Develop This: Economic and Community Development: Recent Episodes

Develop This! Podcast

Explore topics related to transformational community leadership including economic development, non-profit engagement, organizational management, and policy development. It's a candid conversation with veterans of the economic development profession along with inspiring interviews of today's thought leaders.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, host Sean Maguire welcomes Allison Carter, the Director of Economic Development for Lowell, Massachusetts. They discuss the city's unique economic landscape, including its history, the Downtown Lowell Vacant Storefront Program, and the innovative Project Pop-Up retail incubator. Allison shares success stories from these initiatives, highlighting the community's vibrant culture, driven by a diverse population and a commitment to fostering entrepreneurship. The conversation concludes with a look at future aspirations for Lowell's economic development and the importance of maintaining a dynamic downtown environment.

Takeaways

Lowell has a rich history that influences its current economic landscape.
Manufacturing is allowed by right in downtown Lowell, fostering creativity.
The city is relatively affordable compared to nearby areas such as Cambridge.
Lowell has a significant Cambodian community that enriches its culture.
The Downtown Lowell Vacant Storefront Program combines tax credits and forgivable loans.
The program has successfully revitalized the downtown area post-COVID.
Project Pop-Up allows entrepreneurs to test their business ideas with low risk.
The incubator program has led to the opening of new businesses in Lowell.
Community engagement is crucial for economic development success.
Allison emphasizes the importance of turning challenges into opportunities.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, host Dennis engages with Jared Smith and Dr. Bo Bernhard to discuss the concept of the fun economy, its impact on economic development, and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping future trends. They explore how the fun economy, which encompasses tourism, sports, and entertainment, is becoming a significant driver of global economic growth, especially with the rise of the middle class. The conversation also delves into the challenges faced by economic developers in uncertain times and the importance of leveraging unique regional assets. Finally, they reflect on the potential of AI to enhance economic development practices while acknowledging the need for ethical considerations.

Takeaways

The fun economy includes tourism, sports, and entertainment.
14% of the global economy is driven by the fun economy.
The rise of the middle class is reshaping consumer behavior.
Experiences contribute more to happiness than material possessions.
Economic developers should focus on business certainty.
AI can streamline economic development processes.
Younger generations are more ethically aware and innovative.
Las Vegas serves as a model for leveraging the fun economy.
Public-private partnerships are crucial for economic growth.
The future of economic development looks promising despite challenges.

Summary

In this episode of Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Brian Abernathy, General Manager of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, discussing the importance of revenue benchmarking for Economic Development Organizations (EDOs). They explore how public-private partnerships have become best practices in funding, the methodology behind revenue benchmarking studies, and the significance of analyzing sector representation in funding sources. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective communication and long-term strategies in economic development.

Takeaways

Convergent specializes in fundraising planning and consulting for nonprofits.
Revenue benchmarking helps EDOs understand their funding structure.
Public-private partnerships enhance funding opportunities for EDOs.
Data analysis reveals unique areas of opportunity for revenue.
Diversity in funding sources is crucial for sustainability.
Comparative analysis helps EDOs identify gaps in funding.
The benchmarking process takes about four to six weeks.
Effective communication builds trust with funders over time.
Feasibility studies validate funding opportunities for EDOs.
Long-term strategies are essential for successful economic development.

Joi Cuartero Austin is joined by Erik Reader, Director of Illinois Main Street, and Jonathan Stone, Program Officer at Main Street America, for a lively discussion about the upcoming IEDC Rural Retreat in Great Falls, Montana.

This first-of-its-kind event by the International Economic Development Council is designed specifically for professionals working in rural and tribal communities—and the format is anything but typical. The team dives into what makes this retreat unique, including Spark Talks and immersive, on-the-ground experiences that trade PowerPoints for people-powered stories.

Together, we explore:

What rural really means (spoiler: it’s not just a population number)
The challenges and opportunities unique to rural economic development
How local Main Street communities are using tools like TIF/BID/SSA, and placemaking to transform downtowns and riverfronts
Why entrepreneurial ecosystems, creative space use, and hybrid business models are gaining traction
How tools like the BOOMS Tracker help communities separate myth from reality and take control of revitalization

We also preview the three immersive tours led by Main Street America staff:

Small-Town Startups with Global Spark (Conrad, MT)
Breathing Life into Main Street (Downtown Great Falls)
Riverfront Revival on the Missouri (West Bank Landing)

Finally, we reflect on what participants will take home from this rural retreat, the importance of building relationships across sectors, and why people—not just policies—are the real spark behind rural revitalization.

Summary

In this episode, Dennis and Mark Perna delve into the complexities of Generation Z, exploring the misconceptions surrounding their work ethic, engagement, and aspirations. They discuss the impact of technology, particularly AI, on this generation and the challenges leaders face in connecting with young people. The conversation emphasizes the need for relevance and purpose in education and employment, urging a shift in perspective to better engage and empower the youth.

Takeaways

Gen Z is often misunderstood and labeled as lazy.
Each generation has its unique characteristics and challenges.
Technology is reshaping how younger generations think and work.
Gen Z values relevance and purpose in their work.
A significant percentage of Gen Z does not aspire to leadership roles.
AI will play a crucial role in the future workforce.
Young people refuse to waste their time on unfulfilling tasks.
Leadership styles need to adapt to engage younger generations.
There is a disconnect between older generations and Gen Z's expectations.
Building a human connection is essential for engaging young people.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Tiffany Tauscheck, the president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. They discuss the organization's role in economic and community development across 12 counties in Iowa, highlighting the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Tiffany shares insights into the current economic climate, key industries driving growth, and the challenges and opportunities faced by the partnership. The conversation also touches on the significance of engaging rural communities, the power of regional collaboration, and Tiffany's leadership style.

Takeaways

The Greater Des Moines Partnership focuses on economic and community development.
Collaboration across jurisdictions is key to success.
The region has seen significant growth in economic development projects.
Key industries include finance, manufacturing, and agriculture.
Engaging rural communities is essential for regional cohesion.
Listening tours helped identify community needs and foster relationships.
The ICON Water Trails Project exemplifies successful regional collaboration.
Talent recruitment and retention are ongoing priorities.
The organization is committed to pro-growth strategies.
Strong leadership and team dynamics are crucial for achieving goals.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Ron Cole, PhD, the President of Allegheny College. They discuss the unique aspects of Allegheny College's liberal arts education, the importance of adapting to workforce needs, and the college's initiatives to engage with the local community and industry. Ron shares insights on the relevance of education in today's economy, the establishment of micro credentials, and the collaborative efforts with local businesses to enhance economic development in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The conversation highlights the significance of community partnerships and the role of higher education in fostering a thriving local economy.

Takeaways

Allegheny College offers a distinctive curriculum with major and minor combinations.
Liberal arts education equips students with problem-solving and communication skills.
Micro credentials are integrated into the curriculum to enhance employability.
Industry partnerships are essential for aligning education with workforce needs.
Community engagement is a priority for Allegheny College.
The Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity supports local economic development.
Building relationships with local businesses is crucial for success.
The Community Impact Hub connects students with real-world challenges.
The Meadville Community Revitalization Corporation aims to enhance the local downtown area.
Listening to community needs is key to effective collaboration.

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Steve Stroud, the president and CEO of Roswell Inc., about the economic landscape of Roswell, Georgia, and the importance of strategic economic development. Steve shares insights into the city's growth. Steve also explains the role of the Whova app in enhancing networking at conferences and offers advice for maximizing conference experiences. The conversation highlights the significance of being present and engaged in both economic development and networking opportunities.

Takeaways

Roswell is a key economic driver in Fulton County.
The city has a significant concentration of car sales.
Healthcare is the leading industry in Roswell.
Strategic targeting is essential for economic development.
The Whova app enhances networking at conferences.
Engagement in the app can lead to valuable connections.
Being present at conferences is crucial for success.
Networking should be purposeful and focused.
First-time attendees should have clear objectives.
Competition in networking can motivate engagement.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SJIh_j5kRgqpj7DUfwZMjw

Episode Summary: In this Develop This! episode, Joi Cuartero Austin is joined by Erik Reader, Director of Illinois Main Street, to reflect on the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia—and explore how communities can spark connection and belonging with visitors.

From bike rides through vibrant neighborhoods to high-energy welcomes from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, this year’s conference was more than just workshops—it was a fully immersive experience. Joi and Erik dive into how the conference format continues to evolve to inspire, connect, and equip economic development leaders.

But beyond the conference buzz, the conversation turns to a bigger idea: What does it take for someone to fall in love with a place? Borrowing a tourism favorite—"the first date" analogy—the duo explores how a community’s vibe, downtown experience, and sense of hospitality can move someone from visitor to investor, new resident, or lifelong champion.

Key Topics Covered:

Highlights from Main Street Now 2025 in Philly
Why Philadelphia felt like a “meet-cute” for many attendees
How tourism can be the first step toward economic investment and relocation
What makes downtowns powerful catalysts for community connection
Practical strategies to make visitors feel welcomed and want to come back
The role of hospitality, local partnerships, and intentional follow-up
Building long-term relationships: from first impression to belonging

"Those who visit first are more likely to return, invest, or even call your community home—so roll out the red carpet."

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SJIh_j5kRgqpj7DUfwZMjw

Summary

In this episode of Develop This, Dennis Fraise speaks with Tom Manskey, the Director of Economic Development for the Odessa Development Corporation. They discuss the unique economic landscape of Odessa, Texas, especially its reliance on the oil and gas industry, the importance of diversifying the economy, and the emerging focus on green energy initiatives. Tom shares insights into the growth of the healthcare and education sectors, the community's quality of life, and the challenges and opportunities presented by the current economic conditions. The conversation highlights Odessa's potential for future growth and development.

Takeaways

Odessa is a significant player in the oil and gas industry, contributing 40% of the U.S. output.
Economic diversification is crucial for Odessa's long-term sustainability.
The Permian Basin has a rich history and a promising future in energy production.
Green energy initiatives are gaining traction in Texas, complementing traditional energy sources.
A major direct air carbon capture facility is being developed in Odessa.
The healthcare and education sectors are growing rapidly in the region.
Quality of life improvements are essential for attracting new residents and businesses.
Workforce development is a priority to meet the needs of local employers.
Odessa's community spirit and work ethic are key assets for economic development.
The future of Odessa looks bright with ongoing projects and investments.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, host Dennis Fraise interviews Jim Fram, a seasoned economic development professional with over 30 years of experience. They discuss Jim's leadership style, the importance of listening, adapting to different community needs, and the significance of accreditation in economic development organizations. Jim shares insights on the pitfalls young leaders face, the value of volunteering, and his transition into consulting after retirement. The conversation concludes with Jim emphasizing the importance of benchmarking and continuous learning in leadership.

Consultant & Economic Development LeaderConsultant & Economic Development Leader Community Growth Strategies, LLC · Takeaways

Jim Fram is a highly accomplished economic development professional.
Leadership is often only evident when it is poor.
Listening more than talking is crucial for effective leadership.
Adapting leadership style to different communities is essential.
Young leaders should avoid making sudden moves.
Accreditation validates organizational practices and ethics.
Personal credentials enhance professional reputation.
Volunteering allows experienced leaders to give back.
Consulting can be a fulfilling post-retirement career.
Benchmarking with other organizations is vital for growth.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Bill Cronin, the President and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council. They discuss the Council’s recent achievement of becoming an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO). Bill shares insights into the motivations for pursuing AEDO accreditation, the rigorous application process, and the team's involvement. He emphasizes the significance of ethics training and explains the preparation required for the site visit, as well as the importance of engaging stakeholders. The conversation also highlights the recognition the organization has received from the community and offers advice for other organizations considering the AEDO process.

Takeaways

The AEDO accreditation is a significant achievement for economic development organizations.
Accreditation provides a quality seal of approval for organizations.
The application process requires thorough documentation and team collaboration.
Ethics training is an essential component of the accreditation process.
Engaging stakeholders is crucial during the site visit preparation.
The site visit allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the organization.
Receiving the AEDO designation boosts morale and recognition within the community.
Feedback from stakeholders can reveal positive aspects of the organization.
The accreditation process encourages continuous improvement.
Organizations should not hesitate to pursue AEDO accreditation.

Summary

In this Develop This! episode, Dennis and Mark Perna discuss the crucial importance of uniting communities around shared goals and achieving genuine consensus. They explore the challenges of building consensus in a polarized world, the significance of understanding younger generations, and the necessity of delivering education with purpose. Mark emphasizes the need to break down silos and create a competitive advantage for communities by connecting education and employment. The conversation outlines actionable steps for transitioning from collaboration to consensus, ultimately fostering a thriving community.

Takeaways

A rallying point is essential for community progress.
Understanding young people's perspectives is crucial for economic development.
Consensus is necessary for actionable outcomes in communities.
Collaboration without consensus leads to stagnation.
Education must be relevant and purposeful to engage younger generations.
Communities need to connect educational pipelines to workforce needs.
Passion is found through resilience and grit, not just interest.
Breaking down silos is key to community growth and development.
Hope can be cultivated through actionable steps and understanding.
Engaging young people can transform community dynamics.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This podcast, Dennis interviews Jason Archer, the Vice President of Business Development for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. They discuss the importance of business retention and expansion (BRE) programs, particularly the innovative regional BRE committee established during the pandemic. Jason shares insights on building trust among economic development partners, the structure of their outreach efforts, and the challenges faced in maintaining collaboration. The conversation highlights the significance of data collection, quantifying success, and practical advice for other organizations looking to implement similar initiatives.

Takeaways

The St. Louis Partnership focuses on economic development for the city and county.
Business retention and expansion (BRE) is a key pillar of economic development.
The regional BRE committee was formed during the pandemic to enhance outreach efforts.
Trust-building among economic development partners is crucial for collaboration.
Companies appreciate streamlined communication from multiple agencies in one meeting.
Regular meetings and centralized scheduling improve efficiency in outreach.
Data collection is essential for understanding company needs and measuring success.
Challenges include managing outreach frequency and overcoming company hesitance.
Formalizing processes can help in establishing effective BRE programs.
Sharing success metrics fosters accountability and collaboration among partners.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Courtney Dunbar, the Dean of the OU Economic Development Institute (OUEDI). They discuss the importance of OUEDI in promoting knowledge in economic development, the program's structure and curriculum, and the unique experiences it offers. Courtney highlights the significance of networking and mentorship in the field, emphasizing that learning from experienced practitioners is invaluable. She also notes the lasting connections that participants form during the program and encourages listeners to consider enrolling in OUEDI for their professional growth.

Takeaways

OUEDI provides a platform for mid-career economic developers to enhance their skills.
Networking is a key benefit of attending OUEDI, fostering lifelong connections.
The curriculum includes core areas and electives tailored to individual interests.
Instructors at OUEDI are experienced practitioners, not just academics.
The program prepares students for certification and real-world application.
OUEDI emphasizes mentorship and support for students during and after the program.
The experience at OUEDI is designed to be collaborative and engaging.
Students leave with practical knowledge applicable to their communities.
OUEDI has a close relationship with IEDC, enhancing the curriculum.
Graduating from OUEDI is seen as a significant accomplishment in the field.

Summary

In this episode of Develop This, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses his journey to his current role, the importance of Iowa's agricultural production, and the challenges faced by farmers today. He emphasizes the balance between increasing agricultural output and sustainable land stewardship, the impact of tariffs on agriculture, and the safety nets in place for farmers. Naig also addresses the challenges in the egg production industry, particularly due to avian influenza, and the consolidation within the industry. He concludes with a call for greater consumer awareness and appreciation for the work of farmers.

Takeaways

Mike Naig has served as Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture since 2018.
Iowa ranks second in agricultural production in the U.S., only behind California.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture focuses on land stewardship, food safety, and consumer protection.
Farmers face significant challenges, including weather and market fluctuations.
Tariffs can disrupt agricultural markets and impact prices.
The farm safety net is crucial for maintaining food security in the U.S.
Egg prices have risen due to increased production costs and avian influenza outbreaks.
Avian influenza has led to significant losses in poultry production.
Consolidation in the egg industry has raised concerns about profit distribution.
Consumer awareness of agricultural processes is essential for supporting farmers.

In this episode, Joi Cuartero Austin sits down with Erik Reader, director of Illinois Main Street, to explore how communities are shaping effective downtown economic development strategies—and more importantly, why these strategies work in their specific context.

From humble beginnings rooted in community engagement to long-term sustainability planning, this conversation unpacks the real-world process of revitalizing a downtown district with purpose, people, and partnerships.

“You’ve got to bring people alongside—not just for buy-in, but for co-ownership.”

Think long-term: strategies should outlast leadership transitions
Build programs that allow public and private sectors to partner meaningfully
Listen deeply: alignment with people is as important as alignment with funding
Track the vibe: excitement, curiosity, and positivity are leading indicators of success

Laying the Groundwork

The importance of starting with community development
Strategies to build momentum and foster ownership
Engaging leaders, stakeholders, and residents in authentic ways

The Strategy in Action

What communities are doing to activate and sustain downtown revitalization
The critical role of funding, partnerships, and shared leadership
Empowering people through collaboration and participation

Understanding the “Why”

Why certain strategies are successful in some places and not in others
How to align initiatives with local identity, values, and funding tools like TIF
The power of ego-free partnerships and sustainability planning

Results & Reflections

Indicators that show a community is on the right path
Stories of energy, enthusiasm, and openness to change
Lessons learned from communities that are building trust and momentum

Summary

In this episode, Dennis Fraise speaks with Bill Cronin, the President and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, about the explosive growth in Pasco County, Florida. They discuss the opportunities and challenges that come with rapid development, the evolution of the local economy, and the importance of balancing growth with community needs. Bill shares insights on how the county has transformed from a bedroom community to a hub for new industries, the impact of COVID-19 on migration patterns, and the necessity of strategic planning to ensure sustainable growth. The conversation also touches on the importance of partnerships, workforce development, and the vision for Pasco County's future.

Takeaways

Pasco County is experiencing rapid growth, being the third fastest growing county in the U.S.
The growth has been significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, with people seeking more space.
Pasco has transitioned from a bedroom community to a more diverse economy.
The county is focusing on creating jobs locally to reduce commuting and congestion.
Balancing density with quality of life is crucial for sustainable development.
Gentrification and transportation issues are significant challenges that need addressing.
The economic development strategy must evolve to meet the changing needs of the community.
Collaboration with various stakeholders is essential for effective economic development.
Investing in the younger generation is vital for future growth and sustainability.
The future vision for Pasco County includes a focus on life sciences and environmental conservation.

Summary

In this episode of Develop This, Dennis Fraise speaks with Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) in Canada. They discuss the historical ties between the Canadian and US automotive industries, the integration of the North American auto supply chain, the current state of tariffs and their impact on the industry, and the future of the Canadian auto parts sector. Flavio emphasizes the importance of collaboration and understanding between the two countries to navigate the complexities of trade and tariffs.

Takeaways

Flavio Volpe is the president of the APMA, representing Canada's automotive sector.
The historical relationship between Canada and the US auto industries dates back to 1904.
Canada plays a significant role in the North American auto supply chain, with many parts crossing borders multiple times.
Tariffs imposed on auto parts can severely impact the industry, threatening jobs and production.
The Canadian auto parts industry is intricately tied to US and Mexican operations, employing thousands across North America.
Free trade agreements have allowed for significant investment and growth in the Canadian auto sector.
The integration of the automotive supply chain means that parts come from various countries, not just the US and Canada.
The future of the Canadian auto parts industry depends on maintaining strong trade relations with the US.
Trust and collaboration are essential for navigating the current trade environment.
The Canadian auto sector has a symbiotic relationship with the US, and both countries benefit from this partnership.

Summary

In this conversation, Dennis and Mark Perna explore the significance of asking better questions in various contexts, particularly in leadership and personal interactions. They discuss how effective questioning can lead to deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and improved communication. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, curiosity, and the art of engaging conversations, while also addressing the challenges of navigating difficult discussions. Throughout the conversation, they highlight practical strategies for enhancing questioning skills and building rapport with others.

How To Ask Better Questions For Better Results In 2025 - Forbes Takeaways

Asking better questions starts with understanding.
Questions should be enjoyable for both parties.
Emotional intelligence is crucial in questioning.
The art of questioning involves genuine curiosity.
Difficult conversations can lead to valuable insights.
Building rapport is essential for effective communication.
Effective questioning is a skill that can be honed.
Curiosity drives better engagement in conversations.
Asking uncomfortable questions is sometimes necessary.
Creating connections is key to successful leadership.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, host Dennis Fraise speaks with Lisa Hurley, the president of the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA). They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities faced by rural economic developers, the importance of community relationships, and the benefits of NREDA membership. Lisa shares insights about York County, Nebraska, and the organization's efforts to support economic development across rural America. The conversation also touches on the upcoming NREDA annual conference and the significance of networking and professional development.

Takeaways

Rural communities often face unique economic development challenges.
NREDA serves over 330 members across 35 states.
Funding is a significant issue for small communities.
Diversity in projects keeps economic developers engaged.
Small-town politics can be challenging but manageable.
NREDA provides valuable training and networking opportunities.
The annual conference is a key event for members.
Mobile classrooms offer hands-on learning experiences.
Building relationships is crucial in small communities.
Economic development impacts families and communities directly.

Summary This Develop This! episode delves into the complexities of tariffs and their impact on the can manufacturing industry in the United States. Dennis Fraise hosts Rick Huether, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Independent Can Company, and Robert Budway, President of the Can Manufacturers Institute, to discuss the historical context of tariffs, the current state of the industry, and the challenges faced by manufacturers. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding how tariffs affect not only businesses but also consumers and the potential for reshoring manufacturing in the U.S. amidst ongoing economic challenges.

Takeaways

Tariffs significantly impact the cost structure of can manufacturing.
The can industry is a vital yet often overlooked part of the food supply chain.
Economic developers play a crucial role in advocating for the can manufacturing sector.
The current tariff regime is complex and constantly changing.
Manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges due to tariffs and material sourcing issues.
Sustainability and recycling are key advantages for the can industry.
The consumer will ultimately bear the cost of increased tariffs.
Investment in domestic manufacturing capacity is essential for future stability.
Collaboration between manufacturers and policymakers is necessary to address tariff impacts.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Jolene Schalper and Christian Leinhauser from the Great Falls Montana Development Authority about the upcoming 2025 IEDC Rural Retreat. They discuss the unique features of the retreat, which focuses on rural economic development and offers immersive experiences. Attendees will have the chance to engage with local entrepreneurs and communities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of rural areas and outlines various planned activities for the retreat, including tours, networking opportunities, and visits to local attractions.

Takeaways

The Great Falls Development Authority focuses on diversifying the regional economy.
The 2025 IDC Rural Retreat aims to address the unique needs of rural communities.
Immersive experiences will allow attendees to engage with local entrepreneurs.
The retreat will feature both plenary sessions and community tours.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from successful rural initiatives.
Networking opportunities will be abundant, fostering collaboration among attendees.
The retreat will include various tracks focusing on different aspects of economic development.
Great Falls is home to significant agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
Local attractions include stunning natural landscapes and historical sites.
The retreat encourages attendees to bring back valuable tools for their communities.

Summary In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, host Dennis Fraise interviews Michael Langley, a distinguished figure in economic development and recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the IEDC. The conversation explores Michael's journey from military service as a naval aviator to a successful career in corporate America and, ultimately, to his impactful role in economic development. Michael shares valuable insights on leadership, the importance of community engagement, and the evolving landscape of economic development, particularly in light of technological advancements and current political challenges. He emphasizes the need for patience among young leaders and the significance of collaboration across various sectors to achieve economic success.

Takeaways

Michael Langley's military background provided essential leadership skills.
Transitioning from military to corporate to economic development is a unique journey.
Engaging community champions is crucial for economic development success.
Understanding regional strengths and weaknesses is key to effective leadership.
Collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit sectors is foundational for economic development.
Listening and delegation are vital skills for effective leadership.
Young leaders should practice patience and gain experience before advancing.
Technology and AI are transforming the economic development landscape.
Economic developers must guide elected officials through political challenges.
Building bridges within the community fosters support for economic initiatives.

Summary In this episode of Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews David Gantz, a trade law expert, to discuss the current state of tariffs and international trade. They explore the chaotic nature of recent tariff threats and implementations, the historical context of trade agreements like NAFTA and USMCA, and the implications of new tariffs on trade relationships with Canada, Mexico, and China. The conversation delves into the impact on consumers, manufacturing, and the long-term effects on US relations with Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as the greatly diminished role of the WTO in global trade.

Takeaways

The current tariff situation is chaotic and rapidly changing.
Historical tariffs like the 1930s Hawley-Smoot tariff are comparable to today's tariff levels on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China.
NAFTA and USMCA have significantly shaped and improved trade relationships in North America for more than 30 years.
New tariffs undermine and conflict with existing trade agreements such as the USMCA. Manufacturing shifts are influenced, inter alia, by tariff policies, both economic and political pressures, and the costs of altering supply chains.
Consumers may face immediate price increases on their purchases due to tariffs imposed on Mexico and China generally, and imports of steel and aluminum from all foreign sources.
Retaliatory tariffs from trading partners will escalate tensions and further disrupt trade.
Long-term damage to US-Canada relations may take decades to repair.
China is actively seeking new trade partnerships to mitigate US tariffs.
The WTO's influence is waning as the U.S. and other countries pursue unilateral trade policies that conflict with basic WTO obligations.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise speaks with Bethany Quinn, president of Golden Shovel Agency, about the importance of economic development in rural America. They discuss the agency's mission, the launch of the Rural America campaign, and key findings from a recent white paper on marketing strategies for rural communities. Bethany emphasizes the need for effective marketing strategies, social media's role, and storytelling's importance in economic development. They also touch on the significance of adequate funding and introduce the new Impact Local website product designed for rural communities.

Takeaways

Golden Shovel Agency supports economic development in rural areas.
The Rural America campaign aims to provide affordable solutions for small communities.
Many economic development organizations lack a cohesive marketing strategy.
A robust website is essential for effective marketing efforts.
Social media consistency is crucial for community engagement.
Economic development is evolving to include community development aspects.
Measuring marketing success goes beyond website traffic.
Adequate funding is vital for long-term marketing strategies.
The Impact Local product offers affordable website solutions for rural communities.
Storytelling is key to conveying a community's unique value proposition.

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, host Dennis Fraise is joined by contributing correspondents Joy Austin, Angee Shaker, and Sean Maguire to discuss their experiences at the recent IEDC Leadership Summit held in Washington, DC. They reflect on the conference's location, programming, and the importance of networking and collaboration among economic developers. The group shares insights on various sessions, including data utilization, personal branding, and the impact of plenary speakers. They conclude with thoughts on the overall experience and future conferences.

Takeaways

The conference location in DC allowed for advocacy opportunities.
Networking with colleagues was a highlight of the conference.
Sessions focused on collaboration rather than traditional presentations.
Data utilization is crucial for effective economic development.
Personal branding is important for professional growth.
Plenary sessions featured inspiring speakers from various fields.
The conference emphasized learning from peers and sharing experiences.
The hotel location facilitated easy access to key sites in DC.
Future conferences will continue to explore innovative formats.
Staying hydrated and comfortable is essential during conferences.

Upcoming IEDC conferences

Rural Retreat June 23rd - 25th Great Falls Montana

Annual Conference - September 14th - 17th Detroit, MI

Leadership Summit March 1st - 3rd 2026

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Ryan Monarch Assistant Professor, Economics Department Syracuse University, an expert in international trade and economics, to discuss the complexities of tariffs and their implications on the economy. The conversation covers the definition of tariffs, their historical context, their role in modern trade, and the economic and consumer impacts. Ryan explains how tariffs can affect supply chains, consumer choices, and the overall market dynamics while also addressing the political motivations behind tariff implementation. The discussion highlights the challenges and uncertainties businesses face in a fluctuating tariff environment and the long-term effects of such policies on the economy.

Takeaways

A tariff is an increase in the price of imported goods.
Tariffs have been a source of government revenue since the founding of the US.
President McKinley was known for his pro-tariff stance.
Tariffs are used to protect domestic industries from foreign competition.
The scale of tariffs under President Trump is unprecedented in modern history.
Higher tariffs can lead to increased prices for consumers.
Tariffs can disrupt established supply chains and consumer choices.
The burden of tariffs often falls on US importers, not foreign producers.
Economists generally believe that tariffs create more losers than winners.
The long-term effects of tariffs on the economy can take years to understand fully.

Learn. Explore. Activate in Place. (LEAP) | Cleveland, Ohio | June 9–13, 2025

LEAP into innovative economic strategies on an in-person learning trip!

NGIN will select teams, each consisting of 2-4 economic and community leaders from cities with populations between 50,000 and 500,000, to explore Community Wealth Building and Inclusive Capital in Cleveland, OH. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to create their own action plan to bring back to their city.

Selected participants will have all travel expenses covered for this immersive learning experience. NGIN will also handle all trip logistics.

Ryan Monarch researches buyer-supplier relationships in international trade and how the recent tariff war affected U.S. exports and supply chains. He served as a Principal Economist for the International Finance division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2014-2021. His work has been published in the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of International Economics and other publications. His research has been cited by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Economist and Reuters, among others. He received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan in 2014.

In this episode of Develop This, Dennis Fraise and Mark Perna discuss the importance of building one's dreams at any stage of life. They explore the distinction between interest and passion, emphasizing that while interest can be easily found, passion is cultivated over time through resilience and commitment. The conversation also highlights the significance of engagement and self-motivation in creating a competitive advantage in both personal and professional realms. Mark shares his philosophy of embracing discomfort and daring to dream, encouraging listeners to take actionable steps toward their goals.

Competitive Advantage Track

Takeaways

You're either building your dream or someone else's.
Life really begins when you carve out time for yourself.
Interest is something you can trip over; passion is built over time.
Show up five minutes early, stay five minutes late, and care.
Be so good they can't ignore you.
Dare to dream and embrace discomfort.
You have all the time that there is; it's how you use it that matters.
To stand out, do what others won't do.
Say yes, and then figure out how.
Inspiring young people is critically important for economic development.

In this episode of Develop This, Dennis Fraise speaks with Doug Van Dyke, CEO of Leadership Simplified, about the intricacies of economic development organizations (EDCs). They discuss the role of EDCs, the pros and cons of regionalization, the challenges of collaboration, and the relationship between EDCs and chambers of commerce. Doug shares insights on strategic planning, executive coaching, and the importance of having a neutral party in discussions about regionalism. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration and the potential benefits of working together to enhance economic development efforts.

Takeaways

EDCs often require strategic planning, executive coaching, and team development.
Regionalization can enhance collaboration but may also lead to competition among EDCs.
Silos and ego can hinder effective regional collaboration.
A neutral party can facilitate discussions and help align goals.
Mission creep can occur when EDCs and chambers of commerce have differing focuses.
Successful regional collaboration can lead to greater economic opportunities.
EDCs should consider regionalization when scale can be advantageous.
The relationship between EDCs and chambers of commerce can vary based on community needs.
Effective communication and collaboration are essential for EDC's success.
Leadership Simplified offers training and strategic planning services for EDCs.

In this episode of the Develop This podcast, Dennis Fraise and Betsey Suchanic explore strategies for ensuring that economic development reaches every corner of a community. They discuss the various programs offered by the New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN), including the LEAP program, which is an all-expense paid professional development experience for economic and community leaders from smaller cities (up to 500,000) to learn from other small and midsized cities that are paving the way through collaboration and innovation. Applications for LEAP are open now and close March 10, 2025. Apply now at newgrowth.org/leap!

They also talk about NGIN’s Economic Inclusion Incubator, which provides technical assistance for project implementation; and the Cityscapes Summit, NGIN’s biennial national gathering for city leaders. The conversation emphasizes the need for cross-sector collaboration and the significance of building relationships in economic development.

Takeaways

LEAP stands for Learn, Explore, Activate in Place.
The LEAP program helps cities learn from each other.
Cross-sector collaboration is crucial for economic development.
The Economic Inclusion Incubator supports project implementation.
Cityscape Summit gathers leaders from small and mid-sized cities.
Building relationships is key in economic development.
The LEAP program is an entry point for cities.
The Economic Inclusion Incubator offers 12 months of support.

In this episode of Develop This, Dennis Fraise speaks with Bill Murphy, the president and CEO of the Ardmore Development Authority, about the significant impact of Michelin's closure of its tire manufacturing facility in Ardmore, Oklahoma. They discuss the initial shock of the announcement, the community's reaction, and the steps taken to manage the transition for the affected workforce. Bill shares insights on the importance of maintaining strong relationships with local businesses, the need for economic diversification, and the lessons learned from navigating such a challenging situation.

Takeaways

The Ardmore Development Authority is a public trust responsible for local economic development.
Michelin's closure of its facility was a significant blow to the local economy, affecting 1,400 jobs.
The announcement of the closure was unexpected and blindsided local leaders.
Strong relationships with companies can help in managing crises effectively.
The community's reaction to the closure was one of shock and disbelief.
A transition task force was created to address the impact of the closure.
Diversifying the local economy is crucial to mitigate the effects of losing a major employer.
Maintaining open communication with stakeholders is essential during crises.
The company provided significant support and incentives to retain employees during the transition.

In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Courtney Dunbar, who leads Burns and McDonnell's site selection consulting practice. They discuss the essential characteristics of a good industrial site, the challenges communities face in site preparation, and the importance of understanding target industries. Courtney emphasizes the need for diligence in site preparation, the value of certified sites, and the role of master planning in optimizing site functionality. The conversation also touches on effective marketing strategies for sites, the significance of building relationships within the site selection community, and the impact of FAM tours. Courtney concludes with advice for economic developers on sharpening their business cases to attract suitable industries.

Takeaways

A good industrial site must optimize operations.
Communities often seek a model of perfection in site preparation.
Diligence in understanding site attributes is crucial.
Smaller communities can compete with larger ones based on specific advantages.
Identifying target industries is essential for effective economic development.
Certified sites can streamline the site selection process.
Master planning focuses on functional optimization rather than aesthetic layout.
Building relationships in the site selection community is vital.
FAM tours should prioritize meaningful interactions over packed schedules.
Economic developers must create a strong business case for attracting industries.

In this Develop This episode, Dennis Fraise speaks with Betsey Suchanic from New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) about how Small and Midsized Cities (SMCs) are key players in driving economic growth. They discuss how these cities are uniquely positioned to innovate and implement effective economic strategies, the significance of cross-sector partnerships, the need for new metrics in economic development, and the role of procurement and access to capital in fostering economic opportunity for all. Betsey shares insights on NGIN’s various programs and initiatives, including the LEAP program— an immersive learning trip for economic and community leaders from smaller cities (up to 500,000 residents).

Applications are open now until March 10th at newgrowth.org/leap.

Takeaways

Small and mid-sized cities are often overlooked in economic discussions.
These cities can innovate and pivot more easily than larger ones.
Cross-sector partnerships are essential for effective economic development.
Traditional metrics in economic development need to evolve.
Inclusive procurement can significantly impact local economies.
Access to capital is crucial for supporting small businesses.
Community engagement is vital for successful economic initiatives.
Learning from other cities can inspire new ideas and solutions.
Breaking down silos can enhance collaboration and effectiveness.
Programs like LEAP and the Economic Inclusion Incubator provide valuable support.

Dennis Pruitt Vice President Business Development for the Missouri Partnership joins Dennis and makes the case for liberal arts in economic development. Dennis stresses the importance of reading, history, and culture. In a day and age dominated by STEM don't miss this discussion on the value and power of a liberal arts degree.

Barry Matherly joins Dennis, and they discuss the skills needed to be a great leader and how to become involved and give back to the economic development profession.

Barry has worn a lot of hats in his economic development career. His current role is as the President and CEO of Hickey Global. Prior to joining Hickey Global, Barry was the President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership and the Greater Richmond Partnership.

You have led large organizations in very different communities. How were those positions and communities different?
How were you able to adapt your skills to lead large teams and provide economic development leadership for the community?
Along the way, you were also the Chair of IEDC and the Dean of OUEDI.
What made you want to get involved in IEDC? Talk about your journey at IEDC, culminating in becoming the board chair.
Why was certification important to you?
What advice do you have for IEDC members who want to get more involved?
Talk about OUEDI, its impact, and the education it provides.

Barry Matherly has helped communities prosper by creating opportunities for new investment and job growth for over 30 years. As a certified economic development professional and trusted international thought leader, he develops growth strategies to create vibrant, inclusive communities.

Barry leads Hickey Global, a part of the Hickey Family of advisory companies, utilizing its immense capabilities across a global footprint. With offices throughout the world and a diverse team of economic development, site selection, research, and marketing staff, Hickey handles innovative and complex assignments.

Mr. Matherly is a past chair of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest economic development association in the world, and the dean and an instructor at the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He is also an instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Basic Economic Development course.

Over a long career managing economic development organizations, Barry has leadership experience at the city, county, regional and university levels. He also interned 3 years for the United States Department of Commerce and worked 6 years in management for a Fortune 500 company.

Barry has a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech University. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and a recipient of the Robert B. Cassell Leadership Award.

Barry Matherly was named one of the 40 Leaders Under 40 (2002) by the Charlotte Business Journal, recognized as a North Carolina Main Street Champion, designated as a Fellow Member and Honorary Life Member by IEDC and is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. He was also inducted into Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs Alumni Hall of Fame.

Debi Durham, the Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) joins Dennis to discuss the role of a state economic development director.

Fifteen years ago, what was the state of economic development?
Fast forward 15 years, and how has economic development changed?
Through two main divisions – business development and community development the IEDA administers almost 50 state and federal programs to assist individuals, communities, and businesses. That is a lot of plates to spin at one time. How big is the IEDA team?
As a state, does Iowa target specific sectors for projects?
Every state has advantages and disadvantages. How do you work to sell the sizzle for Iowa?
How competitive are projects between the states?
At the local level, we are used to projects from the state, utility, or rail partners. How do projects flow to the IEDA?
Let's talk about the changes in the economic development landscape for projects, starting with the rise of certified sites.
Incentives are always a controversial topic. How have incentives changed during your tenure, and what are your views on incentives?
What advice for frontline economic development professionals do you have when competing for projects or existing industry expansions?
What do you wish every economic development professional knew about when responding to RFIs?
Debi, look into your crystal ball. What do you think economic development will look like in 10 years?

Debi Durham

Debi Durham is a longtime economic and community development professional who serves as Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). Durham was named to the positions by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in January 2019. Durham was first appointed to lead IEDA in 2011, and during her eight-year tenure, has turned the agency into a successful public-private partnership, landed billion-dollar economic development projects for Iowa and worked tirelessly on expanding trade and investment opportunities for the state. She prides herself on building coalitions, supporting new ventures and strengthening the state's industries and communities.

Prior to joining IEDA, Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. Her several accolades include being recognized as one of the "Most Influential Business Leaders" in the 2019 Des Moines Business Record Book of Lists and receiving the Technology Association of Iowa's "Legislative Advocacy Leader" award in 2017. Durham also was recognized by the Business Record as a "Woman of Influence" in 2016. Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing and Management from Missouri Southern State University.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority's (IEDA) mission is to strengthen economic and community vitality by building partnerships and leveraging resources to make Iowa the choice for people and business. Through two main divisions – business development and community development – IEDA administers several state and federal programs to meet its goals of assisting individuals, communities and businesses.

Expand Your Business

Accelerated Career Education (260G)
Angel Investor Tax Credit
Business Expansion & Strategic Trends (BEST)
Business License Information Center
Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program
Community College Consortium
Demonstration Fund
Economic Development Set-Aside (EDSA)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Entrepreneurial Investment Awards (EIA) Program
High Quality Jobs (HQJ)
IASourceLink
Industrial New Jobs Training (260E)
Innovation Acceleration Fund
Innovation Fund Tax Credit
International Trade Office
Iowa Apprenticeship Programs
Iowa Jobs Training (260F)
Iowa Student Internship Program
New Jobs Tax Credit
Proof of Commercial Relevance
Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit
Research Activities Tax Credit
SBIR & STTR Outreach Programs
Stem Internship Program
Targeted Jobs Withholding Tax Credit
Targeted Small Business Program
Wage Requirements

Grow Your Community

Annexation, Discontinuance and Land Planning
Clean Cities Program
Community Catalyst Building Remediation
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Programs
Community Facilities & Services
Destination Iowa
Disaster Recovery
Disaster Workforce Housing Tax Credits
Downtown Resource Center
Downtown Revitalization Fund
Employment Transportation
Empower Rural Iowa
Endow Iowa
Energy Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program
Enhance Iowa
Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program
Housing Rehabilitation
Iowa Energy Center Grant Program
Iowa Energy Office
Iowa Green Streets
Iowa Reinvestment Districts
Main Street Iowa
Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Remediation
Opportunities and Threats Fund
Opportunity Zones
Redevelopment Tax Credits
Rural Housing Assessment Grant Program
Rural Innovation Grant Program
Shop Iowa
Sustainable Land Use Planning
Water & Sewer Fund
Workforce Housing Tax Credit

Mark Perna joined Dennis, and they discussed the state of workforce in 2025.

What prompted you to write Answering Why?
How would you compare the state of our workforce in 2018 versus today?
We are at the start of 2025. Where do we stand today with job openings and the skills gap?
How can economic development professionals and organizations be more proactive in dealing with workforce issues?
Do you see more collaboration between education, economic development and others?
Who is leading workforce development in most communities?
If you woke up in a community tomorrow as an economic development professional, what would you do regarding workforce development?
What resources do you have available to help economic development professionals better understand the workforce issues we are facing.

Danielle Casey, President & CEO of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, joins Dennis and discusses finding your path in economic development.

How do you find the right fit?
How do you know when to move to the next position?
Is working your way up in one organization preferable, or is there value in working for multiple organizations?
Is there a tipping point when it makes more sense to stay with an organization?
Are there red flags when looking at joining an organization?
Are there some dos and don’ts people should be aware of when interviewing?

Ms. Casey brings extensive and diverse experience in leadership, public administration, marketing, business development and retention, and strategic planning as the leader of AREA, a nonprofit organization working to create a prosperous and diverse economy for the four-county Albuquerque metro region. She joined the organization in October of 2020.

Previously, she served as the Executive Vice President for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and oversaw the organization’s business development, marketing and communications, investor engagement, research, and strategic initiatives critical to advancing economic growth in Greater Sacramento. She oversaw the comprehensive launch and execution of a best-in-class national site selection consultant strategy and established first-ever memorandums of understanding with seven local commercial real estate brokerage offices, receiving a Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council in 2020 for a joint publication she spearheaded with CBRE. She established critical internal efficiencies with revisions to all organizational practices from database management to budget development and oversight. Even in the wake of COVID-19, the organization succeeded in meeting all its annual metrics and job creation goals and launching a regional business retention and expansion outreach program.

From 2013 – 2018, Danielle served the well-known City of Scottsdale, Arizona as its Economic Development Director. Under her leadership, the department received six awards of excellence from the International Economic Development Council, status as an Accredited Economic Development Organization, the 2015 ‘Large Community Economic Development Organization of the Year’ award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development, and unanimous Council approval of a Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan – the first for the community in more than 15 years. During her tenure, the department was directly involved in projects accounting for more than $24 million in 5-year direct revenue impact to the city, $7 billion in 5-year total economic impact, 4,428 or more new jobs in the first 12 months of business operation alone and $160 million in new capital investment.

Ms. Casey served in various executive roles at the City of Maricopa, Ariz. since 2005, lastly as the Assistant City Manager. Departments under her oversight included economic development, community and development services, capital improvement, public works and City-wide marketing and communications activities. She managed several noteworthy tasks in the establishment of the City’s economic development office, such as the creation of an Industrial Development Authority, the City’s first Redevelopment District and Area Plan, the establishment of a local economic development 501 (c) 3 (the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance), City-wide branding and Economic Development Strategic Plan. Prior to her time in Maricopa, she attained significant experience in the non-profit sector working in fundraising, marketing, and event and membership management at the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art in Phoenix, Arizona and at Save The Bay in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ms. Casey received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and Master of Administration from Northern Arizona University. She is both a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) as well as a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). She is a member of the International Economic Development Council and serves on its Board of Directors Governance Committee. She also serves as an instructor at the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute and serves on its Board of Directors and as a Mentor. Danielle is a proud Past President of the Arizona Association for Economic Development, a statewide professional association with more than 480 public and private members, and an active board member with New Mexico IDEA.

In May 2010, Ms. Casey was the honored recipient of the ‘Economic Developer of the Year – Small Community’ award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development and in January 2017 she was recognized as a national top ‘40 under 40 Rising Star’ in economic development by Development Counsellors International. In addition, she is co-founder of the Arizona Chapter of Women Leading Government which in its sixth year draws more than 400 participants.

An Air Force brat, Ms. Casey has had the great privilege of living in Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, Utah, Rhode Island, Arizona and California throughout her life and is thrilled to now call Albuquerque home, along with her trusty English bulldog Sophie, heeler/cattle dog mix Persie, and her amazing and supportive husband Steve.

Bryan Daniels, the President and CEO of the Blount Partnership – Incoming IEDC Board chair, joins Dennis, and they discuss what is ahead for the economic development profession and IEDC in 2025.

Bryan Daniels was born and raised in Greeneville, Tennessee, which is adjacent to Cherokee National Forest. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications & Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from East Tennessee State University.

Bryan began his career with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Daniels left the State of Tennessee in 1997 and begun work as an Economic Development Planner for the firm of Barge Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon based in Nashville, Tennessee. During this time Bryan worked with several communities within East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. His clients were municipalities trying to develop their local economies and seeking state and federal support for their goals.

From 2001 thru 2010, Bryan accepted the role of Executive Vice President under the Blount Partnership. He was directly responsible for the Economic Development offices and staff located in Maryville, Tennessee; Munich, Germany; and Yokohama, Japan. Bryan managed the operations of the community's four industrial parks, two science/technology parks, and the Economic Development Programs for Blount County, City of Maryville, and City of Alcoa, Tennessee. The Economic Development Board is one of the four partner agencies of the Blount Partnership.

In 2010, Bryan was named President and CEO of the Blount Partnership. The Partnership is comprised of The Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Economic Development Board, the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority, and the Blount Chamber Foundation. The 24-person staff is responsible for all economic development activities within the jurisdictional boarders of Blount County and the cities of Alcoa, Maryville, Townsend, Rockford, Friendsville, and Louisville.

During Bryan's tenure, Blount County has recruited over 75 new and expanding companies in the areas of research & development, corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and back-office support centers. The total capital investment of these companies has exceeded $4 billion dollars and created more than 12,000 direct new jobs with average wages above Tennessee's average. The Blount County local governments adopted the new tourism authority structure which was written by Bryan and former Senator Doug Overbey. The authority was unanimously adopted by the 107th Tennessee general assembly.

Bryan has continued his professional education by graduating from the Economic Development Institute located at the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. Bryan is also a graduate from the US Chamber's Institute of Non-Profit Management and attained the designation of IOM. He has also attained the status of Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

The Blount Partnership is a five-star accredited Chamber of Commerce by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the only Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) by the International Economic Development Council in the state of Tennessee. Bryan is very active in the community and has held the following leadership roles:

IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle joins Dennis, and they reflect on Nathan's first three years leading IEDC and what the future holds for the economic development profession and IEDC.

IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle joins Dennis, and they discuss the 2025 IEDC conferences and the changes happening to the IEDCC conferences in 2025.

o 2025 Leadership Summit Washington, D.C. February 23 – 25

o 2025 Rural Summit Great Falls Montana June 23 – 25

o 2025 Annual Conference Detroit, MI September 14 – 17

Mark C. Perna joins Dennis, and they discuss Being Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable. Discover why being uncomfortable can actually be positive, and why focusing on a personal competitive advantage now prepares us for when our personal “want-to” arrives.

The Competitive Advantage Track Is Available Free on Mark's Website

Learners will discover: • Why being uncomfortable can actually be a positive thing

• How to focus, plan, and take action when life gets uncomfortable

• Why we should “say yes, and then figure out how”

• How our personal “want-to” spurs us to do things we may be nervous about doing

• Why focusing on a personal competitive advantage now prepares us for when our personal "want-to" arrives

Dennis is joined by Maria Berg-Stark, the Senior Director of Membership at IEDC, and they discuss the changes to IEDC's membership structure. IEDC recently rolled out a new membership plan, reducing our membership offerings from 27 categories to 10.

Individual Member Types

Member Type

Price* (USD)

Definition

Student

$35

Must be enrolled in at least 12 course hours per semester and provide a transcript from university or learning institution

Member in Transition/Retired

$125

Professional who is retired or currently not employed

Emerging Leader

$195

Professional in the economic development field 5 years or less; IEDC reserves the right to verify work history

International Member (North America)

$385

Canada and Mexico

International Member (outside North America)

$225

Excludes Canada and Mexico

Rural

$255

Serving a population of 10,000 or less; may require verification

Individual

$385

Professional who is actively employed in the field of economic development

Leader of the Industry

$525

A President, CEO, Executive Director, or other C-level executive

Supplier Partner

$725

A vendor and/or consultant that provides products or services to economic development professionals

*IEDC's membership term is January 1 – December 31. First-year enrollments are prorated to the month you join.

Dennis gets personal about his decision to retire from his economic development position and discusses what is next for Develop This!

Clark Smith has almost 40 years of experience in economic development. Clark began his economic development career as executive director of the Hampton Area Chamber and Development Corporation. He then joined the Iowa Department of Economic Development, where he worked as a community consultant and manager of existing industry. Most recently, Clark was the economic development director for Aquila, Inc. – Iowa. He has worked with hundreds of companies providing site selection/expansion assistance. Clark has been President of the Professional Developers of Iowa and the Community Development Society of Iowa. Clark also managed and owned a trade association business and started Butler House on Grand Bed and Breakfast, which he sold.

EDC Forge CRM Customer Relationship Management platform

Smart Solutions Group, Inc.

Dennis is joined by Aaron Brossoit, CEO of the Golden Shovel Agency, to talk about AI for economic developers. Aaron and Golden Shovel Agency are at the leading edge of implementing AI. Aaron helps AI neophyte Dennis better understand AI and how economic development professionals can use it.

Be sure to check out Aaron's avatar below, which speaks multiple languages.

AI tools and resources:

Grammarly

Chat GPT

Otter.ai

Hey Gen

See Arron's multi-language avatar created in Hey Gen

Golden Shovel Agency

Dennis is joined by Kaycee Bunch, an economic developer and podcast host. Dennis and Kaycee discuss the unique challenges faced by female economic development professionals. The Leading Ladies of Economic Development is a great podcast for all economic development professionals. Give it a listen; you won't be disappointed!

The Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals.

Dennis is joined by Mo Collins, Director of Entrepreneurship - International Economic Development Council, and they discuss the upcoming Rural Entrepreneurship 101 online class. Courtney Zaugg is the other instructor of the Rural Entrepreneurship class.

Rural Entrepreneurship 101 - online

November 20, 2024 11:00 am - 6:00 pm EST

The rise of bandwidth, remote work, and local, place-based assets go hand in hand with emerging rural entrepreneurship and ecosystem building. Join this 101 Class to explore innovative strategies to overcome rural entrepreneurship's unique challenges and learn best practices to transform your rural community into a hub of growth and sustainability.

Moving from burnout to renewal - Dennis Pruitt, Missouri Partnership

In this episode, Dennis and Dennis discuss the reality of burnout and practical next steps to help deal with the effects of burnout.

Outline

I. Definitions

II. Causes

III. Significance

IV. Caveats

V. Fundamentals of building personal energy

VI. Practical Next Steps

Dennis is joined by Shawn Donovan, an Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellow working in West Virginia. They discuss the Economic Recovery Corp, what it is like to be an ERC Fellow and Shaun's work in West Virginia. New River Gorge National Park

ERC Project

Project Title: Redefining West Virginia’s Region 1's Economy; Life After Coal

Host Community or Region: West Virginia

Host Organization: Region I Planning & Development Council, in collaboration with the Town of Fayetteville, WV

A New Partnership for Economic Transformation - 65 Fellows, 65 Catalytic Projects, 42 States, 2 Territories

The Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program launched in 2023 through a $30 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). Funded through the CARES Act, ERC aims to address long-standing economic disparities in America that surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, build capacity in -hard-hit communities, and cultivate the next generation of economic development leaders.

The ERC program is led by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in partnership with six leading national organizations from across the economic development landscape. Over a 30-month Fellowship, 65 Fellows are working alongside Host Organizations in under-resourced communities, building a nationwide corps of diverse, cross-sector talent with the skills and expertise to activate regional strategies and promote innovation. The Fellowship promotes connectivity and knowledge-sharing among urban, rural, and tribal areas to elevate new practices and transform the field of economic development.

Dennis and Mark Perna discuss the importance of and the three critical elements of a personal competitive advantage.

Robust academic knowledge
Technical competencies
Professional skills

Even though the Competitive Advantage Track is designed to talk to Gen Zers about their careers, there are lessons for all of us to learn and ponder.

Competitive Advantage Track is a free, easy-to-use tool that will drive the dialogue to help young people think constructively about their future, develop crucial career and life skills, and ultimately thrive in a fast-changing world.

In each module (or “Slice”), generational expert and Career Tree creator Mark C. Perna delivers a short, heartfelt talk about a particular skill, why it matters, and how it connects to their personal competitive advantage for whatever they want to achieve in life.

Springfield, Ohio, has recently been in the national spotlight after the community was mentioned in several political debates. What happens when you go from being one of 67 communities named Springfield to the one everyone is talking about? Is all publicity good publicity? How does an organization respond to the glare of the national media? Horton Hobbs, Vice President of Economic Development for The Greater Springfield Partnership, joins Dennis, and they go behind the scenes of working and living in Springfield, OH.

Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference Columbus, Ohio December 4–6, 2024

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Chris Lloyd from the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team. Dennis and Chris discuss best practices for responding to RFPs and the intangibles that can prevent a community from being considered for a project.

Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team, where he specializes in site selection and negotiations for economic development incentives. Since 1998, Chris has worked on dozens of high-profile corporate expansions and relocations across the country. Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Chris served for nearly five years in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Virginia Governors Allen and Wilder. Chris is also a past chair of the Site Selectors Guild.

Chris has also worked closely with clients on numerous public-private partnership projects for transportation and other infrastructure, and played a leading role in the development and passage of Virginia’s public-private partnership laws, which have since become model legislation for use in other states.

In this episode, Dennis talks about the frustrations of dealing with issues and projects that are beyond your direct control. What do you do when quiet diplomacy fails, and entities are determined to engage in behavior detrimental to the area you live and work in?

In this episode, Dennis explores the power of the unexpected compliment. Too often, we quickly criticize and forget to tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them. Take a deep breath and unleash the power of the unexpected compliment.

In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on the 2024 IEDC Annual Conference that was held in Denver.

In this episode, Dennis laments how the seeds of distrust have been sown in our election process and how that distrust affects even local elections. Why is it so hard to disagree and still respect each other's opinions?

Mark Perna joins Dennis to discuss the power of saying no. Sometimes, saying no is the best strategy. Dennis and Mark talk about how and why to say no.

Dennis is joined by third-generation magician and award-winning entertainer Dennis Watkins from the Magic Parlour in Chicago. Dennis and his wife attended a show at the Magic Parlour, and Dennis was so impressed he asked magician Dennis Watkins to join him on an episode of Develop This! Listen in for a fascinating discussion of the behind-the-scenes world of magic and discover how economic development is like magic!

In this episode, Denis is joined by James Hoelscher, CEcD (Course Director) for The Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) and the Program Manager at the University of Northern Iowa's Institute for Decision Making. Dennis and James discuss the basic economic development courses and how they vary around the county. IEDC lists 25 basic economic development courses on its website.

The Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) offers intensive training in the basic concepts, information, methods, and strategies of local economic development. A diverse and experienced faculty, composed of both academicians and practitioners, gives an excellent blend of theory and practice. Graduation from HEDC fulfills one of the education prerequisites for those who wish to take examinations for Certified Economic Development (CEcD) designation.

Heartland 2025 is held at the Adams Pointe Conference Center in Blue Springs, MO, from April 29th through May 2nd. An evening reception is held the night prior on the 28th at the Conference Center. The format consists of interactive presentations, panels, and discussions facilitated by Heartland's expert faculty.

March 29 or April 5 (must attend one)

8:00 a.m. Strategic Planning for Economic Development

April 22

4-7 p.m. Optional evening reception and course check-in at the Adams Pointe Conference Center

April 23

7:00 a.m. Course Registration

8 a.m. Course opening

Managing an EDO

Ethics in Economic Development (Part 1)

Workforce Development & Talent Attraction

Networking Dinner!

April 24

Entrepreneurship

Economic Development Financing

Neighborhood/Community Development/Main Street (community tours)

KC Dinner & Networking!

April 25

7 a.m. Professional Development Pathways (optional)

Real Estate Development

Ethics (part 2)

Business Retention & Expansion (tour and mock BRE interview)

Dinner on your own

April 26

Understanding Site Selection

Responding to an RFI

State Partner Association Member:

$995.00

Non-Member:

$1,095.00

James Hoelscher, CEcD (Course Director)

Dennis is joined by Kirk Garton, program director of OUEDI - OU Economic Development Institute. OUEDI alumnus Dennis discusses the OUEDI curriculum and the process of completing the classes, which are available online and in person.

OU EDI Core Requirements

OU EDI has aligned its curriculum to meet the education standards and requirements set by the IEDC Education and Certification Committees. These committees and OU EDI have identified three core areas considered to be the building blocks of economic development: Business Retention and Expansion (BRE), Real Estate, and Credit Analysis.

Each OU EDI Participant Must Study these Three Core Areas by Completing the Following Courses:

Business Retention and Expansion (16 hours)

Real Estate Development and Reuse (16 hours)

Economic Development Credit Analysis (24 hours)

OU EDI Elective Requirements

In addition to the core areas, OU EDI has developed a curriculum intended to give the participants a broad-based education and to develop the skills necessary to be successful economic developers, while simultaneously covering four of the topic areas necessary to prepare for IEDC's CEcD certification exam.

Economic Development Marketing and Attraction

Economic Development Strategic Planning

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Strategies

Managing Economic Development Organizations

Community and Neighborhood Development

Workforce Development

OU EDI and IEDC have worked closely to ensure that OU EDI graduates will have fulfilled the necessary classroom contact hours in the three core areas and the elective areas of concentration to satisfy the education requirements necessary to sit for the CEcD exam.

Dennis is joined by Mark Perna. In light of President Biden's dropping out of the presidential race, they discuss how old is too old and the power of having multiple ages working together.

Dennis is joined by Dell Gines, the Chief Innovation Officer of the International Economic Development Council. They discuss the upcoming IEDC annual conference, which will be held in Denver from September 15-18, 2024.

Early Bird Registration Deadline ends July 26th.

Discover The Mile High City

Calling all changemakers, visionaries, influencers, disruptors, and developers, the 2024 IEDC Annual Conference awaits! Your community, region, country, and world need you in Denver, CO, September 15-18, to join forces with thousands of economic development practitioners and thought leaders from around the globe as we celebrate and champion the unsung heroes of economic development.

This year's conference is more than just one of our standard gatherings; it's the premier platform to flip the script and transform our profession into one of the world's most recognized, understood, and attractive industries. By spotlighting the innovative work of economic development superheroes, we aim to inspire and equip you with the tools and knowledge to drive positive change and innovation in your community. This is your team's opportunity to unleash your inner economic development superheroes and elevate the economic development profession to new heights in the Mile High City.

Conference Theme: Championing Economic Development Superheroes

The conference will explore the following tracks:

Marketing and Telling Our Stories
Talent and Workforce Strategies
Solving the Housing Crisis
Climate Change and Sustainability
Rural Prosperity
Entrepreneurship and Ecosystem Building

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer, of the International Economic Development Council. Find out more about Dell's passion for economic development and his path to joining IEDC.

Dr. Dell Gines is a nonprofit executive and certified economic developer with over 15 years of experience in organizational transformation and economic development. As Chief Innovation Officer at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), he oversees the professional development, research, conferences, and program functions for the organization. This includes managing the $30 million, EDA-funded Economic Recovery Corps program, a national initiative that places 65 fellows in host organizations across the nation to promote equitable development. Before joining IEDC, Dell led economic development programs at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Dell has authored six guides and one book on economic development ecosystem building, with a particular focus on equitable economic development in distressed urban and rural communities. His 2018 research report on Black women business startups has been cited by PBS, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNN Business, and Entrepreneur magazine. He has spoken in over 26 states and 50 cities, often as a keynote speaker, advocating for equitable rural and urban economic development. He is among the 5,000 Certified Economic Developers (CEcD) and holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Finance, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska School of Public Administration. He has received numerous awards, including the TOYO award from the Omaha Jaycees in 2011 and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s President’s Award in 2014, 2019, and 2021. In 2020, he was inducted into the Kansas City Black Achievers Society.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Mark Perna, who discusses how to deal with stress and burnout in your job. We've all been there, with sleepless nights and nagging insecurities. Dennis and Mark discuss their own challenges and ways to deal with the two-headed monster of stress and burnout.

Dennis is joined by Will Baggett, an author, motivational speaker, and authority on personal branding, body language, and soft skills leadership. A self-described "speaker snob," Dennis was blown away when he heard Will give a presentation at the IEDC Leadership Conference. Dennis and Will discuss how to find your North Star and exercise your leadership muscle.

Will Baggett, former operations manager for the College Football Playoff, is an award-winning major events professional, former strength coach, and dynamic speaker. In early 2020, the White House recognized Will for outstanding communications and service to the President of the United States.

Will has also helped produce events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, and a host of college football bowl games. Over his six-year coaching career, Will helped produce 19 NFL draft picks, including two first-round picks.

The Blueprint for a Successful Career, Will’s first book, was released in 2017 to widespread acclaim and has been added to the curriculum at six nationally accredited universities. He began speaking in 2017 and has since delivered over 250 keynotes, inspiring over 50,000 people across multigenerational workplaces in both the public and private sectors.

Will is considered to be the undisputed authority in personal branding, body language, and soft skills leadership, resulting in a 98.13% approval rating across all his speeches.

Will is highly regarded as the most interactive speaker in the country. He leverages his unique INFJ personality and quick wit to leave teams more inspired and connected than ever before.

Will, also a part-time actor, has appeared in national commercials for the PGA Tour, Coors Light, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Southwest Airlines, and VistaPrint.

Check out Will's new book, Hues of Hope.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Ella Woger-Nieves, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Puerto Rico. Dennis and Ella discuss all things Puerto Rico, from the thriving pharmaceutical industry to the highly educated workforce and tax benefits.

Ella Woger-Nieves, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Puerto Rico, leads the organization’s mission of promoting the Island as a competitive investment jurisdiction and attracting new businesses and capital to the island.

Woger-Nieves was responsible for Invest PR’s start-up from an operational standpoint in 2018, playing an instrumental role in the organization’s creation by helping establish its mission, objectives, and roadmap to accomplishing them.

The newly appointed CEO has a proven record of working with Fortune 500 companies throughout her 20-year marketing and management consulting career. She has vast experience leading and facilitating strategic planning, market analysis, and organizational restructuring initiatives for local and multinational corporations across various industries, including government, financial services, manufacturing, and the non-profit sector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

It's another 500th special edition show! Dennis is joined by Develop This! contributing correspondents Joi Cuartero Austin and Sean Maguire. Dennis, Joi, and Sean pull out their crystal balls and discuss what the future holds for working economic development professionals.

Join Dennis and Develop This! cofounder Jason Hutcheson as they reminisce about the podcast's early days and wax poetic about their personal journeys and what the future holds.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Mike Neal - President and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Mike presents a master class on how to build and lead a dynamic team of professionals and how to utilize strategic partnerships to build a world-class organization.

Mike Neal is in his 18th year as president and chief executive officer of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. In 2018, the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives (OCCE) inducted Mike into their Hall of Fame in recognition of his 30 years of service to the chamber industry. Tulsa People named Mike the 2011 Tulsan of the Year for his limitless energy, can-do optimism and tireless efforts toward making Tulsa a better place. Mike is heavily involved with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He serves on its Foundation Board of Directors, its Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and its Transportation Infrastructure & Logistics Committee. Mike is also the current chairman of their Accrediting Board of Directors. He also serves on the boards of the International Economic Development Council and the Southern Economic Development Council.

Mike leads the Chamber's staff of more than 65 full-time professionals in the areas of economic development, regional tourism, government affairs and community development. The Chamber is a partner in prosperity to more than 2,200 member organizations across an 11-county region.

MISSIONWe transform the Tulsa region by attracting and retaining employers, talent, and tourism for long-term prosperity.

VISIONThe Tulsa region is a global destination for individual and community prosperity.

WE ARE...

Positive – We exhibit positivity toward our colleagues and a passionate devotion to our community.
Innovative – We seek fresh ideas and solutions to lead our region forward.
Inclusive – We embrace diversity and foster collaboration.
Engaged – We are fully attentive and focused in service to one another, our members and our partners.
Accountable – We maintain integrity, strive for excellence, and seek continuous improvement in our work and ourselves.

Representing more than 2,150 member organizations and more than 178,000 workers, the Tulsa Regional Chamber is the primary driver of regional and individual prosperity in northeast Oklahoma. The Chamber develops and delivers a wide variety of programs and services designed to bolster and benefit Tulsa-area businesses of all shapes and sizes, from large corporations to small startups. For more than 115 years, the Chamber has served as an integral part of what makes the Tulsa region a great place to live, work and play.

Our strategic initiatives include:

Economic Development Collaborate with regional partners to position northeast Oklahoma for increased economic activity.

Regional TourismLeverage the region's competitive identity to market Tulsa as a destination for tourism, sports, and culture.

Government AffairsBuild coalitions to achieve pro-business public policy at the local, state and federal levels.

Community DevelopmentCreate vibrant places that support and enrich quality of life and regional economic activity.

Tulsa's Future is the Chamber's multi-county regional economic development partnership supported by public and private investors. Since 2005, Tulsa's Future has supported the creation of more than 80,000 jobs and more than $6 billion in capital investment.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Suzanne Dale Estey, Executive Director of the Washington Economic Development Association. Dennis and Suzanne preview the 2024 IEDC Future Forum and talk all things Washington State.

The 2024 Economic Future Forum will be held in Spokane, Washington, on June 16-18

The 2024 Future Forum will explore 'Transformational Economic Development' and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Expo '74, Spokane's community-changing World Fair mega-event. Discover how Spokane's innovative businesses, events, projects, technologies, and workforce talent have revolutionized communities for the better.

A sample of the Future Forum programs

Unlocking Inclusive Energy Opportunities
Community Buy-In, Circular Economy, and Zero Waste Strategies
Putting CHIPS Act Dollars to Work
Cultural Vibrancy & Creative Entrepreneurship
The Community Placemaking Roundtable
The Interdisciplinary Think-tank
Breaking Down Creative Economy Data
AI's Influence on the Modern Workforce
Local Libraries as Entrepreneurship Incubators
Conservation, Ecotourism, and Rural Prosperity
Reactivating Art in Your Community

Explore the 'Capital of the Intermountain Northwest,' with a diverse economy serving nearly 2 million people. The area boasts a thriving labor market and is a hub for healthcare, transportation, clean energy, education, and recreation.

Learn how Spokane balances population growth, conservation, and innovative industries while still maintaining a flourishing downtown where more than half of the buildings are on the Historic Register.

Discover how Spokane became the smallest city ever to host the World's Fair and the first to present an environmentally-themed exhibition in 1972.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Mark Perna, who discusses leadership and how to develop your leadership style.

Leadership - the action of leading a group of people or an organization

Leadership is only evident when it’s poor

Leadership is not one-size-fits-all

There are many styles of leadership…Example servant leaders

A servant leader shares power, puts the needs of the employees and organization first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Instead of the people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people

Golden rule - one should treat others as one would like to be treated

Would you want to work for you?

Be intellectually curious – Read- Embrace new ideas and challenges
Change your leadership style as needed
Know what you don’t know – It’s okay that you don’t know everything
Find a mentor - Develop a peer group
Develop the strength of your convictions
Delegate – Hire good people and get out of their way
Personal integrity – What do you do when no one is watching?

Embrace those with other opinions

Team of Rivals Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Be a thetic – Empathetic and Sympathetic
You can be in the same place and have a totally different experience
Laugh at yourself

"The knowledge of how little you can do alone teaches you humility." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Kevin Dick, President and Chief Executive Officer Carolina Small Business Development Fund in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area. They discuss the importance of small businesses as part of the ecosystem of a community, region, and state.

The Carolina Small Business Development Fund is a not-for-profit organization of over 30 dedicated professionals with three focus areas - small business financial capital, small business technical assistance and growth, and policy research/development.

Since 2020, the organization has seen a dramatic increase in loan production and has provided loans, loan modifications, deferred payments, and grants to over 1,200 businesses throughout the State of NC. We have eclipsed the $102M mark in capital deployment dating back to when we began providing loans in 2010 and growing the number from $71M to $102M in three years. We have an outstanding team that is all in on equitable economic development and helping small businesses grow.

WE ARE TORCH BEARERS - Providing small business loans, training, and research to support entrepreneurs.

Our Story

Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit guided by the belief that when small businesses succeed, everyone benefits. When we first opened our doors in 1990 as the North Carolina Minority Support Center, we were providing technical assistance to financial institutions and entrepreneurs, and in our first 20 years of service to our state, we administered millions of dollars in grants to help address the needs of unserved and underserved people and communities.

When the financial crisis of 2008 threatened Main Street firms across our state and nation, our leadership knew that we were in the position to not only double down on our work serving underserved communities, but to expand our services as well. We ushered in a new era for our work in 2011, when we made our first loan to a North Carolina small business, and eventually became a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2013. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic's economic aftershocks, we doubled down once again and expanded our services to ensure that our state's small businesses could succeed, and the communities they serve would benefit.

Since opening in 1990, we have met entrepreneurs at the crossroads of hardship and opportunity—and we will continue to light the way forward for whatever comes next

Denisse Carter - Economic Development Administrator Doña Ana County

Dennis is joined by Denisse Carter - Economic Development Administrator Doña Ana County, a newly minted Certified Economic Developer. Dennis and Denisse discuss the certification process and the benefits of becoming a Certified Economic Developer.

T The coursework for the CEcD certification program is divided into 2 categories: Core Competency and Elective Competency

You must attend all 4 Core Competency training courses listed below

• Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC)

• Business Retention & Expansion

• Economic Development Credit Analysis

• Real Estate Development & Reuse

You must attend any 2 Elective Competency training courses listed below

• Economic Development Finance Programs

• Economic Development Marketing & Attraction

• Economic Development Strategic Planning

• Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development Strategies

• Foreign Direct Investment & Exporting

• Managing Economic Development Organizations

• Neighborhood Development Strategies

• Technology-Led Economic Development

• Workforce Development Strategies

• Introduction to Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development or Accelerating Growth Through Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development

Attend CEcD Exam Essentials Workshop

4 Submit the CEcD Exam Application & Fee $610

T The CEcD Exam is made up of 3 sections:

Multiple Choice/Short Answer - The questions come directly from the training manuals for the 4 Core Competency courses and 2 Elective Competency courses, which are chosen by the candidate.

Essay - This section requires the candidate to write responses to prompts related to Business Retention & Expansion, Economic Development Credit Analysis, and Real Estate Development & Reuse. The candidate will also need to select 2 additional prompts and respond to those as they see fit.

Oral Interview - The candidate must pass both the Multiple Choice/Short Answer and Essay sections in order to move on to the Oral Interview. In this section, the candidate will be interviewed by a panel of current CEcDs. If the candidate passes this section, then they will be a newly minted CEcD with IEDC!

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Trish Heidenreich, Founder/CEO of EDI Group -Economic Development Initiatives Group. Trish recently underwent a career change. Previously, she was the Director of Economic Development for the Town of Bel Air, MD. and now is a self-employed consultant and founder of the EDI Group.

Trish and Dennis discuss career paths in economic development and finding your road to success. They also dive into Trish's time working in the world of Rock and Roll.

Dennis is joined by Mignonne Hollis, the executive director of the Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation and founder of Aerospace Arizona

Dennis and Mignonne discuss the opportunities and challenges of economic development work in rural America and rural Arizona. Just because you live in a rural area does not mean you can't do cool things. Mignonne discusses her work helping create Aerospace Arizona.

Mignonne Hollis
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation (AREDF)
Aerospace Arizona

Dennis is joined by generational expert Mark C. Perna. Dennis and Mark discuss the inherent bias older generations have against younger generations. Mark Perna is the author of Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Henry Silentman, the program manager at the Shiprock Regional Business Development office in Northwest New Mexico. Dennis and Henry discuss the opportunities and challenges of working in economic development in the Navajo Nation

Finding Your Path in Economic Development

Dennis is joined by Develop This! contributing correspondents Joi Cuartero Austin CEcd, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality with Main Street America, and Sean M. Maguire, AICP CEcD Economic Development and Planning Executive. Together, they discuss finding Your Path in Economic Development.

Economic development is a broad career track. How do you find your niche?

A career in economic development can take you in so many different directions, and many people do not start out to be an economic development professional.

How can you best prepare for the ever-changing landscape of the economic development world?

Is it better to be a generalist or a specialist?

Should you follow your passion?

What are some considerations you would look for in a position?

Dennis is joined by Eloisa Klementich, CEcd, PhD, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta and IEDC board chair. They discuss Eloisa's career path in economic development and her plans and goals for IEDC.

What does it take to become an Accredited Economic Development Organization? The St. Tammany Corp in Mandeville, LA, recently completed the process. There are over 5,000 economic development organizations, and fewer than 80 have achieved this prestigious designation.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Chris Masingill, CEO, and Ashley Llewellyn, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives with the St. Tammany Corp. They discuss the AEDO process from the organizations perspective.

Dennis is joined by Jonas Peterson, the CEO of Southwest Michigan First and IEDC's Immediate Past Chair. Jonas also talks about his economic development career journey and his current role as the CEO of Southwest Michigan First, his time as the chair of IEDC, and the growth and future of IEDC.

Dennis is joined by Mark Perna, who discusses ten habits that can keep us from reaching our full potential.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey

Be Proactive

Begin With the End in Mind

Put First Things First

Think Win-Win

Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Synergize

Sharpen the Saw

What are the habits that keep us from success and achieving our full potential?

Procrastination

a. Set goals

b. Prioritize tasks

c. Start with the most challenging task

d. Build in some rewards

Perfectionism

a. Do not let perfect be the enemy of good

b. Whose standards?

c. Cannot let go of something

i. Missed deadlines

Impulsiveness

a. Instant reward

i. Hooked on the adrenaline and feelings

b. Shopping

c. Not considering long-term consequences

Not listening

a. Two ears, one mouth

b. Are you really interested in what others have to say or just promoting your opinion?

c. Listening is an underrated skill

Not Being Able to See the Other Side

a. There is usually more than one path

b. The need to be in control

c. Everyone makes decisions differently

d. Not thinking Win-Win

Not Being Able to Succinctly Articulate Your Position

a. Droning on and on

b. Respectful of people’s time

c. Learning to effectively communicate

i. Volume talkers

Working on the Wrong Things

a. What is the most important thing you should be working on right now?

b. Doing only the things you want to do

c. Confusing busy with effective

Being Easily Distracted

a. Distractions are everywhere

i. Phones

ii. Social media

iii. Texting

iv. Drop-in visits

Failing to Take Risk and Think Big – Or Too Many Risks

a. Accepting the status quo

b. Whopper or stretch goals

c. Having a shiny object to chase

d. Sometimes, you just have to go to the moon

Lack of Self-care

a. Unplugging from work

b. Personal care

i. Health

ii. Exercise

iii. Wellness

c. Managing stress

In this episode, Dennis offers up some common sense strategies to help deal with tough budget times.

Do great work
Communicate
Measure
Build coalitions
Measure your organization against your peers
Build relationships
Be transparent
Engage your board

Dennis's organization, Lee County Economic Development Group, recently became an AEDO - Accredited Economic Development Organization through IEDC. Dennis is joined by Bill Murphy - President & CEO of Ardmore Development Authority in Ardmore, OK, and Jim Fram - Consultant and Economic Development Leader - of Community Growth Strategies, and they discuss the process of becoming an Accredited Economic Development Organization.

What is AEDO, and why is it important?
How many AEDOs are there?
Why does good governance and organizational excellence matter?
When an organization decides to pursue the AEDO designation, what is the first step?
Is there an area of the AEDO process that seems to be particularly challenging for ED organizations?
Is the AEDO process pass or fail, or does the AEDO committee provide guidance during the process?
The two parts of the AEDO process
- 1. The documentation
- The site visit
Advice for organizations that are considering becoming an AEDO

William “Bill” Murphy is the President & CEO of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, Ardmore Development Authority, Ardmore Tourism Authority, and the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce Foundation where he leads a team of professionals to execute the community’s business, economic and tourism development efforts.

He has over 20 years of experience leading economic development efforts in communities and regions in Ohio, Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Ardmore, Murphy served as the Deputy Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce where he led the state’s business development efforts through the department’s business attraction, in-state business development, international and community development divisions. He has also led the economic development efforts in Tulsa, Columbus, GA and in communities throughout Southwest Ohio. Through this work, he has helped facilitate projects with companies that have resulted in more than $3 billion in announced new capital investment and more than 3,000 jobs.

Murphy is a graduate of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio earning his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and his Master’s in Public Administration. He is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council. Murphy has also earned his designation as an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council. Finally, he has earned his Master Economic Development Practitioner designation from the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program from Clemson, Southern Miss, Texas Christian Universities and the University of New Mexico.

Jim Fram is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) with 30+ years of successful economic development and senior-level chamber of commerce management experience in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Jim led two economic development organizations to accreditation by the International Economic Development Council (Tulsa, OK, and Hot Springs, AR). He also led three Chambers of Commerce to Five Star Accreditation by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce (Lincoln, NE, Tulsa, OK, Hot Springs, AR).

He has served on the faculty at the Heartland Basic Economic Development Course and the Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course. He is a past Chairman of the Oklahoma Governor’s Economic Development Team (2007). He is an Honorary Life Member of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) and a Fellow Member (FM) of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He is also a frequent instructor, moderator, and guest speaker at numerous economic development and Chamber of Commerce organizations, conferences, and events across the country.

In January of 2018, he fulfilled a longtime dream and founded Community Growth Strategies, LLC., a consulting firm that focuses on assisting communities as well as regional economic development efforts and chambers of commerce. His office is in his home in Columbia, MO, where his wife, Kelli, is a consultant, project manager, and instructor at Westminster College.

Working on the Other Side: From Elected Official to Economic Development

In this episode, contributing correspondent Joi Cuartero Austin is joined by Kyle Moore, President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation in Quincy and Adams County, Illinois. Kyle discusses his journey from elected official to economic development professional.

Going from the private sector, to elected official, to economic development.
Stakeholders working together in a big, small town on a community strategic plan.
Perspective on working on the public and private side of economic development.
Advice for economic developers working from elected officials as representatives of the business community.
Helping elected officials understand the role of their local economic development organization.
Methods of sharing economic development successes.

In this episode, Dennis opens up about what he believes are the three biggest mistakes he has made in workforce programming. Dennis and Mark discuss the realities and difficulties of developing workforce programming.

In this short episode, Dennis reflects on his day and how assembling a like-minded group of people can make or break a project.

Dennis is joined by IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle, and they discuss the growth and changes at IEDC over the past year. They also discuss the future of IEDC and the economic development profession.

New IEDC Strategic Plan
Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship
$1 million research initiative Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Dennis and Mark Perna make bold predictions on the future of our workforce and what lies ahead for our employers.

Mark's book - Answering Why

In this episode, contributing correspondent Joi Cuartero Austin is joined by Jackie Swihart, Program Officer with Main Street America. Joi and Jackie discuss Leadership and board burnout

Economic development is challenging, with a lot of responsibility in building community prosperity, which is why you need a strong vision, good planning, and even better leadership at the helm of economic development and other partner organizations. Furthermore, if we weren’t already having trouble keeping good staff and board members, the pandemic really highlighted challenges with recruitment and retention. So, what can organizations do to help with leadership burnout and cultivate a strong pipeline?

Staff:

Great Resignation or Turnover Tsunami: Do you think it’s slowing down?
What do you think expectations are now when hiring for leadership staff roles?

Board:

Difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteers.
What has changed in volunteerism in general?

General:

Our work usually takes us into disinvested communities, whether rural or neighborhood commercial districts, where nonprofit/community organizations often operate with limited resources. How do you navigate resource constraints while still striving for meaningful impact?

With the communities you have worked with, are there any trends you have been seeing with staff and board members as it pertains to burnout?

Economic development work can be demanding. How do you balance the need for ambitious goals with the well-being of your team members to prevent burnout?

How important is collaboration with local partners, businesses, and government entities in the success of economic development initiatives in these communities in avoiding burnout?

How do you recognize and address signs of burnout among your team members?

What should organizations be prioritizing to help keep staff and build better boards?

Do you ever wonder how extremely busy people get so much done? Dennis is joined by Mark Perna and they discuss tips and strategies to be more effective at work. They also discuss the difference between activity and productivity.

Email strategies
How to empower others
Effective onboarding
Spending your time effectively
Silence internal negative talk

Dennis is joined by Mid America Economic Development Council's immediate past president, Horton Hobbs, to discuss the recent MAEDC Competitiveness Conference in Indianapolis. Dennis and Horton talk about highlights from the conference, Mid-Amercia EDC, and upcoming 2024 conferences.

In this episode, contributing corespondent Sean M. Maguire talks affordable housing and economic development with Stephane Frijja, President and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.

Dennis is joined by Keith A. Gillenwater, CEcD, MEDP, MPA, President & CEO of Grow Wabash County, and Jeff Pipkin, Economic Development Manager at Hoosier Energy, to discuss the Mid America EDC Competitiveness Conference.

Dennis, Keith, and Jeff discuss what makes the Competitivness Conference special. The conference is designed and planned by working economic development professionals. There's something for everyone from big idea projects to nuts and bolts advice, tours, and their world -famous karaoke.

Don't miss one of the best conferences in Amercia for economic development professionals. This year the conference is being held in a new city, Indianapolis, IN. Learn how Indianapolis has become the amauetuer sports capital of the United States.

2023 Mid-America Competitiveness Conference November 29th – December 1st Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

Register today!

In this episode Dennis talks about finding a career-changing mentor late in life. Phil, Dennis' mentor recently passed away and Dennis reflects and discusses the difference having the right mentor can make in your life. To honor his mentor Dennis wants to give back by paying it forward to a Develop This listener.

Dennis is joined by generational expert Mark C. Perna. Mark has spent 2023 speaking to 100's of education, community and economic development groups and organizations with 10,000's of people. Mark gives his insight into the trends, opportunities, and challenges he see's working with the generations and organizations involved in workforce development. Finally Mark and Dennis discuss what gives them hope for the future.

Winning Ugly

In this episode Dennis talks about how we measure success and why being flashy may not always yield the best results.

Iowa Football Statistics

Iowa's offense is currently ranked 133 of 133 in the FBS. Through 7 games, they have 13 total offensive TDs and have punted the ball 47 times. They average less than 250 total yards per game.

Despite this, they have a top 10 scoring defense and are sitting comfortably atop the Big 10 West at 6-1.

To have his contract extended beyond June 30, 2024, Ferentz, the son of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, needs his offense to average 25 points over 13 games this season, and the team must win seven games.

And the "Drive to 325" was born.

Six of the top 10 highest-scoring teams (USC, Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida State) are averaging double what Iowa scores on average. The Trojans' offense, which has the highest points-per-game average in college football at 51.8

Iowa ranks 118th or lower, out of 133 FBS teams, in the following eight categories:

Red zone touchdown rate: 118

Points per drive: 119

Three-and-out rate: 127

Yards-per-play: 128

Yards-per-game: 130

Yards-per-game: 132

Yards-per-drive: 132

Success rate average: 132 128th in rushing, 131st in passing)

The Hawkeyes rank dead last in yards per game, averaging 249.2.

Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis - Lessons from a Master – Brad Gilbert

He's been called the best in the world at the mental game of tennis. Brad Gilbert's strokes may not be pretty, but looks aren't everything. He has beaten the tour's biggest names - all by playing his "ugly" game. Now, in Winning Ugly, Gilbert teaches recreational players how to win more often without necessarily even changing their strokes.

The key to success, he says, is to become a better thinking player - to recognize, analyze, and capitalize. That means out-thinking opponents before, during, and after a match - forcing him or her to play your game. Gilbert's unconventional advice includes:

Solid Economic Development Fundamentals

Build relationships
Create action
Action even if not successful, beats inaction

Workforce program

Know your employers
Understand their needs
Be a catalyst

BRE

Check-ins
Early warning signs for problems
Appreciate what you have

Attraction

Maps
Utility information
Up to date data

Solid fundamentals will take you a long way

Add a mix of creativity and relationships and you have a winning formula

William H. “Wee Willie” Keeler was one of the smallest players ever in major league baseball at 5-foot-4, 140 pounds. But he had one of the biggest bats in the game, both figuratively and literally, weighing up to 46 ounces.

His motto was, “Keep your eye on the ball and hit ‘em where they ain’t,” and it certainly worked for the third baseman-turned-outfielder. Keeler had 13 straight seasons in which he batted over .300 and he reached the mark in 16 of the 19 years he played. He had a lifetime average of .345 and for seven straight seasons he also had an on-base percentage that was above .400.

Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Master

Recorded at the 2023 IEDC Annual Conference in Dallas, TX. Dennis is joined by Develop This! contributing correspondent Sean Maguire. Dennis and Sean give a recap and review of the 2023 IEDC Annual Conference in Dallas, TX.

New IEDC Strategic Plan

PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR SOLVING HOUSING SHORTAGES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

Bethany Quinn - Vice President of Strategy and Content Development for Golden Shovel

Dennis is joined by Bethany Quinn from Golden Shovel, and they discuss PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR SOLVING HOUSING SHORTAGES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, a Golden Shovel white paper.

For economic developers housing is one of the major topics we deal with, especially workforce housing.

The data behind the Golden Shovel white paper and the role the pandemic played
Pre-pandemic communities were facing housing shortages that negatively impacted their ability to grow. Compnaies needed more housing for their employees. People couldn’t move for employment opportunities because there wasn’t affordable housing
Housing shortages are now at the forefront of public consciousness and the existing housing costs exponentially more.
Case-Shiller Index Report showed an 18.8% annual home price increase. Zumper’s National Rent Report showed that rent for a one-bedroom apartment hit an all-time high of $1,400 in 2022, for the national average– this is a 12 percent year-over-year increase.
The United States alone has a housing shortfall of 3.8 million units. According to Freddie Mac researchers, “The main driver of the housing shortfall has been the long-term decline in the construction of single-family homes. T

Information Contained in a Housing Study

The structure of a housing study varies from consultant to consultant and is based on community priorities. Some of the common features are as follows:

• Analysis of current housing supply, broken down by owner-occupied vs. rental, and type of housing.

• Report on the condition of current housing stock, including identifying the number of homes that should be torn down or need serious renovations to be livable.

• Analysis of the affordability of housing for the existing workforce.

• Estimate how many housing units will be needed, per category, over the next five years.

• Location breakdown for housing demand (necessary for a regional report).

• Determination of how many housing units need to be built as “workforce housing.”

• Determination of how much senior housing will be needed.

• A projection of how the housing needs could change if the EDO’s work results in job growth.

• Analysis of the community’s current development capabilities and if outside developers will be needed to meet housing targets.

Best Practices

Pattern Zoning & Pre-Approvals As a Strategy in Claremore, OK
EMPOWER INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS TO BUILD
INCENTIVES & POLICY TO SPUR WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Spurring Housing Development Without Significant Capital in Clinton, Iowa
REZONE TO INCREASE DENSITY
REPURPOSE LAND & BUILDINGS
TURN BLIGHT INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Ron Kresha - COO & CFO Golden Shovel

Creating a Marketing Plan

Ron Kresha, Chief Operating Officer, is a founding member who helped start Golden Shovel Agency on the premise that every community deserves to be recognized and to have the tools needed to compete for businesses and jobs. He is committed to providing services that improve communities and people’s lives. Ron refers to himself as a serial entrepreneur who has been told he’s “too stupid to know how to fail”. He wears that as a badge of honor as a person who never quits on people, companies, or communities.

How has marketing for economic development groups changed?

How have websites changed and how we access information changed?

The percentage of global web traffic on mobile phones has surged over the past decade. In May 2023, 51.52% of all web traffic came through mobile phones, with the average for 2023 so far coming in at 56.86%.

The importance of a Strategic Marketing Plan

Golden Sovel white paper AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPER’S COMPLETE GUIDE TO MARKETING & SEO STRATEGIES

Strategic marketing is creating a comprehensive plan that aligns with an organization’s overall strategy to achieve specific objectives. It involves:

Identifying the target audience & understanding the competition.
Developing a unique value proposition (UVP).
Creating a marketing mix that effectively communicates your message.

This long-term process requires a deep understanding of the market and the organization’s goals.

CRAFTING & EXECUTING A STRATEGIC MARKETING PLAN

To achieve success, economic developers must effectively execute their plans, measure the effectiveness of their marketing efforts, and adjust their approach as needed to ensure the desired results are achieved.

Determine your marketing mix. Decide which marketing channels (such as advertising, PR, social media, email marketing, etc.) will most effectively reach your target audience and achieve your goals.
Create a budget. Allocate resources to each of your marketing channels and tactics. Be sure to consider both the cost of creating and executing the marketing plan and the potential return on investment.
Develop a timeline. Create a timeline for executing your marketing plan. Assign specific tasks and deadlines to team members responsible for each tactic.
Implement the plan. Begin running your marketing tactics according to your timeline.
Measure and analyze results. Continuously monitor your marketing efforts and analyze your results. Use data to identify what’s working and what’s not, and adjust your plan accordingly.

GET SMART

SMART goals are a popular framework for setting and achieving goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Specific: Be clear and specific about the results. Instead of setting a vague goal like “post more content,” set a specific goal like “post relevant community events every week for ten weeks.”
Measurable: Ensure your goal is measurable. This means setting criteria for success, such as tracking your social media interactions and increasing economic development conversations.
Achievable: Set goals that are realistic and achievable. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting an unrealistic goal. Instead, ensure your goals can realistically be accomplished with your current resources and abilities.
Relevant: Make your goals relevant to your larger objectives and values. Ask yourself if the goal will help you achieve something meaningful.
Time-bound: Set a deadline for your goal. Stay focused and motivated. For example, set a deadline of three months to aggressively

Using SMART goals will make your goals clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, setting you up for success.

TOP REASONS STRATEGIC MARKETING PLANS FAIL

There are several reasons why strategic marketing plans can fail.

#1 Poor planning – successful strategic marketing requires a well-defined plan with clear objectives, target audience, and tactics. If an EDO fails to plan correctly, it can result in inadequate or ineffective marketing efforts.

#2 Not understanding your target audience – an EDO’s marketing strategy depends on how well it understands its audience. Failure to understand can lead to marketing campaigns that are irrelevant, uninteresting, or unappealing.

#3 Insufficient resources – implementing a strategic marketing plan can be costly, and a lack of resources can result in an inability to execute the plan effectively. This can include lacking financial resources, human resources, or time.

#4 Poor execution – even the best marketing plan can fail if the execution is poor. Poor execution can result from a lack of attention to detail, ineffective communication, or insufficient training and support.

#5 Inability to adapt – the marketplace is constantly changing, and a successful marketing strategy requires adapting to these changes. Failure to adapt can result in a marketing strategy that is no longer effective or relevant.

#6 Lack of differentiation – in today’s highly competitive market, it’s crucial for companies to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Failure to differentiate can make it difficult to attract and retain businesses and workforce.

Pulling together the components for a website or marketing effort derails most people.

Copy
Photos
Data
Graphics

Golden Shovel has a four step process

Schedule a call
Develop a strategy
Engage
Measure success

In this episode Dennis gets personal about how a week of good news and bad news affected him. Economic development professionals get an up close and personal look at the highs and lows that happen in their communities. It's never easy to feel helpless trying to save a facility and people's jobs in your community.

Aaron Brossoit – Golden Shovel

Dennis is joined by Aaron Brossoit, the CEO of Golden Shovel. In this episode, they discuss the changes in digital marketing and what the future holds as we enter the metaverse and AI takes hold

Aaron Brossoit, Chief Executive Officer, was a founding member of Golden Shovel and has been with the company since September 2009. He began as VP of Business Development and filled the COO position prior to becoming CEO. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University, Aaron co-founded a digital marketing agency in central Minnesota - a company he ran for ten years before joining GSA.

Aaron’s day-to-day responsibilities include giving presentations and traveling to different communities and industry-related events. He is also active in product and market development and planning for the future while also supporting the amazing Golden Shovel team wherever needed. His favorite project so far includes working with the PlaceVR clients who are joining us in making virtual reality a “reality” as a key tool in the economic development toolkit.

Aaron enjoys working with economic development organizations, knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of families and the vitalities of communities, especially in rural and underserved areas, where relatively few new jobs can have a massive impact on the region.

Golden Shovel is now a full-service agency

Business Attraction

Workforce Attraction

Regional Strategies

Tourism

Marketing Strategy blueprints

Branding

Website Development

Content Creation

Marketing

Ongoing support

Opportunity Zone Strategy

Video & VR Services

The Golden Shovel four step process

Schedule a call

Develop a strategy

Engage

Measure success

Dennis is joined by IEDC Presdent and CEO Nathan Ohle to discuss the upcoming IEDC 2023 Annual Conference, September 17 – 20th, 2023 – in Dallas, Texas

Dallas, TX, is one of the country's most economically and socially diverse cities. The 1920s were an age of dramatic political, technological, and social change for some, yet not for others. In Dallas, we'll usher in the next-generation 'Roaring 20s,' spotlighting how to build thriving, sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities for tomorrow.

Our sights are set on ensuring future prosperity by focusing on economic diversity and resilience now, building on past successes, and inspiring the next ‘Roaring 20s!’ This innovative Annual Conference will explore, modernize, and grow successful industry strategies and practices by focusing on each of IEDC’s five strategic initiatives below.

Leadership Development

Workforce & Talent Development

Supporting Entrepreneurship

Fostering Economic Opportunity & Diversity

Economic Transformation

Conference Location and Hotel:

Hilton Anatole

2201 N Stemmons Fwy

Dallas, TX 75207

Joseph Stefko, ROC2025 President and CEO, joins Develop This! contributing correspondent Sean Maguire. Sean and Joe talk about what's changed in Rochester for the better and how it's shaking off the rust belt of the past.

Fun and interesting things about Rochester include food, museums, wine, and more.
Economic Development in Rochester Today
- More than Kodak
How does ROC2025 fit in?
In 2020, the City of Rochester posted its first decennial population increase since the 1950s.
The number of full- and part-time jobs in the Rochester MSA is higher today than in 1982 when Kodak hit its peak employment level.
Rochester has one of the nation's highest densities of enrolled college students, ranking sixth among major US metros.
Rochester Tomorrow
What happens after 2025?

In this episode Dennis discusses the conundrum many economic development professionals find themselves in trying to deal with stakeholders on both sides of a controversial project. Some of these types of projects can incldue.

The use of eminenet domain
Utility franchise fees
Utility rate cases for rate increases
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

Dennis offers some tips to help navigate these tricky waters.

Enage your board of directors
Host a neutral forum
Communicate, communicate, communicate

Responding to RFPs is a Team Sport

Dennis and Broderick discuss the sometimes intense process of responding to a request for a proposal with a tight deadline. RFPs many times come on short notice and successfully completing the RFP requires being prepared and having a team of rapid response partners.

RFPs can come from a variety of sources

· State ED

· Site selectors

· Utility partners

· Rail partners

Being prepared

High-quality maps

Acreage, ownership, selling price, and location

· Topography

· Wetlands

· Floodplains – We’re near the Mississippi River

· Transportation access

· Utilities

Make sure that you answer all of the questions

Develop relationships with your partners

Utility providers
Rail partners
City and county officials
COG/Regional Planning organization
Environmental specialist

We use the format required and requested

Always include a packet of supporting documentation

Import RFP takeaways

· Be prepared

· Have maps

· Create a spreadsheet of information

· Know who knows the answer

· If you don’t know something say so

Friend of the show Mark Perna joins Dennis and they discuss Mark's experience in taking the IEDC Basic Economic Development Course in Nashville.

Why did Mark Perna decide to take the IEDC Basic Economic Development Class?
What was Mark's impression of the class?
How can the IEDC Basic ED Course help others better understand economic development?

“Making semiconductor chips in Upstate New York” with Develop This! Contributing Correspondent Sean Maguire and guest Nick Bruno from MV EDGE.

Sean and Nick discuss their love of Utica and semiconductor projects in upstate New York

Tomato pie, chicken riggies, and Utica Club beer
How’d you get here?
How did you get into semiconductor work?
Overview of Wolfspeed in Marcy/Utica
How did the work in Albany set the stage for Wolfspeed?
How does Wolfspeed fit into the Micron investment in Syracuse?
What went well? What was right?
What would you improve if you had the chance to do it all over again?

Dennis is joined by Mark Perna and they discuss how economic development professionals can help our business and industry partners connect with students. In a time of full employment, worker shortages, and a skills gap business and industry partners are increasingly looking to economic development professionals to help bridge the gap with their future workforce.

There is an increase in job fairs, career expos, and career exploration events. A company's approach to these events can make or break a business's recruiting efforts. Dennis and Mark discuss best practices and ways to help foster an understanding of today's generation of workers.

Connect with Mark Perna

Economic Gardening: No Green Thumb Needed

Economic Gardening is an economic development model that embraces the idea that entrepreneurs drive economies and places a laser-like focus on creating jobs by supporting existing companies in a community. It originated in the late 80s in Littleton, CO when the state was in a recession and the community lost a major employer. Local leaders realized that only a small percentage of all companies were “high growth” but those companies were creating the majority of new jobs.

Since 1989, Littleton (current population 45,000), has added 15,000+ jobs, with no incentives.

Nathan Ohle – President and CEO of IEDC

Economic Recovery Corps - Program launched on May 11th

The Economic Recovery Corps Program (ERC) is a multi-year, $30 million collaborative initiative designed to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in distressed communities and regions throughout the U.S. by connecting organizations with the talent and capacity needed to advance new ways of doing economic development that promote economic resilience and transformative change.

The ERC is funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the CARES Act and led by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in partnership with six leading national organizations: Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACo RF), National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation (NADO RF), National League of Cities Institute (NLCI), and RAIN Catalysts.

Two Main Goals:

Build capacity in under resourced communities or regions to accelerate their economic development work and drive more equitable economic outcomes

To build a pipeline of the next generation of economic development leaders

Why This Initiative? Why Now?

The Economic Recovery Corps was created to address long-standing economic issues in America that came into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for historically underserved populations and communities, which led to vastly different outcomes that continue to impact recovery efforts. Economic development approaches have and will continue to pivot in the coming years, and to ensure that communities do not get left further behind, new approaches to building capacity are necessary.

About the Program

To meet this moment, IEDC and its partners are building a nationwide corps of diverse, cross-sector talent with the skills and expertise to help activate regional economic development strategies that promote connectivity, innovation, and knowledge-sharing between urban, rural, and tribal areas across the U.S. Over the course of the 2.5-year (30 month) fellowship, selected host organizations will receive technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building support from an ERC Fellow who will be based in their community or region.

IEDC and its partners will place up to 65 Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellows in economic development and related organizations in under resourced communities throughout the nation. Hosts will reflect the entire community and economic development field spectrum, from city and county government to regional coalitions, economic development organizations, economic development districts (EDDs), and entrepreneurial technical assistance providers. Fellows will be highly-trained early to mid-career professionals, equipped to help identify and advance innovative, locally-driven initiatives to build stronger, more resilient, and inclusive economies.

This new initiative has the potential to shift the practice of economic development nationwide in an unprecedented manner — by centering the concerns of under-resourced regions while simultaneously investing in a cohort of diverse practitioners and leaders equipped with the skills necessary to usher in a new era of economic prosperity that is equitable and sustainable.

2023 Economic Development Week – May 8 - 12, 2023

In this episode, Dennis and Broderick discuss Economic Development Week and why economic developers are not always great at telling their stories.

Economic Development Week gives economic development professionals a platform to showcase to their community the contributions made to their local economy throughout the year.

Utilize IEDC’s toolkit to help support your message and increase your impact

Economic Development Week was created by IEDC in 2016 to increase awareness of local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.

Are you looking to promote Economic Development within your community?
Why do you think we are sometimes hesitant to tell our story or blow our own horn?
Whose job is it to tell our story?
Every business, company, and organization has a reputation….do you know what yours is?
We must control our own narrative

Goals of Economic Development Week

Articulate: Voice the value of your contributions to your local economy
Organize: Build a base of support within your community for the work of your ED
Show and Tell: Emphasize the importance of economic development through tangible examples and peer case studies
Amplify: Spread your message and increase the exposure of all the good work your EDO does throughout the year

Prepare to get in the game in 2024!

Walking the Economic Development Tightrope

For many of us, there has been a fundamental shift in how we approach economic development. As the job market has tightened the challenge of bringing in a new project has increased exponentially. How do we continue to look for opportunities when our current employers can’t fill their staffing needs?

Everyone loves the new announcement and golden shovel ceremonies
How does that play with our existing companies?
750,000 jobs are unfilled in the manufacturing sector
Deloitte Insights predicts that 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will remain unfilled in the U.S. alone by 2030
Worker shortage and a skills Gap

In this episode Dennis as the question what do you want to be when you grow up?

Whether economic development is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th career it's never too early or late to decide what you want to be when you grow up. Are you following your childhood dream or has your career been a series of twists and turns?

Now is the time to take a look in the mirror and have a serious conversation with yourself. Sometimes the hardest part of life is being honest with yourself. Only one person really knows you and the truth.

Ask yourself the tough questions
Write down where you want to be in one, three, and five years
Do something that scares you occasionally
Life is too short not to be happy both personally and professionally

How do others understand economic development? Does AI understand our work better than others? In this episode, Develop This! contributing correspondent Sean Maguire checks in from OUEDI and draws inspiration for this show from both real life and entertainment and starts asking AI about economic development. Sean engages with ChatGPT to ask questions about economic development and considers the validity of the answers AI comes back with. He asks ChatGPT to create a script for this show, how to define economic development, and - as a planner + economic developer - why city planners make good economic developers.

Do you want Sean to ask ChatGPT your question about economic development for a future show?

Connect with Sean on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanmaguireaicp/

or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/econdevsean/ and send him your questions

Sometimes Doing the Right Thing is Hard

Caution! This is the cynical and bitter version of the Develop This! podcast!

In this episode, Dennis vents his frustrations about the difficulty of building coalitions even when you're trying to do the right thing. Dennis has made a conscious decision to be less like Neville Chamberlain and more like Winston Churchill.....Never, never, never, give up

Economic development professionals are often at the nexus of difficult projects
Everyone wants to impact workforce but doing meaningful work and doing the right thing is hard
You would think it would be easy to build coalitions and that everyone would understand what’s at stake if we fail to take action
Unfortunately, local politics, egos, and turf battles can derail even the best intentions

Neville Chamberlain was prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940. He is best known for his role in the Munich Agreement of 1938 which ceded parts of Czechoslovakia to Hitler and is now the most popular example of the foreign policy known as appeasement.

Winston Churchill was an inspirational statesman, writer, orator and leader who led Britain to victory in the Second World War. He served as Conservative Prime Minister twice - from 1940 to 1945 (before being defeated in the 1945 general election by the Labour leader Clement Attlee) and from 1951 to 1955.

Dennis would love to hear your stories of how you have overcome obstacles that your organization has faced.

Contact him at dennis@developthispodcast.com or call 319-753-0690

Dennis is joined by Mid Amercia EDC board member Brad Reams to discuss the upcoming Mid Amercia EDC Best Practices Conference May 10 - 12 in Kansas City.

We hope you can join us in Kansas City May 10-12 for the 2023 Best Practices Conference! The Best Practices Conference is the annual spring/summer conference for Mid-America EDC. This conference rotates throughout the states in the region, and we are thrilled to have Kansas and Missouri as this year’s host states!

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn best practices from industry professionals and experts. There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking with your Midwest colleagues, as well as the opportunity to experience the development and innovation that Kansas City has to offer!

Mid Amercia EDC

Best Practices Conference

Brad Reams

Dennis and Broderick discuss how to assemble a dynamic board of directors for your organization. No matter what your role is in an economic development group the quality of your board of directors directly impacts the quality of your organization.

How do you attract high quality people to serve on your board of directors?

Run a quality meeting
Start and stop on time
Respect peoples time
Be the kind of organization that people want to be a part of

Traits of a good board member

Attendance
Inquisitive
Not afraid to challenge the status quo
Community minded

Find a rock star and build around him or her

Successful people want to be around other successful people

Recruit a diverse board

Gender
Race
Age
Areas of expertise

Have term limits

Rotate the executive board and board chair

Do a thorough board member orientation

Get to know your board members

Economic Development is Not for Amateurs – Jay Garner

Board self-assessment – Board Source

Equitable Economic Development: Does Anyone Care?

Background -

“Equity” has been used a lot over the last few years

Definition: “The quality of being fair and impartial”

Last year, the IEDC released its “Equitable Economic Development Playbook” which examined structural racism in ED and promotes equitable practices and standards.

The report highlighted four fundamental “prisms” through which equitable economic development strategies could be understood and applied.

Acknowledge – acknowledge history

Target – programs and initiatives must explicitly target affected and vulnerable communities

Collaborate – equity cannot be produced from a singular source

Measure – incorporate equity and inclusion into performance metrics

It is the responsibility of all ED practitioners to promote equitable policies, practices, and standards to ensure all segments of our communities benefit from our efforts.

How Economic Development is Like the NCAA Tournament.

March Madness: Cinderella’s Buzzer Beaters, & One Shining Moment

Broderick and Dennis discuss their love of basketball and how March Madness and the NCAA basketball tournament have parallels to the work economic development professionals do in their communities. Broderick calls this the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

What elements of the tourney have some similarities to the economic developer's day-to-day work?

Final Four
Buzzer Beaters
Cinderella's
One Shinning Moment

NCAA Mens Tournament

NCAA Womens Tournament

Movie fans Dennis and Broderick reimagine the Oscars as economic development awards. They ask the questions are You and Your Organization Oscar Worthy? Entering the annual IEDC awards is a great way to measure your organization against your peers. Plus Broderick and Dennis reveal their favorite movies and which Marvel character they would be!

Production design – Your Image

Everyone, every business, and every organization has an image
Do you know what your image is?

Cinematography – Visual Impact

Branding, photography and graphics, website
Is your website up to date?

Editing - Being Concise

Distilling down your accomplishments
Annual report

Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing- Your Story

Your personal brand and your organization's brand
How are you telling your story?
Are you telling your story?
If you don’t tell your story someone else will
Selling blue sky

Directing – The Board

How did the board perform?
Board self-assessment
Board performance is tied to the CEO
Onboarding process

Supporting actor – Your team

Do you have the right team and the people in the right seats?
The work is easy….people are hard

Actor- You

How was your performance?
Did you reach your goals?

Best Picture – Your body of Work and Achievements

How did you and your organization do?
Did you have one major accomplishment or several smaller ones?
Do people gravitate toward your organization?

Entering the IEDC awards is an excellent way to measure your organization

The Oscars

How do we work together more effectively with so many generations in the office?

In this episode, young baby boomer Dennis is joined by generational expert Mark Perna to discuss working with multiple generations in the Office

Can we find a middle ground on the way our offices run?

Some Baby Boomer traits

Punctuality
Put in what ever hours are necessary to get a project done
More rigid office environment
Paying your dues

A study finds that 74% of Millennial and Gen Z employees are likely to quit within the next year due to a lack of skills development opportunities.

58% of employees are afraid that their skills have gone stale since the onset of the pandemic.

89% said they’re “extremely” or “somewhat” motivated to improve their skills this year.

Workplace Intelligence Study

If you’re in a position or with an organization long enough, you will more than likely encounter a professional relationship that becomes stained or broken.

In this episode, Dennis offers some tips and ideas to help reset a broken relationship.

Take some time to cool off
Refrain from email and social media
Reflect on your actions and role in the situation
Apologize if necessary
Reach out to attempt to reset the relationship
- A handwritten note is preferable
- Difficult to do with email
Meet at a neutral site
Keep working on the process
Some relationships can’t be repaired

Economic Development and Higher Education

Background -

One of the more interesting changes in the last two decades has been the intersection of economic development and higher education.
Universities are becoming important players in 21st-century economic development. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (representing 238 members) and the University Economic Development Association have helped higher education define its role in economic development and engagement with their local constituencies.
A framework was created to assist institutions and their partners in identifying economic development contributions and understanding how to connect to a larger vision.
Higher education institutions are adding “economic development” leadership positions
No longer primarily focused on areas of workforce development and innovation.
Colleges and universities often have large real estate holdings.
Even communities that do not have a local institution can partner with and benefit from regional entities.

These two organizations came up with a definition of economic development for higher ed that highlights three key areas:

Talent – Cradle-to-Grave Human Capital and Talent Development
Innovation – Research, Creative Works, Problem-Solving, and Entrepreneurship
Place – Community-Connected Institutions and Stewardship for Vibrant Communities

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Laura Farley Digital Curation Librarian at the People’s Archive at DC Public Library to discuss organizing and preserving your organization's digital files. Laura shares her digital preservation mantra, start small, start now.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauramfarley/

What is digital preservation?
Best practices
Concepts:
- Inventory: Documents, usable, available, scalable, current
- Use familiar software, be consistent, comprehensive, and concise
- You choose the level of detail
- You can’t and don’t want to keep everything - storage can be cheap but management is not
- How to select: Review and prioritize, define, document, implement
- Identify: what do you have
- Select: what to preserve
Store:
- long term storage of materials
- File format, access
- Access needs: online, near-line, offline storage, -- it depends on how quickly you need to access your files.
- Cost: what resources do you have, should you build, buy, or join in a collaboration with others with similar needs?
- Quantity (size and number of files)
- Expertise: What are the skills required to manage your digital objects and do you have these or need to pay for them
- Reliability: is the storage well reviewed, well supported
- How many copies? A minimum of 2
Storage
- 3-2-1 Rule
- Example: 2 external hard drives, Cloud storage (not Facebook)
- Example: 2 external hard drives (1 stored off-site), Computer

key takeaways from today’s show:

Identify: what do you have
Select: what to preserve
Store: long-term storage of materials
Multiple storage types and locations

Resource & Best Practices Guidelines:

Library of Congress Digital Preservation Outreach & Education

https://www.dpoe.network

Library of Congress Sustainability of Digital Formats

https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/index.html

Tools & Templates

Filelist Creator

https://www.sttmedia.com/filelistcreator-faq

Jennifer Ferretti’s Retention Schedule

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XO1XNavZnidmcR2kDBN2lCqsoM-GYqfxg6QcP5qCaW0/edit?usp=sharing

Jennifer Ferretti’s Metadata for Personal Digital Archiving

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17KMvZMuNeGT2hv9TyZXgHZ-QSap-vd6NXPa1frPoHHM/edit?usp=sharing

Maryland Institute College of Art - Batch Embed Metadata in Adobe Bridge Cheat Sheet

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zLB-K9KWOJITqmVC-upA7zoJzuunaPcDiwp8rq11QTw/edit?usp=sharing

Copyright

United States Copyright Office Works Not Protected by Copyright

https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ33.pdf

Society of American Archivists Selected Copyright Resources

https://www2.archivists.org/groups/intellectual-property-working-group/selected-copyright-resources

Dennis is joined by KEVIN J FLEMING PHD a scholar, author, global keynote speaker, & philomath. Lover of life, bacon, & the counter-narrative.

Kevin was one of the first Develop This! guests in July of 2018. Luckily not much has changed since then. Dennis and kevin discuss Kevin's work since he created his first video and wrote his first book and talk about how the economy and workforce preparation for our young people has changed.

Are we making any progress?
How do we reach today’s students and their parents?
How can economic development professionals make an impact in this space?

Dr. Kevin J Fleming is Founder & CEO of Catapult, the producer of multiple viral animation videos including Success in the New Economy, and author of the bestseller, (Re)Defining the Goal, He is a passionate advocate for ensuring all students enter the labor market with a competitive advantage.

Kevin Fleming videos

As the Founder & CEO of Catapult, he is redefining leadership & professional development through dynamic masterclasses curated for K-16 institutions. As Innovation & Strategic Development Specialist for the Los Angeles Regional Consortium, he supports CTE & workforce development with 19 community colleges in the 17th largest economy in the world. Dr. Fleming previously served as a college Vice President and as Dean of Instruction, Career & Technical Education at Norco College. Prior, he analyzed industry trends and labor market research through the Centers of Excellence for the California Community College system; the largest public education system in America. He has founded five private-sector companies in different service sectors, plus the National Center for Supply Chain Automation funded by the National Science Foundation (Washington DC).

Dr. Kevin J Fleming is an accomplished leader with teaching & administrative experience at 4-year public, 4-year private, and 2-year public institutions. He has competitively secured/managed over $85 Million to advance economic & educational opportunity. Dr. Fleming has expertise in workforce development, education, research, educational innovation, strategic initiative execution, and career readiness. He has conducted leadership trainings for over 25 years accompanied by numerous conference presentations and published articles/books. His career activities have helped influence state legislation, district student-success initiatives, and funding allocations within 38 states/countries.

Dr. Kevin J Fleming is a faculty member, thought leader, and a recovering academic elitist. A true life-long learner, he has earned two Bachelor’s degrees from Loyola Marymount University (Psychology & Philosophy); a Master of Arts from The Ohio State University (Educational Policy & Leadership), an MBA from the University of Redlands, and a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University...but it was his CTE industry certification in geographical information systems (GIS) that lifted him out of working poverty.

He has been honored with the Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement and Service from Loyola Marymount University and the Corona Chamber of Commerce “40 Under 40” award. Dr. Kevin J Fleming is a proud eagle scout, husband, father, certified etiquette trainer, has completed five marathons, and remains an active volunteer with Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity (Distinguished Alumnus Award), and his local church. Dr. Fleming works tirelessly towards an educational model that is flexible, purpose-driven, student-focused, and career-minded. Energetic, passionate, & principled, he believes in the power of education to transform lives.

Finding Your Niche in Economic Development

Economic Development is a very broad field. There are many types of organizations and a lot of different areas that you can focus on. In this episode, Dennis and Broderick compare and contrast the different types of economic development organizations from one-person offices to the corporate world.

Pros and cons of being part of a smaller organization

Fewer resources
Smaller budgets
More opportunities to make a direct impact
Opportunities to work in many areas

Larger organizations also have their pros and cons

More resources
Larger budgets
Opportunity to specialize in an area
Harder to make a direct impact
Easier to get lost in the shuffle

The IEDC Certification process is a good way to learn about many areas of economic development.

Core Competency courses (all four required):

Introduction to Economic Development or Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC)
Business Retention and Expansion
Economic Development Credit Analysis
Real Estate Development & Reuse

Elective Competency Courses (minimum of 2):

Economic Development Finance
Economic Development Marketing & Attraction
Economic Development Strategic Planning
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Strategies
Neighborhood Development Strategies
Management Economic Development Organizations
Technology-led Economic Development
Workforce Development
Foreign Direct Investment & Exporting

Friend of the show Mark Perna is back to discuss the Career Tree concept he developed to help students understand local career opportunities.

What is a career tree?
What was the genesis for the Career Tree concept?
How is a career tree developed?
Career Tree is more than just a poster that hangs on the wall
The process of how Career Trees are used in schools
What age groups are best suited for the Career Tree?
How can economic development groups play a role in the Career Tree process?

Career Trees

Mark Perna

Dennis is joined by IEDC President Nathan Ohle, and they reflect on Nathan's first year as the president of IEDC.

How has IEDC changed and evolved over the past year
Strategic partnerships that IEDC has forged and developed
- The Equity in Economic Development Fellowship Program
- Economic Development Administration Announces Cooperative Agreement with IEDC and Partners
- IEDC Hails $1.12 Billion in Funding for the Economic Development Administration (EDA)
An update on the IEDC strategic planning process
Has anything surprised Nathan in his first year as IEDC President?
What is next for IEDC?
How can members become more plugged into IEDC?

2023 IEDC Conferences

JANUARY 29 - 31, 2023 2023 Leadership Summit in Tucson, Arizona

JUNE 21 - 23, 2023 2023 Economic Future Forum in Calgary, Alberta

SEPTEMBER 17 - 20, 2023, 2023 Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas

In this episode, Dennis and Broderick discuss measuring the performance of your economic development organization. What should you measure, how should you measure, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of measuring and reporting for you and your organization?

Background – Economic developers are, by nature, inquisitive. Typically, we use data on a regular basis, and there is a fundamental understanding of the importance of measuring performance. However, in this field, measurement can be more complex.

There have been recent studies on the topic (IEDC “Measuring Success: Performance Measurement Survey – 2014” and the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness “Redefining Economic Development Performance Indicators for a Field in Transition” – 2017) highlighting how economic development leaders have started to seek indicators that fully capture and measure the range of activity they are involved in.

There has been a transition from the almost exclusive emphasis on job creation/retention and capital investment to a more nuanced measurement system that considers and captures the following:

Consequences/feedback
Meaningful Benchmarks
Actionable Items
Qualitative Outcomes

Fearless Predictions for 2023! with new co-host Broderick Green. Dennis and Broderick pull out the Develop This! crystal ball and fearlessly predict the future.

Primary areas economic development professionals should focus on in 2023
Is the economy speeding up or slowing down?
Where is the country headed politically?
Thoughts on the world and its impact on economic development

Broderick Green Executive Director Arlington Economic Development Corporation

Connect with Broderick

Enjoy this encore show from August 2020.

Jay Moon is a veteran of the economic development industry with roles that span a variety of key positions-including, a volunteer position as the former chair of the IEDC board of directors.

In this episode, Jay provides insight into disaster recovery, incentives, supply chains, and future skills needed in the economic development profession.

Connect with Jay Moon

Enjoy this encore episode from 2019 with Dennis and Jason discussing disruption in the field of economic development.

Develop This! will be back with a new sound, new shows, and a new co-host in 2023.

Dave Duncan, CEO of Iowa Communications Alliance, and Tim Fencil, General Manager & CEO of Danville Mutual Telephone Company, join Dennis for the second part of their how-to speak broadband discussion.

Funding for broadband projects
Is your community ready for a broadband project?
What does the future of connectivity look like?

Broadband is the currency of the future for many communities. Economic Developers need to understand how to speak the language of broadband to become part of the connectivity solution in their communities. Dave Duncan, CEO of the Iowa Communications Alliance, and Tim Fencil, General Manager & CEO, of Danville Mutual Telephone company, join Dennis for a wide-ranging discussion on broadband service in America.

The three categories of broadband customers
What's the issue with broadband service maps in the United States?
Broadband Jeopardy!
Dark fiber - what is that?

Mark Perna joins Dennis after a summer of traveling the United States, speaking to national, state, regional, and local organizations on the importance of understanding the difference in generations and their impact on workforce issues.

How to go beyond the rhetoric and create action
Turning enthusiasm into progress by building working coalitions of the willing
Avoiding the dreaded pinch point where nothing happens

Dennis is joined by Joi Cuatero Austin, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality - Main Street America. Dennis and Joi discuss the Transformation Strategy of Main Street America.

Main Street America Four Points Approach
What is a transformation strategy?
Measurable outcomes

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Angee Shaker, Economic Development Director for the City of Solon, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Dennis and Angee discuss improving the public transit experience for bus riders.

Paying attention to the obvious
What you can learn by listening
How to build a coalition to solve a problem
Making a difference in your community

Dennis is joined by famous pie baker, entrepreneur, adventurer, and author Beth Howard. Beth is the author of four books, including Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Pie and the cookbook Ms. American Pie. Join us for a discussion of life, love, loss, and the healing powers of pie. Beth talks about starting a pie-baking business inside the iconic American Gothic House in Eldon, IA.

Beth also discusses her new book, WORLD Piece: A Pie Baker's Global Quest for Peace, Love, and Understanding https://bethmhoward.com/. a demanding three-month, 30,000-mile journey full of pie baking, charming characters, and kindness.

Dennis is joined by Nicole Sedlacek from the Mid-America Economic Development Council to discuss the 2022 Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference held November 30 - December 2nd in downtown Chicago

Dennis is joined by co-host candidate #3, Sean Maguire, from Albany, New York. Dennis and Sean discuss building your professional brand.

Being intentional about your career
How to build your personal brand
What to do when you feel stuck in your career

In this episode, Dennis welcomes co-host candidate #2 Broderick Green Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Arlington, TX. Dennis and Broderick discuss placemaking as an economic development strategy.

Economic development is no longer "chasing smokestacks"
Placemaking is a strategy that utilizes a local community's assets
Sustainability has become an important topic for communities

In this episode, Dennis is joined by co-host candidate #1 Lindsay Miller from Colorado. Lindsay and Dennis discuss naturally occurring affordable housing.

What is naturally occurring affordable housing?
typical characteristics of NOAH
Preserving NOAH

About Lindsay: Lindsay Miller is an economic and community development professional and interdisciplinary researcher, writer, and teacher. She works as a consultant in urban and rural Colorado, helping local leaders create community-based economic development strategies to foster widespread and equitable prosperity while mitigating the negative consequences of unfettered growth.

Lindsay is a Senior Fellow at the National Civic League, an organization whose mission is to advance civic engagement to create equitable, thriving communities. She has also worked in real estate development for Urban Ventures LLC, a private real estate development company that focuses on affordable housing, adaptive reuse, and health-informed design. Before Urban Ventures, Lindsay taught writing courses and served as a research assistant at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Lindsay holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Sciences from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In this episode, Dennis discusses change both good and bad along with some of the reasons most of us fear change. In a time of great change, you can find clarity as long as you keep an open mind.

Change is both electrifying and terrifying
Resistance to change is a normal human reaction
Don't be afraid to change legacy programs
Communicate, communicate, communicate
Change must be a team sport

In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on soliciting companies for significant donations for a specific project. What are the steps involved in securing a lead donation and working with a company to plant a flag in the ground for others to follow?

Be patient
The project must align with the goals and mission of the company
Professional materials
Communicate clearly and succinctly
You must have an existing relationship
Communicate, communicate, communicate
Give credit where credit is due
Be humble and appreciative

In this episode, Dennis is joined by a friend of the show Mark Perna and a special guest Dr. Erin Slater superintendent of the Fort Madison school district. Erin and Dennis have worked together extensively to launch the Lee County Career Advantage Center.

Mark, Erin, and Dennis discuss the trials and tribulations of working with partners in education, business, and industry. They explore the reasons for silos and how to break down barriers and explore ways to see a project from multiple perspectives.

In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on the 2022 IEDC National Conference in Oklahoma City. He talks about the sights and sounds of Oklahoma City and the conference programming.

In this episode, Dennis shares his struggles to unplug during a week-long vacation. During his vacation, one of the towns in his county was rocked by not one but two major facility closure announcements. How do you react when you are trying to unplug but the wheels are coming off the bus at home? Listen to how Dennis' team rose to the challenge and how a good book saved his vacation.

In this episode, Dennis discusses remote workers and their impact. There are different opinions around the country and among companies as to what the right approach is for each organization. Dennis also admits his assumptions about which generations liked or disliked remote working was off base. (Hint, Boomers like remote working, who knew?)

Today may be the perfect time for your organization to take a critical look at your office space to see if it reflects who you are today as an organization. Dennis also offers practical tips on how to take a critical look at your current office space.

Remote working and hybrid working are here to stay. Now is the time to make sure your organization has a remote working policy and that you are ready to take advantage of new opportunities.

Do you have what it takes to be the next co-host of America's #1 economic development podcast Develop This!? Dennis is searching for someone that wants to be almost famous.

Here's what it takes to be the next Develop This! co-host

Passionate about community and economic development
A sense of humor
Intellectual curiosity
Commitment - A new show every week!
Fearless
Creative
Social media savvy
No previous experience - just enthusiasm!

There are a limited number of co-host tryout slots available. Claim yours today by reaching out to Dennis at dennis@developthispodcast.com or 319-753-0690

Don't miss your opportunity!

Develop This! will start 2023 with a new co-host.

70% of all working-age people are either thinking about or actively looking for a new position. Only 14% of Americans believe they have a great job and would not change it. There has never been a more turbulent time for workers. Should you hop on the bandwagon and consider a job or career change?

In this episode, Dennis takes a look at the pros and cons of switching jobs and the primary reason people switch to a new opportunity. Don't sell your current employer short. Initiating a conversation could put you on the path you are seeking.

Episode #408 is a bittersweet show. After four years and 408 episodes, co-hosts Jason Hutcheson is leaving the Develop This! podcast. A journey that started between two friends, a journey that exceeded our expectations, is ending. We are very grateful to our loyal listeners that have become family and helped Develop This! grow. Jason is a great friend, economic development professional, and most importantly, a wonderful person. We will be forever indebted to Jason for his involvement in Develop This!

Fear not, listeners! Develop This! will continue, albeit with a new co-host. So, stay tuned as the next chapter of the Develop This story will begin soon!

This episode was originally published in July 2021. It is being republished while Dennis and Jason are on vacation. Enjoy!

Are you new to the business of economic and community development and wondering how to get started?

Whether you are brand new to the business or a seasoned economic developer looking to get back to basics, this episode is for you. Dennis and Jason share the 7 rules you need to follow to have early success in your career.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

In this episode, Jason provides 10 random ideas for your organization as it relates to community outreach.

In addition, be sure to register today for the upcoming MidAmerica EDC Best Practices Conference: MidAmerica Economic Development Council (midamericaedc.org)

Economic development organizations are increasingly participating in and leading discussions on equity and inclusion. In this episode, Amber Payne and Deborah D. Douglas with The Emancipator join Dennis and Guest Host Tracye McDaniel for a deep discussion on reframing the conversation around racial justice and equity.

When it comes to mass media coverage of issues related to race, equity, and policy, the stories often lacks appropriate historical context.

That's where The Emancipator comes it. This online publication is a collaboration between The Boston Globe and Boston University's Center for Antiracist Research.

Tune in to find out more about this collaboaration straight from the Co-Editors In Chief.

Read The Emancipator

Connect with Tracye McDaniel, TIP Strategies

More about Amber Payne, Co-Editor In Chief of The Emancipator

More about Deborah D. Douglas, Co-Editor In Chief of The Emancipator

Grants offer the allure of free money, but we all know there is no such thing as a free lunch.

In this episode, Jason outlines several reasons why grants are great, but he also outlines several pitfalls of the grant process.

If there is a grant opportunity, please do the following:

Make a conscious go-no go decision (make sure the benefits outway the costs)
Fully understand the reporting period, deadlines, and any criteria that might increase costs to your project
Appoint someone as lead for grant writing and someone as lead for grant reporting

Work With Dennis!

Are you a rockstar economic developer that aspires to lead an organization? Dennis has an opening and wants to talk with you. Visit leecountyedg.com for a complete job description and become part of a dynamic team and organization. Plus, you will get to work with Dennis!

Vice President of Economic Development

Lee County Economic Development group is seeking a Vice President of Economic Development to join our dynamic, award-winning team. This position requires a highly motivated individual with a demonstrated track record of success, proven interpersonal/relationship-building skills, and excellent communication skills – verbal and written

Key Areas of Responsibility

Workforce development
Community, stakeholder, and investor relations
Countywide business retention and expansion program
Financial and organizational oversight

Competitive salary and benefits package based on experience

Send cover letter, resume, and references to Dennis Fraise, President, and CEO dfraise@leecountyedg.com

The deadline for submission is June 17th, 2022

View full job description here

Lee County EDG provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

As our faithful listeners know, Dennis is a bit of a movie buff. He recently watched Top Gun and has a couple of key takeaways inspired by the movie.

It's okay to go slow - sometimes.

In this episode, Mark Perna joins self-proclaimed speaker snob Dennis to discuss how to take your presentation to the next level. Mark delivers over 70 keynote presentations throughout the country every year. Join Mark and Dennis as they dissect a presentation and how to make your next speaking opportunity great.

In addition, you will hear practical tips from a world-class speaker.

How to build a connection with your audience
The power of music to pump up the crowd
How to use an Apple watch to pump up the volume
Why your energy level matters
Engage your audience with interactive questions
Putting a bow on your presentation for the audience
The end of your presentation is the beginning of an opportunity

Listening to this episode will lead you to a standing ovation!

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: CALL TO ACTION LIVESTREAM (October 20, 2022)

To register and find out more, head to Education with Purpose - Call to Action Livestread

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

There is no substitute for experience. Yet in this episode, Dennis and Jason share some concepts they wish they had known earlier in their career.

Whether you are new in the economic development profession or an industry pro, this show is for you.

As the leader of a nonprofit organization, what do you need to know about insurance lingo?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason give a high level overview of some basic terms and coverages that most organizations may need to consider. Also- tune in for some key questions to ask your insurance professional.

This show sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Do you have an industrial client who needs a building but doesn't want to manage the construction process or own the facility? Kyle Adams with RDC National can help. RDC builds industrial properties to suit and then leases them back to the end client.

In this episode, Jason and Kyle talk at the Mid-America EDC Conference about all things real estate and economic development.

Connect with Kyle Adams

RDC National

Mid-America Economic Development Council

The Bloomington-Normal, Illinois area is home to Rivian Automotive's manufacturing facility. This was a massive economic development deal which anticipated 500 jobs but actually created 3,500. In addition, they have added 1 million in SF to the existing facility.

Patrick Hoban serves as the President & CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council and joins Jason on this episode.

They talk the sensitivities with regard to publicity of a major economic development deal, navigating explosive community growth, and organizational management.

This episode was recorded on site at the Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference.

Connect with Patrick Hoban

Mid-America Economic Development Council

As the Mid-America EDC Conference in Chicago a couple of months ago, Jason took several pages of notes regarding emerging trends in economic development incentives.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason provide their thoughts and context around some of the emerging trends shared at the event.

Mid-America Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council has a new chief executive. In this episode, Dennis interviews Nathan Ohle to learn more about his background and his take on the future of IEDC. Tune in for this exclusive one-on-one with the new leader of the economic development industry.

More About Nathan Ohle

Connect with Nathan Ohle

How do you build an economic development program that is helpful, simple to understand, and one that also has a significant impact? Brandon Marshall, who serves as the Business Development Division Director for the Wyoming Business Council joins Jason to discuss that very question. They talk building state programs, having a funnel of relevant offerings, and working with economic developers at the local level.

Another important point for consideration: make the entry point to your programming easy and clear.

This episode was recorded on site at the Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference.

Connect with Brandon Marshall

Mid-America Economic Development Council

Jay Garner is a name well known in the economic development and site selection business. His firm, Garner Economics, uses data to help companies and communities make better decisions and strategic action plans.

In this episode, Dennis asks Jay about his new book, Economic Development is [Still] Not for Amateurs co-authored with Ross Patten. The first edition of the book sold over 5,000 copies, and this second edition has two new chapters.

Dennis and Jay break down the new content: Demystifying the Site-Selection Process and Y'all Means Y'all.

It's always good to catch up with Jay as he has a ton of insight to offer on a variety of topics.

More About Jay Garner

Buy the Book: Economic Development is [Still] Not for Amateurs

Declaring that education is about to reach a crisis of epic proportions is a bold statement. In this episdoe, Dennis brings back resident expert Mark Perna to provide the context and support for such a bold statement.

We’re at a major tipping point in education. According to a recent survey, 48% of teachers admitted that they had considered quitting within the last 30 days. Of that number, 34% said they were thinking about leaving the profession entirely.

Understaffing has plagued schools for years, but it’s now reaching epic proportions. Burnout is real.

Tune in for a discussion on the vicious cycle and suggestions for what to do about it.

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: TAKE ACTION CONFERENCE (September 21-22, 2022 in Cleveland, OH)

To register and find out more, head to Education with Purpose - 2022 Take Action Conference

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

There is something special about our United States Capitol building, and professionals in the community development space often find themselves visiting at some point.

In this episode, Dennis brings on Jane Campbell, President and CEO of the United States Capitol Historical Society. The organization was chartered by Congress to educate the public on the heritgage and history of the Capitol, its institutions, and the individuals who served them over time.

They talk history, access, initiatives and even changes after recent events.

Learn More About the US Capitol Historical Society

Connect with Jane Campbell

In this episode, Dennis brings on the current board chair of the International Economic Development Council, Todd Greene.

Todd Greene is an Institute fellow and the executive director of WorkRise, a research-to-action network on jobs, workers, and mobility hosted by the Urban Institute.

Economic developers are resilient which means they often embrace and even encourage change. Dennis and Todd talk broadly about change in the profession as well as new technology and leadership at IEDC.

In addition, find out how you can be involved with IEDC.

More About Todd Greene, CEcD

More about IEDC

Each organization and each community approaches business retention and expansion efforts in a slightly different way. In this episode, Jason is joined by Eric DeKorne, Business Rentention & Expansion Manager with the Greater Green Bay Chamber in Wisconsin. They talk outreach to companies, survey questions, knowledge transfer, and the aggregation of data.

This episode was recorded on site at the Mid-America EDC Conference, and Eric was both a Bob Ady scholarship winner and also accepted an award on behalf of the Greater Green Bay Chamber. Check out the video below.

Welcome Back Urban Hub (Award Winning) Video

Connect with Eric DeKorne

Greater Green Bay Chamber

Mid-America Economic Development Council

Although Jack Gottfried, EDA Planner with the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, is in the early stages of his career, he is not afraid of big projects.

His regional organization tasked him with the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) as one of his very first projects.

Tune in as Jason asks him about planning, gaining confidence, and the Bob Ady Scholarship program.

This episode was recorded on site at the Mid-America EDC Conference

More About Jack Gottfried - UMVRDC

Mid-America Economic Development Council

Bob Ady Scholarship Program

In this episode, Jason interviews Nathan Schneider, CEcD, Vice President at Bismark Mandan Chamber EDC in North Dakota. They talk people attraction, the value of wide open spaces, outdoor recreation, and placemaking. In particular, Nathan draws a clear distinction between the terms 'quality of life' and 'placemaking'.

This episode was recorded on site at the Mid-America EDC Conference.

Mid-America Economic Development Council

Connect with Nathan Schneider

Jeff Finkle, the International Economic Development Council's leader for its entire existance, will soon be retiring from the organization.

In part two of this short series, Dennis turns Jeff's attention to the future. They talk diversity and inclusion, AI, training, and bold predictions.

More about the International Economic Development Council

Connect with Jeff Finkle

Jeff Finkle, the International Economic Development Council's leader for its entire existance, will soon be retiring from the organization. In this episode, Dennis asks Jeff to reflect on his career beginning with a look back at the formation of IEDC. They talk leadership, board dynamics, disaster recovery and more.

You won't want to miss this show.

More about the International Economic Development Council

Connect with Jeff Finkle

We have all heard of the Great Resignation, but what does that phrase really mean? Is it possible for employers to respond with the Great Pivot?

In this episode, Dennis brings back resident workforce expert Mark Perna to discuss the year ahead and answer the question: where have all the people gone?

Mark your calendar NOW for these upcoming events:

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: CALL TO ACTION LIVESTREAM (March 9, 2022)

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: TAKE ACTION CONFERENCE (September 21-22, 2022 in Cleveland, OH)

To register and find out more, head to Education with Purpose - 2022 Take Action Conference

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

In this episode, Jason interviews Garrett Anderson, Economic Development Director for the City of Woodstock, IL. Garrett is a self-proclaimed data nerd, and they talk incentives, demographics, economic development plans and recovery act funds.

As we know, billions in ARPA funds will be flowing to local governments. How should communities and adjacent jurisdictions determine the highest and best use of these dollars? Garrett shares his community's process for project evaluation and the interplay that could come with the county's portion of the funds.

The show was recorded live, on-site at the Mid-America EDC Best Practices conference.

To view the economic development plan for the City of Woodstock as mentioned in the show, click here.

Connect with Garrett Anderson

Mid-America Economic Development Council

What are the tricks to leading a professional association as a volunteer board member?

In this episode, Jason interviews Karl Franzen and Agnes Masnik who both serve as the Illinois representatives on the Mid-America EDC board of directors. They discuss board dynamics, volunteer leadership, staying relevant, and so much more - recorded on site at the Mid-America EDC Conference.

Show Guests:

Karl Franzen, Director of Community and Economic Development, City of Rockford, IL

Agnes Masnik, Illinois Department of Commerce & Opportunity

Mid-America Economic Development Council

What is the value in attending an economic development conference? That depends on how you decide to work it.

There can be far more to a conference than simply attending the sessions and taking a few notes.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share 5 great ways to maximize your time at an industry conference.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

If you could simplify the tagline for your community's improvement strategy, it could be this: have more cool shit.

That's the message from John Hall, President/CEO of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce.

It doesn't have to be complicated.

In this episode, Jason caught up with John at the Mid-America EDC conference. As communities, we must be able to differentiate ourselves in this war for talent. At the end of the day, people want to live in a community where there is cool shit to do. This simple messaging strategy resonates with the entrepreneurs and visionaries alike.

Connect with John Hall

Mid-America Economic Development Council

In this episode, Lenora Fisher, Director of Business Attraction at the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council joins Jason live at the Mid-America EDC conference to talk all things related to regional business attraction strategies.

They talk property inventory, debate whether or not the term 'Shovel-Ready' is outdated, and discuss some unique strategies being deployed in the Peoria area.

Show Links:

Connect with Lenora Fisher

More about Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

Mid-America Economic Development Council

Let's get real for just a minute. Solving workforce challenges is a bit like herding cats, isn't it?

In this episode, Dennis brings back resident expert Mark Perna to offer tips and tricks to get education, business, and economic development to all speak the same language.

Mark your calendar NOW for these upcoming events:

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: CALL TO ACTION (March 9, 2022)

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: TAKE ACTION CONFERENCE (September 21, 2022 in Cleveland, OH)

To register and find out more, head to Education with Purpose - 2022 Take Action Conference

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

In this episode, Jason chats with Rick Kiernan with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions about the scope and variety of fundraising campaigns that can occur in a community.

As an EDO, should you be concerned about being involved in multiple fundraising efforts? If you raise money for a new community building, will that dry up dollars for economic development programming?

The answer, Rick says, is to tap into the priorities of funders. Different businesses, organizations, and individuals have different funding priorities. The key is to hit the right investor at the right time for the right cause.

You can grow the fundraising pie in your community as it is not a zero sum game.

Connect with Rick Kiernan

More about Convergent Nonprofit Solutions

The year is quickly coming to a close, so it is time for that all-important self-reflection.

In this episode, Dennis shares regrets from the year and his plan to address those in 2022. His analysis may just inspire you to do the same.

In this episode, Jason interviews economic development magnate Janet Ady with Ady Advantage.

Jason brought Janet on the show to talk about the upcoming Mid-America EDC conference in Chicago (along with the generous scholarship program) but the discussion quickly took a left turn when she began talking about economic development strategies that will drive communities over the next 10 years.

Tune in for a great discussion about the past, present, and future of economic development.

...and be sure to register for the upcoming Mid-America EDC conference Dec 1-3 in Downtown Chicago.

Register for the conference

Connect with Janet Ady

More about Ady Advantage

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share 5 ways your organization should consider engaging in legislative advocacy. In addition, they offer 3 do's and 3 don'ts should your organization launch a new advocacy program.

Don't forget to register for the Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference in Downtown Chicago the first week in December: https://www.midamericaedc.org/

In this episode, Dean Dziedzic, board president of the Mid-America Economic Development Council, joins Jason to give a preview of the upcoming Competitiveness Conference held in Downtown Chicago December 1-3.

This year's event boasts a new format, a variety of relevant information, the ability to connect with site selectors, and more. In addition, Jason and Dennis will be live on-site recording future podcast episodes.

The registration deadline is November 19th.

Register for the Conference

More about Dean Dziedzic

More about Mid-America EDC

Can you imagine being married to an economic developer? The erratic hours, the public persona, and the mental bandwidth required by the job can take a toll on family life.

In this episode, Jason encourages those in the field of economic and community development to take a moment to appreciate the support of their spouse.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

In this episode, guest host Tracye McDaniel, President of TIP Strategies and former IEDC Chair, joins Dennis again to finish part two of this series on wealth inequality. Two guests from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis are back:

Ray Boshara, Senior Advisor and Assistant Vice President of the Institute for Economic Equity

Nishesh Chalise, Director, Community-Based Policy and Analysis at the Institute for Economic Equity

Tune in to find out what information is essential for economic development professionals to help them understand the racial wealth gap and its impact on communities and economic development efforts.

Show Links:

Institute for Economic Equity

Bio for Ray Boshara

Bio for Nishesh Chalise

Book: The Next Progressive Era: A Blueprint for Broad Prosperity

More about Tracye McDaniel

In this episode, guest host Tracye McDaniel joins Dennis to interview two very special guests from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis:

Ray Boshara, Senior Advisor and Assistant Vice President of the Institute for Economic Equity

Nishesh Chalise, Director, Community-Based Policy and Analysis at the Institute for Economic Equity

Two key topics for this discussion focus on the the pandemic and its impact on the economy as well as the exacerbation of inequality as a result of COVID-19.

Show Links:

Institute for Economic Equity

Bio for Ray Boshara

Bio for Nishesh Chalise

Book: The Next Progressive Era: A Blueprint for Broad Prosperity

In this episode, Mark Perna - speaker, author, Forbes Contributor, and international expert on all things workforce is back. This time, he is here to provide some insight on Millennials and Gen Z and help us connect the dots to why they can be the solution for today's workforce crisis.

Show Links:

Education with Purpose: Call to Action Event

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

If you have not looked at your calendar lately, we have a surprise for you. There are only a few months left.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason discuss 5 things that you need to do now- before time runs out in 2021.

Words matter. The phrases you choose to speak, write, or text can have an profound impact on the receiver of those messages.

In this episode, Dennis shares a recent experience where things got personal. He was the receiver of poorly-chosen words that will very likely have lasting effects on a professional relationship.

Choose your words wisely, folks!

Jason has long been an advocate of chambers of commerce and economic development groups merging into a single organization. However, a recent impromptu conversation has posed a really good argument for keeping them separate - the ability to pay attention to the small mom and pop business.

Tune in to this episode as Dennis and Jason share the merits and drawbacks of merging these types of organizations within a community.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

It's no secret that Dennis is a movie buff.

Although many of us have stories fit for tv, Marvel has not yet dedicated a series to the local economic developer.

So until Hollywood releases a film where the local economic developer is the hero, this eclectic list of 11 movies about founders, entrepreneurs, documentaries, and large companies will have to do.

At the end of the podcast, Dennis also has a suggestion for the actor of choice to play him in a future feature film.

Do you need to expand your creativity?

In this episode, Jason explores his love/hate relationship with ideas and shares a tool he recently discovered (thanks to James Altucher) to help the brain be more creative: idea lists.

Before you roll your eyes at the idea of creating a list of ideas (that's exactly what Jason used to do!) tune in to learn about the benefits of idea creation and the daily exercise of stretching the brain.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Learn more about James Altucher

Sometimes, bad things happen in your community. As an economic development professional in the field, it is easy to get down when a project goes south, an employer closes their doors, or a community endeavor fails.

What you have to remember is this: Control What You Can Control

What is within your power? In this episode, Jason and Dennis discuss the variables within your power when things go south.

Although it is easier said than done, do the things within your power, and take the rest in stride.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Recruiting and training talent consumes time and resources. Why would any leader invest in talent knowing that, someday, the talent may walk out the door?

In this episode, Dennis interviews Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. Dan has a history of identifying talent and then nurturing and developing members of his team. Some of his hires have left the organization to take top jobs elsewhere.

Dennis peppers Dan with a variety of questions from the ROI on training to mistakes ambitious individuals can make when trying to get ahead.

Whether you are new in the business or leading an organization, you won't want to miss this insightful episode.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Connect with Dan Culhane

Ames Chamber of Commerce

In this episode, Forbes contributor Mark Perna is back to discuss the current state of the US workforce and what the economic development community can do about it.

This show is also your invitation to join Mark on the upcoming 2021 Education with Purpose: Call to Action live virtual event on October 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST. Register Here

To thrive in a rapidly changing world, young people need a dynamic competitive advantage in their education and career journey. Unify and empower your organization and stakeholders to deliver this advantage at the 2021 Education with Purpose: Call to Action. It’s time to shift the paradigm in education, workforce, and economic development—and make students career-ready, period.

Shift the paradigm in your community
• Start walking in lock-step toward a shared vision
• Give students a dynamic competitive advantage
• Bridge the national skills gap by starting with the “awareness gap”
• Empower all students to become career-ready, period

Show Links:

Education with Purpose: Call to Action Event

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

Are you new to the business of economic and community development and wondering how to get started?

Whether you are brand new to the business or a seasoned economic developer looking to get back to basics, this episode is for you. Dennis and Jason share the 7 rules you need to follow to have early success in your career.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

In this episode from the archives, Amanda Mack shares her thoughts about placemaking efforts and aligning those efforts with other essential government services.

Although she recently left the City of Spenser, Iowa for a position in Watertown, SD, this is one of the most popular episodes in the Develop This! archive. Jason and Amanda talk city finances, community improvement projects, the balance of power between city staff and elected officials, and much more. She closes the episode with tips economic developers should know when working with municipal governments.

Amanda's suggested reading list:
Love Where You Live by Peter Kageyama
Water the Bamboo by Greg Bell

More about Amanda

Your job is to build, maintain, and engage a network of leaders to make things happen in your community. However, people and positions often change as new folks come to town. What is your process for engaging with newcomers?

In this episode, Jason share why his old strategy failed and why a different approach can be far more successful.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Can economic development organizations raise money in small towns? You bet.

Small towns have a unique ability to rally around cause - be it economic development plans, community projects, or community festivals. With the right plan in place, more money can often be raised than anyone thought possible.

In this episode, Mark Bergethon, Capital Campaign Specialist with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, shares three case studies of successful fundraising campaigns in small towns: Vermillion, South Dakota; Holdrege, Nebraska; Clear Lake, Iowa.

Connect with Mark Bergethon

More About Convergent Nonprofit Solutions

Getting a project over the finish line can test your patience and those around you. When your project hits a wall, you have two options: give up or find another path forward.

In this episode, Dennis shares his experience with going all in on a project- in this case, joint education center. He refused to give in and was willing to push his chips to the table. Tune in to find out more.

Sometimes, we just get down. You put your blood, sweat, and tears into a project only to lose it.

It's okay to get the blues, but you can't stay there.

In this episode, Dennis shares strategies and tips for getting through the tough times and rebounding after a big loss.

Do you dress for success or do you dress to do you?

Although Dennis and Jason have never been called upon for fashion advice, in this episode, they wax poetically about the value of attire in both confidence and in making first impressions.

Tune in for strategies to consider when selecting your attire as well as discussion of the post-pandemic environment for acceptable dress policy standards.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

What is your appetite for risk?

Do you play it safe - never putting your career or the organization's credibility on the line?

Have you taken too large a risk in the past only to wind up polishing your resume?

Which is worse - never taking a risk to taking too many risks?

In this episode, Jason makes the argument that risk taking is essential if you and/or your organization want to stay relevant.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

'Now Hiring' signs can be seen everywhere.

From entry-level jobs to trades to professional occupations, companies are scrambling for employees. Although this problem isn't new, the stress level is at an all-time high.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason have it all figured out. Well- not really.

Although there are no easy answers, the duo does offer three thoughts for consideration on how economic and community development groups can help communities and employers grapple with a difficult situation.

In this episode, Dennis shares his very personal story of writing an obituary - his own.

If you had the opportunity to write your obituary, what own you include? What would you omit? What do you want to be sure to get done before that day comes?

How would you like to be remembered?

Slow down today and a take a moment to listen. You'll be glad you did.

Building a business isn't easy, and a great idea is not enough! It takes discipline, accountability, and a solid network of support behind the scenes. Lakshmi Shenoy is the CEO of Embarc Collective and in this episode, host Andy Sokolovich engages Lakshmi to discuss what it takes to ensure entrepreneurs succeed.

The staff of executive advisors and function-specific experts at Embarc Collective deliver individualized support to startups inside the agency's state of the art 32,000 square foot collaboration facility in the Greater Tampa Bay Region. Embarc Collective's innovation hub brings together startups, venture capitalists, academic resources, and startup-focused partners in a central physical location to build, learn and collaborate.

Connect with Lakshmi Shenoy

2020 seemed like it would never end. But this year is going quick.

If your organization operates on a calendar year, you are running out of time to do some very important things.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason offer suggestions for things to get on your calendar NOW. Don't wait until tomorrow - get these things on the calendar today to make sure they are done by the end of the year!

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

How do you know when it is time to change positions or take on a larger role?

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Alyssa Byrd, economic development director for the Town of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

They talk about building skill sets, life balance, leadership, and public criticism.

Connect with Alyssa Byrd

More about Fuquay-Varina

As the nation and as your community emerges from the pandemic, are you leading?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason offer two suggestions for those in the economic and community development space - lead on connectivity and digital marketing.

Do those in the economic and community development space get involved in negotiations?

Only like every day.

Tune in to this episode as Dennis and Jason discuss strategies for improving your negotiations skills on everything from incentives and regulatory policy to land options and salary negotiations.

Book: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Can your organization raise money when the future is uncertain? Should you wait for the 'right time' to launch a capital campaign?

In this episode, Jason interviews Rod Crider and Carlotta Ungaro about their experience with a campaign in Rowan County, North Carolina during the midst of the pandemic.

Rod Crider is the CEO of Rowan EDC in Salisbury, North Carolina and Carlotta Ungaro is the Senior Project Direction with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Together, they led a successful campaign that launched just weeks before the world shut down in 2020. By the way, this was the first major organizational campaign for Rowan EDC. Rod and Carlotta give you all the details of the campaign from start to finish. Tune in to get insight on assessing your community's readiness for fundraising, go behind-the-scenes to learn about difficult boardroom discussions, and learn the value of having a strong partner do the heavy lifting.

Connect with Rod Crider

Rowan EDC

Connect with Carlotta Ungaro

Convergent Nonprofit Solutions

It is one of life's simple truths: we work better when someone we trust holds us accountable.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason pontificate on the value of finding accountability partners - which may differ during various stages of your life.

Do you have the courage to let someone in?

In this episode, Dennis chats with his good friend, Mike Norris, Executive Director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission.

What are planning organizations and what is their role in helping communities thrive?

Mike Norris has the answers for those questions and more as they dive into federal programs, organizational structures, and technical expertise.

Connect with Mike Norris

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission

Should private, non-profit EDOs consider purchasing land or buildings as part of the organizational work plan?

In this episode, Jason explores the pros and cons of doing so.

3 Reasons NOT to Purchase Land

It could go badly
It may tick off private developers in your community
The buyer will compete with other businesses in your market

3 Reasons to Consider Purchasing Land

It locks in the price of land for deal-making
You can be proactive in getting the land ready for sale
Sometimes, we have to prime the pump

In this episode, Andy interviews Eli David, CEO of StartupBlink.com.

StartupBlink is the world's most comprehensive startup ecosystem map and research center. They provide dozens of public sector startup ecosystem developers with mapping, analysis, and promotion modules. Once a year, StartupBlink releases the Startup Ecosystem Rankings Report with over 1,000 cities and 100 countries ranked. Their reports have been downloaded by tens of thousands of decision-makers worldwide and received hundreds of mentions in the global and national press.

Download your ecosystem report at StartupBlink.com

Selecting the right chair of the board for your non-profit organization is very important.

This 7 part series is all about selecting the right individual for that position.

Today's episode is #3 in the series....never have a board chair that will only tell you what you want to hear!

It is nice to surround ourselves with members of our personal fan club. As leaders, however, we should welcome feedback that makes us stronger. Sometimes, we need others to tell us what we need to hear instead of what we want to hear. A good board chair that do that for us.

Tune in for Jason's methodology and full context.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Are you envious of great public speakers? Are they simply born with the natural gift to entertain audiences?

In this episode, Dennis chats with Dr. Adam Sharples Brooks, director of The Speaking Studio at the University of Alabama. Tune in to learn some tips and tricks of the trade to become a better speaker.

About Dr. Adam Sharples Brooks

Dr. Adam Sharples Brooks is a nationally renowned public speaker with a Ph.D in Communication and Information Sciences, an M.A. in Communication Studies, and a background in Public Relations. His research focuses on rhetoric in the areas of diversity, identity, and cultural studies. As the current Assistant Director of the Public Speaking Program at The University of Alabama, Adam oversees The Speaking Studio with a mission to help clients clarify and craft effective messages, cultivate dynamic delivery, and calm public speaking anxiety. Over the course of his career Adam has coached numerous public speakers to national acclaim and is an expert in the areas of diversity and communication, public speaking delivery, popular culture, and mass communication. More About The Speaking Studio

Selecting the right chair of the board for your non-profit organization is very important.

This 7 part series is all about selecting the right individual for that position.

Today's episode is #2 in the series....never have a board chair that is too busy for you!

When you need to bend the ear of your board chair - you need them. Not after the next board meeting - you need them now! If your potential chair of the board isn't going to be available, then you need to select someone else for the job.

Tune in for Jason's methodology and full context.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Economic developers are wired to ask the question: what's next?

While that question can often relate to projects or the organization, it can also relate to your career.

Drew Kamp has recently been named the President/CEO of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce in Iowa. Prior to that, he had a variety of roles, duties, and opportunities at the Ames Chamber of Commerce.

In this episode, Dennis asks Drew about his process for gaining the right experience for the top leadership job in an organization.

Connect with Drew Kamp

Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce

Selecting the right chair of the board for your non-profit organization is very important.

This 7 part series is all about selecting the right individual for that position.

Today's episode is #1 in the series....never have a board chair that makes less money than you!

Okay- perhaps never is a bit harsh, but here's the deal: you want a board chair that believes you get what you pay for. While we aren't suggesting an organization overcompensates a CEO, it is in your best interest to make sure the volunteer leadership isn't trying to balance a budget on your back.

Tune in for Jason's methodology and full context.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Where is the intersection of arts and economic development?

In this episode, Dennis interviews Taneshia Nash Laird, CEO of the Newark Symphony Hall. She talks revitalization, fundraising during a pandemic, and working with a team of millennials. She also identifies three steps needed to succeed.

Connect with Taneshia Nash Laird

Newark Symphony Hall

In this episode re-run, Jason caught up with the folks from Golden Shovel Agency at the Mid America EDC Conference in Downtown Chicago in late 2019.

Warren Westcott and Greg Kolbjornsen talk about website pet peeves, virtual fam tours, and more.

More About Virtual Tours

Connect with Warren Westcott

Connect with Greg Kolbjornsen

What would you do if a natural disaster hit your community? Ever heard of the term 'derecho'?

In this episode, Dennis interviews Nick Glew, President of the Marion Economic Development Corporation. Nick's community was hit hard by the derecho storm in Iowa last summer, and he shares his experience in dealing with the aftermath.

Connect with Nick Glew

Marion Economic Development Corporation

The economic development industry has both challenge and opportunity ahead.

In this episode, Dennis digs in deep with IEDC board chair Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara.

Learn more about Tom's four key priorities:

-Assist our members and their communities as they thrive to help their economies recover and prosper as the pandemic hopefully dissipates

-Connect and collaborate with a new federal administration

-Make meaningful, measurable progress in addressing the chronic and worsening racial and social inequities in the global economy

-These priorities must be advanced while maintaining membership and financial strength, in tandem with the search for a successor to Jeff Finkle as he retires at the end of 2021

Learn More About Invest Buffalo Niagara

Connect with Tom Kucharski

International Economic Development Council

There is no shortage of obstacles that can get in the way of your economic development project. Do yourself a favor- stack the deck.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason swap war stories about projects that were ambushed because commission volunteers or local elected officials didn't see the long-term vision.

Your EDO should work behind the scenes to recruit key individuals for various boards and commissions and then work to educate them on the process of an economic development deal. Projects are hard enough to get across the finish line. You need all the local support you can get.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

For many of us, January brings new members to our board of directors. We can either have them begin service wandering in the dark or prepared for their term.

In this episode, Jason offers advice and suggestions for board orientation as well as following-up after the first board meeting to take a quick temperature check.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Mark Perna is a speaker, author, CEO, and all-around nice guy. In addition, he is one of the go-to resources for insight on education, workforce, and generational differences.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Mark and asks him the tough question: what is it that economic development professionals need to better understand about talent and the generations.

Learn More About Mark Perna

Connect with Mark Perna

Answering Why Book

All three of your co-hosts (Andy, Dennis, and Jason) return to the microphone to share their fearless predictions for the economic development industry in 2021.

Will Dennis dethrone workforce as the #1 economic development issue?

Will Andy give up on call centers for good?

Does Jason predict doom for weak economic development groups?

Tune in for some insightful banter for the start of the new year!

Strategic planning for your community is great, but if you can add in a layer of futurist thinking, you can put together a very meaningful plan that gets ahead of the curve. Marty Vanagas is back to give us some tips for layering in this futurist thinking.

In this encore episode, Dennis gets some advice from Marty for starting this 'design thinking' for your organization and your community.

Some basic tips include:

-Be specific with your questions of the future. Determine a good focal question to begin the discussion.

-Imagine coming into your community for the very first time. What do you notice?

-Look at the environment around you and scan it for trends. How will those trends adjust in the future?

-Challenge old ways of thinking.

Bespoke Futures Blog

KEDGE Futures Training

In this encore episode recorded in late 2019, Jason interviews Ron Starner, Executive Vice President of Conway, Inc. and Site Selection Magazine. Ron was on location at the Mid America EDC Conference in Downtown Chicago to provide his annual update to attendees on the results of the consultants survey.

Ron talks big data, his affinity for the Midwest, and the value of building and maintaining relationships over the long haul.

Mid America EDC

Connect with Ron Starner

Site Selection Magazine

Conway, Inc.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Michael Southard, Director of Economic Development for the Choctaw Nation Economic Development Partnership in Durant, OK.

Mike has over 25 years experience in economic and community development and is an IEDC award winner and serves an IEDC Accredited EDO.

His service territory is over 11,000 square miles, and Dennis digs deep with questions on rural America, misconceptions, the economic development career path, and anticipated future challenges.

Choctaw Nation Economic Development Partnership

Connect with Michael Southard, CEcD

This week's guest knows co-host Dennis way too well because she works with him on a daily basis.

Dana Millard is the Economic Development Project Director for Lee County Economic Development Group.

Dana’s responsibilities include being the lead on Workforce Development and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, organizing events, generating communications and heads the business retention and expansion campaign throughout Lee County region. She currently sits on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for SE Iowa and connects education with industry to build a talent pipeline.

In today's episode Dennis and Dana will discuss the ways in which the organization has adjusted its delivery of programs during the pandemic. Tune in for lots of ideas and tips.

More about Lee County Economic Development Group

Connect with Dana Millard

Knowing that 2020 has been a crazy year, how should organizations look at budgeting for 2021?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason quiz each other on estimating revenue, spending reserves, slashing programs, considering layoffs, and a number of other topics relevant in today's uncertain environment.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Brad Barth live on stage at the virtual Main Street Summit in North Dakota.

Brad serves as the Executive Director of Forward Devils Lake Corporation and talks fishing, COVID-19, and living in a lifestyle community.

More About Devils Lake

Connect with Brad Barth

Many projects require divergent groups to work together, so how can we reach consensus when there are very different opinions?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share tips and strategies for identifying mutual goals, navigating compromise, and utilizing clear and consistent communication.

What in the world does lemon water have to do with this business of economic and community development?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason wax poetically about goals, personal development, and forming good habits.

In the current environment, economic development and community leaders are spending a lot of time on triage – trying to keep existing businesses and programs afloat, working with greater urgency, and managing with fewer resources.

The depth of our uncertainty feels bottomless. Even with the promise of a vaccine, a full economic recovery feels dauntingly distant.

In this episode, Dennis chats with Tom Stellman and Tracye McDaniel of TIP Strategies on the pressing questions in stategic planning.

What can leadership do right now?
How do we confront an uncertain future?
How do we communicate when there is so much discord?
How much can I really influence the future under current circumstances?
Can I be creative if my budget is shrinking?
At the speed at which things are changing, can I rely on data?
Should community wide economic recovery be my primary objective?
Is it even possible to plan ahead anymore?

Connect with Tom Stellman

Connect with Tracye McDaniel

Check out TIP Strategies

About Tom Stellman

As CEO and founder of TIP Strategies, Inc., Tom has national and international experience in economic development and workforce analysis. Tom is the lead author of TIP's Texas Automotive Profile and has spoken extensively about automotive supplier attraction strategies. He also developed and launched the highly successful Invest in Texas Alliance, a marketing initiative targeting domestic and international growth companies which generated over $3 billion in investment leads and facilitated the location of 15 companies.

Tom's recent projects include developing a talent-focused strategy as part of a WIRED-funded initiative for a 26-county region in Kentucky and Indiana; crafting diversification strategies for military dependent communities in Texas (Fort Hood and Sheppard AFB) and Tennessee (Fort Campbell); preparing an economic development strategic plan for Hinds County (Jacksonville), Mississippi; and creating marketing strategies for suburban communities along the expansion of the President George Bush Tollway in the Dallas area.

Prior to establishing TIP, Tom was director of the Office of International Business for the Texas Department of Commerce. He led a 10-person staff charged with promoting the state's exports, marketing the state to foreign investors, and facilitating communication between foreign investors and economic development organizations statewide.

About Tracye McDaniel

Tracye McDaniel, as president of TIP Strategies, Inc., brings a global perspective to local strategies. Throughout her thirty-year career, Tracye has advised and supported five governors in all facets of economic development. She has led marketing efforts in over 51 countries. Tracye is a trusted advisor to CEOs, nonprofits, public organizations, and private enterprises.

Prior to joining TIP, Tracye was the founder and CEO of McDaniel Strategy Ecosystems. She has served as president and chief executive officer of the Texas Economic Development Corporation and TexasOne, an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to marketing the state globally for business attraction, retention, and foreign direct investment.

Before that, Tracye was Founding CEO of Choose New Jersey, one of a few economic development organizations in the country wholly funded through private sources. While there, she shaped the state’s brand for economic development marketing as well as its business retention and recruitment strategies. Tracye was also one of the founding creators of Opportunity Houston at the Greater Houston Partnership where she served in the role of Executive Vice President and COO.

Tracye is a widely recognized strategist with C-Suite level experience in all facets of the organizational development, corporate engagement, economic development, and the travel marketing industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dennis and Jason recently returned from an appearance in North Dakota.

In this episode, they share insights gained from travel, share a new definition of rural, and pontificate on the unique perspective of sustainable real estate development from North Dakota's Governor Burgum.

The links referenced in the show were not immediately available, but will be posted here once available.

Dennis and Jason recently joined the North Dakota economic development community at the 2020 Main Street Summit. Although the bulk of the conference was virtual, Jason had a chance to interview North Dakota's own Governor Doug Burgum.

This episode was recorded in front of a small live audience and live-streamed all across the state.

Governor Burgum enjoyed incredible success during his career in business and plays a very active role in economically-sustainable development as governor.

Special thanks to the Economic Development Association of North Dakota and the North Dakota Department of Commerce for hosting the podcast at this year's event.

More about Governor Doug Burgum

Tracye McDaniel and Jennifer Todd-Goynes with TIP Strategies join Dennis for continued discussion on equity and inclusion in this economic environment. See below for expanded show notes.

TIP Strategies

Connect with Tracye McDaniel

Connect with Jennifer Todd-Goynes

Why are traditional economic development models inadequate?

TRADITIONAL MODEL – Focus on the community’s overall economic recovery to benefit all residents

FUTURE-FOCUSED PRACTICE – Target recovery efforts to uniquely serve and benefit under-resourced populations

TRADITIONAL MODEL – General relief and recovery tools are open to all residents and businesses

FUTURE-FOCUSED PRACTICE – Actions and policies are designed with under-resourced populations at the center

TRADIONAL MODEL – Equity and inclusion is for community and workforce development partners

FUTURE-FOCUSED PRACTICE – Equity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and has economic benefits

How can economic development organizations and community leaders apply a focus on equity and inclusion?

Two relevant case studies –

Operationalize Equity and Inclusion

BEST PRACTICE: Resilient Tulsa Action Plan

WHAT IS IT: An action plan that integrates equity and inclusion across core economic, workforce, and community development functions

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT:

Provides specific goals and actions for the City of Tulsa and its partners to implement
Outlines roles and responsibilities across city departments and organizations (doesn’t treat equity and inclusion as a separate function)

Expand Broadband Access

BEST PRACTICE: San Antonio Digital Inclusion Plan

WHAT IS IT: Cross-sector coalition of 30+ organizations working to close the digital divide for low-income residents

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT:

Broadband access is increasingly central to economic success and participation in the workforce
COVID-19 has highlighted the consequences of the digital divide for education and employment outcomes
The Digital Inclusion Alliance is working to incorporate digital inclusion strategies in the City’s ED Plan

Candi Clouse, Ph.D., assists economic developers by using IMPLAN to measure local and state economies' economic impacts. IMPLAN pairs classic input-output analysis and regional social accounting matrices (SAMs) with software solutions to provide users with the most trusted, accurate, and adaptable model for performing specialized economic impact analyses.

In this episode, Andy and Candi discuss the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and reveal opportunities for economic development professionals to leverage IMPLAN as a tool to understand the large scale impact of business attraction, retention, and tourism.

Tracye McDaniel and Jaclyn Le with TIP Strategies join Dennis for a thought-provoking discussion on equity and inclusion in this economic environment. See below for expanded show notes.

TIP Strategies

Connect with Tracye McDaniel

Connect with Jaclyn Le

PART 1.

CONTEXT

In today’s rapidly changing demographic, social, and economic environment, the need for equity and inclusion in economic development programs is particularly urgent.
COVID-19, the current economic crisis, and national uprisings have altered life in every community and called greater attention towards racial and economic justice.
If the economic development field does not take a more proactive approach to addressing racial inequity, then we run the risk of failing to meet our goals of improving our communities and fostering economic vitality.
Traditional approaches to economic development have not benefited all populations — and, in many cases, the policies and programs have neglected or even shortchanged people of color, immigrants and low-income communities.

TERMS

Equity – Providing fair access to resources and opportunity while eliminating systemic barriers that prevent full economic participation.
Inclusion – Creating an economy in which every individual and group is valued and able to fully contribute to your community’s economic vitality.
Under-resourced communities – communities that have been historically marginalized and excluded from economic opportunity because of their race or class. Specifically, this includes communities of color and low-income residents. While there is some overlap between these two groups, it is important to recognize that they are not synonymous with each other.

How has COVID-19 exacerbated inequality?

Inequality and exclusion existed in our communities before covid-19, but the emergence of this virus and the subsequent economic crisis have exacerbated existing disparities, especially among under-resourced populations.
- The impacts of coronavirus create a negative feedback loop that makes inequality even worse.
  - Lower incomes è chronic health conditions è increased vulnerability to COVID-19
  - More often impacted by loss of income and healthcare due to quarantines and business closures
  - More likely to be employed in essential worker jobs which increase potential exposure to the virus
  - Contribute to the widening socio-economic divide.
- TIP has developed an occupational risk tool that measures job-related risk during the COVID-19 crisis on 2 dimensions: risk to personal health and risk to personal earnings
  - 40% of workers in the US are in jobs with a high risk to earnings and a high risk to personal health
  - Across all the major metro regions, Black, Latinx, and younger workers face a disproportionate level of risk
  - Furthermore, 83% of workers facing the greatest risk earn less than $20/hr
  - What this shows us is how fragile and tenuous are economy was pre-covid for Black and Latinx communities – Covid didn’t create this inequality. It has always been there, but now it’s exposed more now than ever.
  - A version of the tool is available on our website—so you can go online and explore the data for the large metro regions in the US

How have national uprisings and racial justice movement affected economic development?

National uprisings in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others has broadened awareness about racial injustice across numerous social and economic issues
There’s a tendency for economic development to see the uprisings and racial justice movement as a social issue that may not be related to our work.
That’s fundamentally not true. Systemic racism is also an economic issue. It directly relates to economic development.
We need to explicitly address racial equity in our work. For too long, Black and Latinx residents have been locked out of opportunity – everything from education to jobs and more.
Prior to Covid, we were in a period of extensive growth and prosperity. Economic developers played a part in that growth, but the rising tide didn’t lift all boats. Communities of color, in particular, did not experience the benefits that others did.
There’s a tendency to want to “stay in our lane,” but if we don’t address racial inequity, then many people in our communities will not be able to benefit from the economic opportunities we are working to create. This will also reduce our communities’ competitiveness, especially as public expectations shift, and the private sector is also held accountable.

Eric Canada is back on the podcast today with great, timely information for the economic development community.

What have we learned during this pandemic?

In this episode, Eric shares 7 insights from doing more with less to the continued need for community development. He also shares a word of caution for siloed organizations.

Blane Candada Ltd.

Connect with Eric Canada

Yes - today's show has a long title, but the listen will be worth your time. The role of the economic development professional is changing, and adaptation is really the only option.

In this episode, Mary Ann Moon, CEcD, FM, HLM, joins Dennis for a great discussion on all things related to the industry and your professional development.

Connect with Mary Ann Moon

Prosper Economic Development Corporation

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Tracye McDaniel and Jon Roberts with TIP Strategies to discuss emerging economic development trends as a result of the pandemic such as:

-Supply Chain Restructuring
-Online Retail Sales
-Flexible Workspace
-Health & Medicine
-Workforce Composition
-Social Inequity

In addition, they suggest ways in which EDOs can respond to these trends from assessing vulnerabilities to elimination of redundancies.

TIP Strategies

Connect with Tracye McDaniel

Connect with Jon Roberts

Big economic development projects have many moving parts. How can you keep the deal together and how can you keep yourself together?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share strategies for keeping projects on track and making sure you don't wear yourself out.

Jay Moon is a veteran of the economic development industry with roles that span a variety of key positions- including a volunteer position as the former chair of the IEDC board of directors.

In this episode, Jay provides insight on disaster recovery, incentives, supply chains, and future skills needed in the economic development profession.

Connect with Jay Moon

Acclaimed site selector Jay Garner, CEcD, CCE, and President of Garner Economics returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book launch:

Economic Development Is Not for Amateurs!: A must-read for community leaders on how to achieve economic development success

Co-authored with Ross Patten, this read is the perfect length and focuses on the one common denominator between successful economic development strategies: leadership.

Connect with Jay Garner

Garner Economics

Pick up the book now

For those organizations highly dependent on event revenue, this COVID crisis is proving especially difficult.

In this episode, Jason asks for your feedback. How is your organization placing event revenue? Are you cutting back, spending reserves, or replacing it with something new? For those of you doing virtual events, what kind of revenue loss are you incurring?

We want your feedback, please email details to jason@developthispodcast.com

Connectivity in America is the new currency that we are all going to be trading in. The current pandemic has highlighted the digital divide as more individuals work from home and especially as our kids try and learn from home.

In this episode, Dennis shares some of his frustrations with the federal prioritization of connectivity and offers some localized solutions.

One person can make all the difference.

One person can demoralize a team, rally a neighborhood against your project, or veto an incentive deal.

One person also has the ability to lead, to push when others aren't willing, or to articulate a vision for others to follow.

Today's show is all about encouraging you to lead even when success is a bit elusive.

Influencers have a major impact on the products we buy and the things we discuss.

In our own communities, we have the ability to influence conversations, steer community projects, and encourage investment in certain sectors.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share strategies to improve our messaging and maximize our influence.

The series on enhancing your skill sets continues with this episode's feature on engaging the media.

Interacting with the media can make or break a career in the economic and community development business. If you aren't comfortable engaging the media, odds are that you avoid it like the plague.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason offer tips for engaging the media and building your confidence level over time.

Everything changes over time - including your favorite podcast on economic and community development.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason unveil some changes to the podcast including a new publishing scheduled moving forward.

Many organizations have forged new relationships during this pandemic. New collaborations are exciting at first, but over time, keeping that momentum can be a challenge.

In this episode, Dennis offers for tips to keep the partnership together:

Have defined purpose and goals
Rotate leadership
Keep meetings short and to the point
Look for opportunities to grow and expand

Do you control your calendar or does your calendar control you?

In this episode, Jason shares some of this struggles through the years of losing control of his day to the calendar. He offers for suggestions for regaining authority over the day.

Bridges Out of Poverty gives people a hand up not a handout.

If you didn’t grow up in poverty, you may be unaware of the “hidden rules” that govern many aspects of life for the poor. People in poverty are often in survival mode, and support systems taken for granted in middle class and wealth are largely nonexistent.

If your business, agency, or organization works with people from poverty, a deeper understanding of their challenges – and strengths – helps you partner with them to create opportunities for success.

In this episode, Dennis shares his experiences working with Bridges Out of Poverty

https://www.ahaprocess.com/

Now is a good time to look at your strategic plan and see how it reflects the Pre-COVID and Post-COVID world.

In this episode, Dennis shares how his body of work has pivoted dramatically over the last few months and shares some examples to help you think through this process.

Hopefully your organization has a process for individual performance evaluations. If this is an annual process, consider having a mid-year checkpoint- especially this year.

In this episode, Jason offers guidance for topics to consider during this discussion. If structured correctly, this time can be very valuable for both the manager and the employee.

David Aronson is the founder of Peanut Butter and was featured on Andy’s first interview as part of the Develop This! Podcast crew!

Peanut Butter provides company-sponsored student loan contributions to assist in the attraction and retention of top talent. Recent legislation, as part of the CARES Act, allows employers to contribute to student loans tax-free!

Learn more about student loan repayment at à www.getpeanutbutter.com

Barry Broome is the founder and CEO of California’s only CEO lead economic development group headed by 43 CEO’s.

In this interview, Barry and Andy breakdown the roots of Barry’s success and his vision for the future of economic development as a profession. Barry Broome is a “ditch digger” and is not afraid to get his hands dirty!

Connect with Barry Broome on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrygbroome/

Monica Steffeck is a rock star when it comes to building strong company cultures and increasing employee engagement. As a member of the ClickStop team, she serves as the Chief Talent Enrichment Officer (CTEO).

Join Andy and Monica as they discuss the COVID-19 response and the steps you can take to build relationships and connect with your employees.

Learn more about ClickStop at www.ClickStop.com

Connect with Monica Steffeck

As economic developers, we are the front lines for our communities and many times represent the force for positive change in our communities. Now more then ever, we need to find our voice and help our communities heal and find a path forward.

Ron Kitchens, one of our contributing experts, says the greatest force for change is a job. As ED professionals, we are uniquely situated to be part of the force for positive change.

Let's do what we can to make it the best of times.

f you are a podcast listener, odds are that you believe in continuous improvement.

In this series on skill sets, Jason offers suggestions for identifying skill sets that can be used in a variety of disciplines.

This episode answers the question: how can I get better at conveying ideas through written communication?

Here is a hint: answer the question - so what?

In your personal life, you should have a file full of important documents and instructions for your loved ones to settle your estate.

That concept can also apply to your organization.

Is the organization prepared to continue without you or any of your co-workers?

In this episode, Dennis shares some tips for knowledge transfer that every organization should consider.

Dennis and Jason have the week off, so please enjoy this encore episode regarding Community Foundations.

Most economic development professionals aren't rich, yet we share a strong connection to the communities we serve. How can you make a financial impact on the community once your employment is complete? Consider starting an endowed fund bearing your family's name with small gifts each year. Over time, the balance will build, and your fund will be able to make distributions to worthy causes every year for generations.

In this short episode, Jason shares the concept behind an 'Acorn' endowed fund.

Dennis and Jason have the week off, so please enjoy this encore episode regarding Community Foundations.

Whether it is support for human services or capital dollars for big projects, every community could use more financial resources. Community foundations work tirelessly to build permanent assets in endowed funds. Earnings from those funds go to support a wide variety of causes and initiatives each and every year.

In this episode, Jason gives an overview of community foundations and explains the power of endowed funds.

If you are a podcast listener, odds are that you believe in continuous improvement.

In this series on skill sets, Jason offers suggestions for identifying skill sets that can be used in a variety of disciplines.

This episode answers the question: how do I get better at reading a room?

We know that non-verbal communication is often more important that what is actually said, but how do we get better and interpreting these cues? Tune in for tips and suggestions on scanning, listening, and watching a room.

We aren't quite out of this yet. Are you ready for the marathon recovery period?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share tips for managing stress through this long road ahead.