Staff

Stuart Rosenfeld
Principal

J. Trent Williams Principal & CEO

Chris Beacham
Principal

Corinne Cain
Research Analyst

Elizabeth Williams
Office Manager

Jacques Koppel
Senior Associate

Linda Swanson
Senior Associate

Lou Tornatzky
Senior Associate

David Dodd
Senior Associate

Marcia Kingslow
Senior Associate

Mr. Beacham has 25 years experience in research, policy and strategic economic development. For the past decade he has focused on developing strategies for improving regional economic health particularly in rural and distressed areas. Much of this work has involved working closely with regional and local economic development professionals as well as organizations that have not traditionally been integrated into economic and workforce development efforts. Prior to joining RTS in 2007, Chris served as Assistant Secretary for Policy, Research & Strategic Planning within the North Carolina Department of Commerce. He led the division in developing pro-active economic strategies for the Governor's Office, General Assembly and the state's Economic Development Board. Key efforts included streamlining and focusing tax incentive programs, developing competitiveness strategies for traditional and emerging industries and analyzing the role that sustainable production methods can play in positively affecting companies' global competitiveness.

As Research Director at the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center from 1999 to 2003, Chris had the opportunity to work with rural towns, cities, counties and regions to develop sustainable economies. His time at the Rural Center coincided with the dramatic loss of traditional manufacturing jobs in rural areas. He assisted rural communities in re-thinking their economic strategies to include integrating place based strategies, value-added agriculture, and entrepreneurial programs.

A key focus for Chris has been to foster collaborative working relationships between state and federal agencies, non-profits, policy organizations and colleges and universities. At the Department of Commerce these efforts broadened the perspective of the department and integrated its efforts with workforce development, transportation, environmental issues, education and a broad range of strategic policy areas. He was a core leader of the state's National Governor's Association Sector Strategies Policy team, an effort to develop sector-based and demand driven workforce training systems. With the Governor's office he also led a multi-agency effort to integrate the state's place based economic development programs.

In his off-time, Chris is a painter whose work can be seen at www.chrisbeachampaints.com.

A native of Louisiana, Chris is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Louisiana State University with B.A. and M.S. degrees in economics.