economic development
Potential freight movement and feasibility study for a proposed intermodal port facility at Cates Landing
Target marketing research and strategies for the plastics and automotive industries.

EDA/International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

Selected to brief congressional staffers on key economic development initiatives at the IEDC

Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) Study

Demographic and Labor Market Analysis for an economically depressed area of the city of Jackson, TN
Development of Strategic Action Plan for creating jobs and increasing income

Labor Market Analysis

Clients Include:

Bismarck, ND
Buffalo, NY
Twin Falls, ID
Moore County, NC
Mid-Mississippi (24 counties)
El Paso, TX
Abiline, TX (19 counties)
Virginia's Heartland, VA
Tulsa, OK (10 counties)
Savannah, GA
Merced, CA
State of Wyoming
Central Nebraska I-80 Coalition (9 counties)
Columbia Gorge Workforce Investment Board (7 counties in OR and WA)
Memphis Regional Economic Development Council (52 counties in TN, AR and MS)

IEDC, Economic Development Institute

Faculty instructor of target marketing and economic development strategy at Oklahoma University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Tennessee Department of Transportation

Statewide Long-Range Multimodal Transportation Plan, Public Involvement Lead Consultant
Tennessee Rail Plan

West Tennessee Industrial Association

Creation of an annual economic development marketing strategy for 10 years
Development of economic development data tools and recruitment for 10 years materials

Republic of Cameroon, Africa; U.S. Trade Development Agency

Development of a feasibility plan to attract World Bank and other international financing initiatives for the development of a deepwater port in the city of Limbe

Federal Interstate 69 Route Study

Economic Impact and Demographic Analysis for proposed route through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas
Background research for drafting congressional resolution

Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce, Memphis, TN

Cost/Benefit Analyses for Prospect Incentive Packages
Ten Year Economic Impact Study of “America’s Distribution Center” Industry Recruitment Program

Northwest/KLM Airlines

Economic Impact Study for the Memphis-Amsterdam Route
Presentation of findings to City and County Government, State Legislature

Industrial Development Boards

Economic impact analysis, cost-benefit analysis and ongoing economic development consulting for Shelby County, Knox County, Rutherford County, Wilson County, Madison County.
Development of planning matrixes for awarding PILOT agreements and other economic development incentives for industrial recruitment

Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce

Refinement of economic development plan for expanding the economic sectors of food processing, electric vehicle manufacturing, rehabilitative medical sciences, finance and insurance.
Development of strategic action plans