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The mission of the Janus Institute is to help economic development professionals and the communities they serve advance through unique peer learning and educational opportunities. The Institute is based on the belief that economic development is an applied discipline and that much can be learned from the experience of communities and practitioners. Activities of the Institute include administering and communicating the results of the Janus Forum, serving as a focal point for community and economic development best practices, conducting applied research in partnership with other organizations, and assisting communities upon request. The Institute is supported by contributions, fees for service and grants.
The Janus Institute's History
“Increasing the level of communication and common understanding among key players in the business location and economic development industry – businesses, consultants, economic developers and community officials – can only improve the investment and job creation process.”
“There is a motherlode of experience, knowledge and answers in the heads of experienced economic developers that goes untapped every day.”
After countless projects and conversations with those involved in the business location and economic development “value chain,” these two premises were on the mind of noted consultant Robert Pittman in 2009 as he pondered how best to give back to an industry that had provided him with a rewarding 30+ year career and many, many friends.
As Robert puts it: “As I sat one day on my porch overlooking Lake Rabun in the Northeast Georgia mountains, an idea hit me – why not invite a few good friends and clients to join me in this beautiful, relaxed setting for a free-flowing discussion about key trends and issues in economic development that were most impacting them and their communities. No prepared agenda, just sharing ideas, good food and fellowship.” That August in 2009 fifteen leading economic development professionals from large and small communities around the country held the first Janus Forum for Economic Development in Rabun County, Georgia, literally on the Pittmans’ porch.
“It was magic,” Robert recalls. “There was more peer learning, networking and bonding over those three days than I had seen at professional gatherings many times larger. Small and large communities and state directors learned from each other, young and ‘experienced’ professionals learned from each other, and the catalyst was focused but open discussion in a relaxed setting away from the office. Working with community leaders, economic development training and education, changes in the site selection process and many other topics were discussed and everyone left feeling enlightened and energized.”
The next year, another fifteen economic developers were invited, but most of the participants from the previous year wanted to come back, so the Forum grew to almost 30. “We realized we were really on to something, but we had to limit the number of attendees to keep the magic,” states Robert. Since then attendance has been limited to 40 invited participants, but more Forums have been held in Northeast Georgia and Florida, and more are planned for other locations.
Special guests – site consultants, corporate executives, elected officials and subject experts – have been invited to participate over the past few years for a true mix of industry professionals. “The invited guests have enjoyed the Forum as much as the economic developers. They tell us how much they learn about the issues and concerns of other professionals in the field, and how this helps them in their work. Of course, the economic developers benefit tremendously through learning from and getting to know the consultants and executives on a personal basis over the three to four days of the Forum,” Robert explains. Today, the Janus Forum is known nationwide as a premier learning and networking event in the business location and economic development industry.
The Janus Institute, a Georgia non-profit corporation, is the administrative home of the Janus Forum. In addition to the Janus Forum, the Institute sponsors special events and educational programs in community and economic development, and upon request provides consulting and other support services to communities and regions.
“We feel fortunate to have found a unique niche and we look forward to continuing to help industry professionals become more productive and their communities advance. Our thanks to all our sponsors and supporters for sharing our vision of the Janus Forum and Institute as places where best practices are created as well as shared.”
The Janus Institute Personnel
Robert H. Pittman
Executive Director and Founder
Robert founded the Janus Forum in 2009 and the Janus Institute in 2011 as a way to contribute to the economic development profession and help communities in new and innovative ways. “Economic developers have a wealth of information about creating jobs, stimulating the local economy and moving the community forward. The Forum and Institute are a focal point for this knowledge and experience. Our mission is to apply and expand it.”
For over 25 years, Robert has provided consulting services to corporations, states, communities, development agencies and similar organizations in the U.S. and abroad. He is an acknowledged expert and widely published author in the areas of business location, community and economic development, real estate, market analysis and related fields.
Robert has been named a “Top Ten Consultant” by Southern Business & Development magazine and an “Outstanding Leader in Geo‐Economics” by Site Selection magazine. He is quoted by news media including Cable News Network, British Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Wall Street Journal and numerous local media, and he has made over 150 presentations at conferences and seminars in the U.S. and abroad. His published works include over 50 professional journal articles and two books, including Introduction to Community Development, named by Oxford University Press as one of the top two books in the field.
Prior to founding the Janus Forum and Institute, Mr. Pittman held a number of executive positions in the industry including:
- Founder and Managing Principal, Janus Economics (2009-present)
- Director of Business Location and Economic Development Consulting, Lockwood Greene (an international engineering and consulting company acquired in 2005 by CH2MHill).
- Deputy Director, International Development Research Council (now CoreNet, the leading professional association of corporate real estate executives).
- Executive Director, Community Development Institute, University of Central Arkansas.
- Executive Vice President, Homer Hoyt Institute (real estate research and consulting).
Mr. Pittman has completed projects for private sector clients including American Express, Eclipse Aviation, Dole Food Company, Coca‐Cola, Boeing, Southern Company, American Electric Power, Entergy, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Public sector clients include state departments of economic development (e.g. Tennessee, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota); regional/local economic development agencies (e.g. Jacksonville FL, Los Angeles CA, Asheville NC, Sioux City IA); and economic development organizations in various countries (e.g. New Zealand, Germany, England, Trinidad & Tobago).
He holds a BA degree in economics from Emory University and a PhD degree in economics from Northwestern University.
Anita Pittman
Financial Director and Co-Founder
Anita’s 35 year career as a CPA advising entrepreneurial businesses and their owners prepared her well for a world of volunteer activities and her encore career. Active in Janus Institute and Forum activities from inception, she enjoys making fresh baked cookies to kick off each Forum, sharing time with Janus guests and spouses as they explore off the beaten path treasures in Rabun County, Georgia and other Forum venues, and developing long lasting relationships with Forum attendees. Behind the scenes, Anita manages the Institute’s finances, contributes to Forum planning and communications, and brainstorms with her husband about moving communities forward through the Institute’s community assistance programs and the Janus Forum experience.
