by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
For Michael Breen, his new job as director of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s International department shouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary.
Breen has been a business and economic development consultant, and for the past nine years he was the president and managing director of The Breen Consortium International (TBC) in the Netherlands. The firm focused on providing site selection and corporate relocation opportunities to businesses in Europe.
Breen said he was in Europe so often, it would only be fitting to open the company there.
“There were very few people in Europe who did this and companies were looking to come to the United States and vice versa,” said Breen. “I had been doing business there before I opened the company and I would be in Europe for five to six week stints.”
Breen has crossed paths before with members of the Chamber of Commerce. He has been to Jacksonville before, when representing clients and working with Cornerstone. The Chamber of Commerce contacted Breen about the position when John Freeman stepped down from the position in November.
Breen began his new job Jan. 22.
“I will be focusing on foreign companies and get them to locate or invest in Jacksonville,” said Breen. “My goal in the next three to four months is to spend time with our local government and business leaders and listen to what they want.
“From that, I will know how to build and enhance that from my experience. I need to hear what they want, that is more important.”
Before Breen can move forward, he wants to know what the goals and objectives are locally for bringing international businesses to Jacksonville.
“Businesses can come in and invest in Jacksonville by buying existing companies, but ideally we’d like them to open a new company to create more jobs,” he said. “That is what we are all trying to do.”
Once Breen listens to what local government officials and business leaders want, he will decide which companies would be the best to bring to Jacksonville.
Breen already has ideas of his own, such as bringing in life sciences and medical equipment manufacturers. He is also looking to promote the port and Cecil Field, he said.
“The quality of life here is excellent,” said Breen. “That is a major attribute.”
Breen said he does see a challenge that he will have to overcome.
“One of the challenges that I see in my role is to help bring Jacksonville on the radar screens internationally,” he said. “On an international basis, they see Florida as the Mouse, Miami, Orlando and the beaches.”
Breen said when he would talk to business people in Europe about Jacksonville, they became very interested.
“Once people found out about Jacksonville and the attributes, they were very interested – otherwise, they didn’t know anything about this city,” he said. “That is one of my goals to bring to this job.”
While he is settling in at his new job, his wife is back in the Netherlands, packing to make the move to Jacksonville. Breen said he will be making another trip back to the Netherlands soon to help her finish.
Breen said he will turn over his company in the Netherlands to three men that he worked with there.