Biography
Ian Smith is the Director for KMK Consulting. In his role, Ian will help drive KMKC's comprehensive incentive offering, including incentive negotiation, incentive compliance & administration, and incentive risk mitigation for the company's corporate clients and expanding businesses across the United States.
Before joining KMKC, Ian served as Director of Credits & Incentives for DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc. During his time there, he played a pivotal role in building the firm's credits and incentives practice, leading business development and incentive negotiation initiatives with clients looking to expand or establish operations across the United States. Of note, Ian helped secure a multi-million dollar incentive package for a client looking to invest over half a billion dollars and increase employment to expand their corporate headquarters in the Northeast U.S. Ian also led economic development efforts for a food manufacturer investing over $100M in the Mountain West to expand their manufacturing capabilities. For each opportunity, state and local engagement and collaboration were critical in helping drive win-win solutions for the client and their respective communities.
Previously, Ian was the Director of Business Development for REDI Cincinnati, where he spearheaded site selection efforts for businesses interested in the Cincinnati region. Collaborating with various stakeholders—ranging from regional business leaders to elected officials—Ian played a key role in crafting presentations to promote the region to national and global enterprises. He also developed REDI's Go-to-Market strategy for the technology and innovation sector, focusing on innovative methods to drive lead generation and economic growth for the region.
Prior to REDI, Ian served on the incentives team for The Kroger Co., driving economic development efforts in 35 states across each of the company's primary business units, primarily retail, manufacturing, supply chain, and corporate offices. Ian’s expertise in business development, credits and incentives, and regional economic development promotion makes him a key resource for companies seeking to optimize their expansion strategies and maximize opportunities for growth throughout the United States.
Ian started his career in data analytics and client consulting with Nielsen and graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University.