Michael Grim
Brookhaven,GA
Summary
Results-driven professional with extensive experience in industrial development. Known for cultivating strong stakeholder relationships and leading impactful projects, contributing to significant economic development initiatives across multiple regions.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Industrial Development (Southern)
Norfolk Southern
Atlanta, GA
04.2023 - Current
- Mentored industrial management team, fostering professional growth and enhancing leadership skills within the organization.
- Established partnerships with governmental and non-profit organizations to drive economic development growth.
- Engaged in networking events held by national, regional, and state economic development organizations, fostering strong collaboration and business relationship.
- Through strong relationships, led projects that involved site consultants, utility partners, state, regional, and local allies, construction and engineering firms.
- Covered Southern Region territories including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Director Industrial Development (Central)
Norfolk Southern
Indianapolis, IN
04.2017 - 04.2023
- Supported industrial development initiatives across the Central Region by coordinating with economic development organizations, government and nonprofit partners, site consultants, utilities, engineering firms, and local allies to advance project opportunities.
- Covered industrial development responsibilities across Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia within Norfolk Southern’s Central Region.
Senior Industrial Development Manager
Norfolk Southern
Birmingham, AL
04.2006 - 04.2017
- Managed industrial development efforts across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to identify rail-served business opportunities, support new customer locations, and drive freight revenue growth.
- Partnered with economic development organizations, government agencies, site consultants, utilities, and industry stakeholders to position Norfolk Southern early in rail-using project opportunities.
- Supported customers through site selection, rail service planning, preliminary track development, and project coordination for new facilities and plant expansions.
Various Roles - Technical Services
Norfolk Southern
Various (Atlanta, Indianapolis)
02.1998 - 04.2006
- Held progressive technical services roles within Norfolk Southern’s Industrial Development group, supporting rail-served site evaluation, conceptual track planning, infrastructure feasibility, and engineering coordination for new customer locations and facility expansions.
- Partnered with Industrial Development Managers, Engineering, Operations, economic development organizations, site consultants, and external engineers to identify rail-servable industrial sites and advance projects from early concept through planning and approval.
- Supported development of rail infrastructure solutions by evaluating site constraints, customer operating needs, track design requirements, and internal NS review processes for industrial rail projects.
Various Roles
Pocahontas Land Corp. (Subsidiary of Norfolk Southern)
Bluefield, WV
05.1994 - 02.1998
- Held various mapping, GIS, and surveying roles supporting Pocahontas Land Corp.’s land, mineral, and natural resources portfolio, including property records, lease mapping, boundary research, and technical documentation.
- Assisted in GIS development and implementation by modernizing legacy maps, survey records, and property data into digital mapping resources used for land management, leasing, and internal decision support.
- Supported Norfolk Southern real estate and natural resources teams through technical mapping, site research, and survey coordination for company-owned and managed properties.
CAD Draftsman Intern
E.T. Boggess Architects Inc.
Princeton, WV
05.1992 - 05.1994
- Supported architectural drafting and design documentation for a regional architectural firm serving public, institutional, commercial, and community clients in Princeton, West Virginia.
- Prepared and revised CAD drawings, floor plans, elevations, details, and construction documents under the direction of architects and project designers.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mining Engineering
Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV01-1997
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering Technology
Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV05-1994
Bachelor of Science - Architectural Engineering Technology
Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV05-1994
Skills
- Industrial Development
- Rail-Served Site Development
- Economic Development Partnerships
- Strategic Ally Development
- Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Site Selection Support
- Rail Infrastructure Planning
- Project Development and Coordination
- GIS, Mapping, and Surveying
- Construction Estimating, Materials Management, and Structural Design Fundamentals
Timeline
Director of Industrial Development (Southern)
Norfolk Southern
04.2023 - Current
Director Industrial Development (Central)
Norfolk Southern
04.2017 - 04.2023
Senior Industrial Development Manager
Norfolk Southern
04.2006 - 04.2017
Various Roles - Technical Services
Norfolk Southern
02.1998 - 04.2006
Various Roles
Pocahontas Land Corp. (Subsidiary of Norfolk Southern)
05.1994 - 02.1998
CAD Draftsman Intern
E.T. Boggess Architects Inc.
05.1992 - 05.1994
Bachelor of Science - Mining Engineering
Bluefield State University
Bachelor of Science - Civil Engineering Technology
Bluefield State University
Bachelor of Science - Architectural Engineering Technology
Bluefield State University