Michael R. Rhodes is the founder and President of Economic Development Group, Inc., (EDGe) providing site selection and incentives procurement and administration services to companies planning expansion projects nationwide. Mike has 24 years of economic development experience in the public and private sectors. From 1979 to 1988, Mike was a community and economic development consultant for six cities.   As a result of his work, these communities attained more than $20 million in federal and state grants to support downtown revitalization projects and to stimulate economic development. In 1988, Michael formed EDGe. He has assisted clients from a variety of industries - pharmaceutical, financial services, automotive, software, agriculture, consumer electronics, distribution, healthcare, steel and energy. Recent clients include Benjamin Moore (HQ), CuraScript Pharmaceuticals (HQ), Irwin Mortgage Corp. (HQ), Tyco Healthcare, Interactive Intelligence (HQ), The Stanley Works, Product Action Incorporated (HQ and 3 Division HQ's) and Klipsch Audio Technologies (HQ). Mike holds a Masters in Public Affairs from Indiana University (1979) and a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University (1974) where he majored in Economics, History and Political Science.