Brad McDearman

Brad McDearman is a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Metro. McDearman is an expert in taking new research to ground in states and metro areas to catalyze change in economic development practice. McDearman’s recent experience includes in-depth projects on a broad cross section of topics, including exports, foreign direct investment, inclusive growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, industry clusters, business retention and expansion, and business attraction.

McDearman works closely with city, regional, and state leaders in developing market assessments and customized strategic plans, and then identifies ways in which the insights and lessons from these projects can be broadly shared to help additional regions develop their own cutting-edge strategies. Recent examples include Brookings’ Inclusive Economic Development Lab and the Global Cities Initiative, which together involved project work in over 25 U.S. metro areas. McDearman also translates on-the-ground findings gained from close interaction with firms and service providers from across the country into policy implications for the economic development field and for federal and state decision makers.

McDearman currently serves as Principal for McDearman Associates, an economic development consulting firm. Previous experience includes positions as executive vice president of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore; senior manager involved in site selection and economic development with Deloitte/Fantus Consulting; and major accounts manager with the Xerox Corporation.

McDearman holds M.B.A. and M.R.P. (Master of City and Regional Planning) degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kentucky.