Mike joined BARBERMURPHY in 2010, bringing extensive experience in economic development, municipal planning, and project management across southwestern and southern Illinois. At BARBERMURPHY, he leverages this background to help clients navigate complex transactions, including site selection, incentive structuring, and securing project approvals.
He is one of the few professionals in Illinois to hold both the Certified Planner designation (AICP) and Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credentials. His expertise includes strategic economic development planning, business location studies, marketing, and land use regulation.
Prior to BARBERMURPHY, Mike directed planning and development programs in multiple communities and served as Executive Director of The Alliance of Edwardsville & Glen Carbon. There, he led the I-55 Corridor Development Plan, establishing a long-term vision for regional growth.
Mike has been involved in notable projects, including the sale of a 28-acre site for a Menards in Mount Vernon and a 64-acre mixed-use development near the I-57 interchange in Marion.
A longtime Edwardsville resident, he has served on local planning boards and as a part-time instructor at SIUE, sharing his expertise in public administration and economic development.
In his free time Mike enjoys spending time in southern Illinois at his “get-away” place near Shawnee National Forest hiking and exploring the area with family and friends.


