Hosted by Tomas Hult, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Jeff Mason who is CEO and President of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He was previously Executive Director of Michigan’s University Research Corridor – a partnership between University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University.

Tomas Hult is Professor and Byington Endowed Chair in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Jeff Mason talks about the core mission of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and what MEDC does for the state. As an example of MEDC’s impact, Michigan was recently ranked as a Top 10 Pro-Business State and as a Top 10 state for major new and expanded corporate facilities. In making these rankings happen, MEDC serves the state as an economic development engine, and Jeff shares information about the tools that Michigan has to attract companies to Michigan and also to help Michigan-based companies grow. He also talks about the fact that international trade is a critical component of Michigan’s economy, and highlights some of the ways MEDC works with Michigan companies to foster increased exports and international trade activity.