Mara creates customized research and analysis methodologies that help economic and workforce development clients make informed policy decisions. She has over ten years of experience consulting for a wide array of clients across the nation, including local, state, and regional economic development organizations, higher education institutions, non-profits, public libraries, utilities, public transportation, and private developers.
Prior to joining Camoin Associates, Mara ran her own consulting firm focused on regional economic development, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and industry diversification. Before that, she served as Assistant Director of Research for Thomas P. Miller & Associates, a national workforce development consulting firm. While in that position, she created a new line of services for impact analysis and feasibility studies. She also has experience in municipal finance (including tax increment financing) and budgeting.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ball State University and a master’s degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Real Results
Mara recently joined the Camoin Associates team. These project were all performed in previous roles.
Southwest Indiana Technology and Collaboration Hub Feasibility Study | Radius, IN | Mara was the lead analyst for an evaluation of the feasibility of establishing a regional organization to support and encourage entrepreneurship and commercialization in an 11-county region in southern Indiana. Partially US Economic Development Administration funded, this study evaluated market demand for entrepreneurial services, supply of entrepreneurial resources, GIS mapping, gap analysis, partnership development, financial modeling, and operational planning.
Economic Diversification Planning | Elkhart, IN | Mara was the project manager and lead analyst for an assessment of the history and current conditions of the city’s base industries in terms of demographics, labor market and workforce trends (including automation), and industry concentration and specialization. The quantitative analysis was supplemented by a business needs assessment, infrastructure analysis, and real estate analysis to identify underlying factors behind the trends. Then the economic impact of continued industry concentration was calculated to build the business case for diversification.
Large User Financial Impact Model | Wabash Valley Power Alliance | Indianapolis, IN | Mara was the project manager and lead analyst for the creation of a customized impact model for a 23-member generation and transmission electric cooperative. The analysis involved creating rate models for each cooperative, creating projected growth scenarios for all large users based on industry and market analysis, then aggregating scenario models for each coop to predict how the alliance could be impacted by changes in power usage by its largest customers.
Talent Attraction and Retention Based Target Industry Strategy | Noblesville, IN | As the lead analyst, Mara created a target industry strategy based on the city’s workforce assets, with a goal of providing career advancement opportunities to help retain Noblesville’s existing workforce (including out-commuters), as well as attracting young talent to the community through excellent job opportunities.
Target Industry Analysis | Berrien County, MI | Identified target industries based on local strengths and specializations, opportunities based on gaps in the regional cluster and supply chains, and workforce assets and talent that could be leveraged within a 10-county labor shed. The results are being used to drive business retention, expansion, and attraction strategies to specific sites suited to the targets.
Library System’s Public Return on Investment Analysis | Indianapolis, IN | Assessed the impact the Indianapolis Public Library system has on residents and the county through an economic and fiscal impact analysis, a market valuation analysis, and a survey to determine contingent valuation. The results were reported for the library system as a whole and for major constituent groups. In addition, the library’s programming and performance was compared to best practices across the nation and benchmarked against other leading library systems. The results of the analysis are being used for marketing, fundraising, and partner development.
Short-Term Training Network Feasibility | Great Falls, MT | Mara was the lead analyst for an evaluation of the feasibility of establishing a statewide, short-term training network as part of a U.S. Department of Labor-funded initiative to create cost-effective training programs across the state. This study included an asset map to determine the existing supply of short-term training programs, a survey of businesses to assess demand and needs, operational budget projections, and cost sharing models.
Rural Health Innovation Collaborative Feasibility Analysis | Terre Haute, IN | Mara led the analysis for an economic impact and feasibility study of expanding the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative’s Simulation Center and training facility. This study included a needs assessment, identification of potential partners, enrollment and operational budget projections, cost-sharing models, and an economic and fiscal impact analysis of the potential expansion.