Industry vet named president of KSM Location Advisors

Mark Mitchell is making a homecoming with his hiring as president by KSM Location Advisors, the Indianapolis-based national site-selection firm announced Monday.

The Arsenal Tech High School, Indiana University and Anderson University graduate grew up in Indianapolis and worked in the city until heading out of state for his career almost 20 years ago.

Mitchell brings more 25 years of economic development experience to the new job, with expertise in negotiating tax incentives for state and local governments. He is no stranger to the Indiana economic landscape, having led the business development team of the Indianapolis Economic Development Corp. for two years in the late 1990s under former Mayor Steve Goldsmith. He also worked at Citizens Gas and Ernst & Young in Indiana.

As president of KSM Location Advisors, Mitchell will partner with CEO Katie Culp to work with companies across the country during their site-selection process. The two will lead the team in identifying available sites, providing comparative analysis of qualified locations and assisting in negotiating and securing economic development incentives.

KSM Location Advisors, a 15-employee division of local accounting powerhouse Katz, Sapper & Miller, is one of the Indianapolis area’s most active site-selection firms.

“In short, Mark makes this team better. I’m excited to be working with him again as his career has come full-circle with his return to an Indiana-based company,” Culp said in written comments. “His experience and knowledge of multiple markets across the country will help to elevate our team’s capabilities and network.”

Mitchell has been working in Houston since 2008 in various accounting, utility and economic development roles, most recently as chief economic development officer at Partnership Lake Houston, a chamber of commerce in Humble.

He will split his time between KSM’s Indianapolis and Houston, Texas offices, in an effort to build more business in the southern United States.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented individuals throughout my career,” Mitchell said written remarks.  “Joining Katie and the rest of the KSM Location Advisors team is an incredible opportunity to continue that as we work together to deliver thoughtful counsel and innovative solutions for our clients.”