James Beatty
James Beatty is President of NCS International, a nationally recognized site selection and economic development consulting firm ,based in Omaha, Nebraska. He founded the firm in 1982. Jim is considered one of the nation’s leading site consultants in the fields of Call Centers, Customer Service Centers, Mission Critical Facilities and Back Office Operations.
He has been involved in over 300 projects, representing over 30,000 jobs and $3 Billion dollars in investment. In these efforts, Jim was responsible for all site selection activities including the Demographic Analysis, Labor Study Review, Negotiations for State and Local Tax Incentives, Workforce Grants and Real Estate Selection. He interfaced with senior corporate and government officials to initiate and complete transactions and deals.
Jim has written several books on economic development including the popular "Technology Led Economic Development" manual which was published by Verizon and the International Economic Development Council, the international trade association of Economic Developers.
He is a frequent contributing writer for several economic development publications. Jim maintains the world's only website dedicated to call center locational issues, www.callcentersites.net.
He is also a highly requested speaker on economic development topics throughout the nation. He has addressed many national and state governmental and business organizations on the issues of job creation and economic development. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Business Journal, New York Times and is frequently called upon for quotes and interviews on various economic subject matters.
He was appointed to the Congressional Office on US Technology Assessment to review and recommend policy for US technical superiority.
He has been a Policy Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. Jim served as the national consultant on information technology for the National Congress for Community and Economic Development (NCCED) based in Washington DC.
He has addressed and given keynote speeches to the National Governors Association, The Aspen Institute, IEDC, American Economic Development Council, National Telecommunications Cooperative, National Rual Electric Cooperative, Appalachian Regional Commission, Southern Economic Developers Association, The National League of Cities and several State Economic Development Associations.
He has conducted educational forums and workshops for thousands of economic development officials and practitioners. These organizations include The Heartland Economic Institute, Technology Marketing Corporation, Expansion Management Magazine, Site Selection Magazine, Plants Sites and Parks Magazine, Conway Data, Roundtable in the Rockies, Roundtable in the South, Pinehurst Economic Developers Conference, Georgia Economic Developers Association, California Economic Developers Association, Professional Developers of Iowa, Texas Economic Developers and multiple regional economic associations. He has been rated as one of the best and most effective instructors by the American Economic Development Council (now the International Economic Development Council).
Jim also served as a guest expert national columnist for Technolgy Marketing Corporation based in Stamford, Connecticut where he authored a monthly article which reviewed US locations for information technology companies.
Prior to founding NCS International, Jim was Marketing and Sales Manager for AT&T, Northwestern Bell from 1970 to 1982. He was recruited by AT&T into the Initial Management Development Program for accelerated management assignments. He was head of the marketing organization responsible for marketing the City of Omaha to customer service and back-office organizations worldwide. Jim was responsible for all sales and servicing activities. He is credited for having developed and branded Omaha as the “Nation’s Capital for 800 and Toll-Free Numbers”.
Jim has served on numerous boards and organizations and has been appointed by several Omaha Mayors and Nebraska Governors to governmental commissions. He has served as President of the Omaha Junior Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Urban League of Nebraska, Chairman of the Durham Western Heritage Museum, Executive Committee of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chairman of the Nebraska Economic Development Commission, Vice Chairman of the United Way of the Midlands and Vice-Chairman of the Omaha Metro Area Transit Authority.
Jim also served 2 terms on the National YMCA Board of Directors. He has received many awards for his Business and Civic activities including induction in the Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame, Durham Western Heritage Hall of Fame, Urban League of Nebraska, Community Leadership Award recipient and founder. He has also been recognized by the Omaha Jaycess as a Ten Outstanding Omahen.
Jim is married and he and his wife of 44 years, Earlene have 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. He is a 1970 graduate of Doane College located in Crete, Nebraska where he received an athletic and academic scholarship. He majored in mathematics.
He is an avid golfer and remains involved in the community serving on the Greater Omaha YMCA and the First Tee of Omaha Board of Directors and the Nebraska Arts Council.