Economic Strategy Professionals, LLC

Catalyzing the Future with Experience, Science, and Psychology.

Bio of Lawrence McKinney, CEcD, CCE, IOM

­­­­Lawrence has generated over $90 million for regional, multi-county, and multi-city economic development organizations and helped create thousands of jobs for the communities he has served as an economic development professional in Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. He has personally worked with thousands of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and Fortune 500 businesses, helping guide their strategic decisions. 

Lawrence’s success stems from his ability to intuitively adapt to changing variables and situations for maximum impact. He possesses a proven capacity to build consensus, inspire staff and volunteers, drive progress, overcome obstacles, and achieve objectives. His efforts have been recognized as “Best of the Best” by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, a “Top 20 Best Practice" for EDOs by Georgia Tech, and have earned him a national reputation as an innovative, visionary thought leader. In fact, most recently, he was named one of America's Top 50 Economic Developers.

He’s received the “Mayor’s Community Spirit” award, been named “Most Influential,” “Business Person of the Year”, and even a “Kentucky Colonel” by Governor Matt Bevin.He’s been a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Development Council since 1996 and a Certified Chamber of Commerce Executive (CCE) through the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association since 2002, one of just 14 individuals nationwide to be dually certified.

He has an MBA in International Business from Georgia State University and a BBA in Economics from Augusta State University.