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.
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Interviews leading experts on issues pertaining to employee ownership including building an ownership culture, management practices, succession planning, economic development, and so much more.
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Where Urban Planning, Cities, Hip Hop Culture and Community Development conversations live. The Streets are Planning Podcast highlights the unheard voices, stories and impact of community leaders working in cities and neighborhoods across the globe.
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More than Money is a podcast that creates a conversation community around how to use your values to engage with work and invest your wealth. The podcast is designed in a 12-episode season format. Each episode is produced around two core interview segments sharing a common theme. In this podcast, we explore the following topic areas: (1) business ethics, (2) economic justice, (3) corporate social responsibility, (4) social entrepreneurship, (5) community development, and (6) faith and values- ...
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St. James Town Storeys is a podcast about a diverse, densely-populated, dynamic, but often overlooked Toronto neighbourhood called St. James Town. It showcases the voices of people who come together in countless ways to solve needs and problems and build social bonds of friendship and support, to inspire even more resident participation in community life.
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DT #558 Unlocking Economic Development: The OUEDI Experience - Courtney Dunbar
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15:59
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15:59Summary 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 significa…
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DT #557 Building Bridges: The St. Louis BRE Initiative
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27:26Summary 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 …
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DT #556 The “Why” Behind Downtown Revitalization Strategies: Building Community from the Ground Up
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29:04In 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 plan…
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DT #555 Understanding Agriculture and Egg Prices in America - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig
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37:24Summary 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 agricultu…
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DT #554 Navigating the Complexities of Tariffs on the North American Auto Industry - Flavio Volpe
31:43
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31:43Summary 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 t…
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DT #553 Explosive Growth in Pasco County, Florida: Opportunities and Challenges
21:04
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21:04Summary 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 communit…
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DT #552 The National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA)
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24:06Summary 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 s…
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DT #551 Unlocking the Power of Questions - Mark Perna
28:14
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28:14Summary 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 emot…
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DT #550 Preview of the 2025 IEDC Rural Retreat in Great Falls, Montana
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25:10Summary 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. Attendee…
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DT #549 Understanding the Impact of Tariffs on the Can Manufacturing Industry
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28:37Summary 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 tari…
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DT #547 Leadership Lessons from a Lifetime in Economic Development - Michael Langley
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40:53Summary 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, u…
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DT #548 The Impact of increased U.S. Tariffs on International Trade and the U.S. economy - David Gantz
30:32
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30:32Summary 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…
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DT #546 Recap and Review of the 2025 IEDC Leadership Summit
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25:03Summary 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 collaborati…
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DT #545 Empowering Rural America: The Golden Shovel Approach
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35:14Summary 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 comm…
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DT #544 The Tariff Debate: Understanding Its Impact - Ryan Monarch Assistant Professor, Economics Department Syracuse University
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43:37In 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, t…
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DT #543 Leadership Simplified: Enhancing Economic Development Organizations - Doug Van Dyke
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32:07In 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 insi…
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DT #542 Building Your Dreams: A Lifelong Journey - Mark Perna
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20:56In 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 si…
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DT #541 Dealing with the closure of a major employer – Bill Murphy
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30:08In 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 th…
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DT #540 These Free Programs are Changing How Cities Learn | Apply Now!
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18:25In 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 experie…
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Building Employee Ownership Collaboration
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33:47SUMMARY: In this episode Chris Cooper sits down with Jim O’Brien founder and current President of Go2Partners, a 100% ESOP Company. We talk about the interesting way in which Go2Partners was founded and funded by the employees themselves, why employee ownership was an attractive choice for him and the founders of the company, and how becoming emplo…
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DT #539 Innovating Economic Development in Small Cities - Betsey Suchanic from the New Growth Innovation Network
26:37
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26:37In 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 partn…
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DT #538 Mastering Site Preparation for Economic Development - Courtney Dunbar
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31:00In 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 emphasiz…
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DT # 537 The Case For Liberal Arts In Economic Development - Dennis Pruitt
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30:32Dennis 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.…
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DT #536 Leadership and Giving Back to the Economic Development Profession - Barry Matherly
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29:17Barry 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 …
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DT #535 The State of Workforce in 2025 - Mark Perna
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23:10Mark 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 …
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DT #534 Behind the scenes of state level economic Development - Debi Durham, the Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
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42:39Debi 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 – busin…
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DT #533 Finding Your Path in Economic Development - Danielle Casey
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55:01Danielle 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 ther…
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DT #532 The Year Ahead in Economic Development With Bryan Daniels IEDC Board Chair
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40:10Bryan 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 Communic…
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DT #531 IEDC 2025 Conference Previews with Nathan Ohle
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18:50IEDC 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…
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DT #530 IEDC Update and the Year Ahead with Nathan Ohle
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36:17IEDC 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.
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DT #529 Being Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable - Mark Perna
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13:29Mark 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: …
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DT #528 Dennis Retires - What's Next For Develop This!?
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7:52Dennis gets personal about his decision to retire from his economic development position and discusses what is next for Develop This!
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DT #527 IEDC Membership Changes Everything You Need To Know - Maria Berg - Stark
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22:54Dennis 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…
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DT #526 Lessons Learned in 40 Years Of Economic Development and Using EDC Forge CRM Platform - Clark Smith
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20:54Clark 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…
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DT #525 AI For Economic Developers With Aaron Brossoit CEO – Golden Shovel Agency
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27:32Dennis 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 m…
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DT #524 Leading Ladies of Economic Development Podcast - Kaycee Bunch
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39:28Dennis 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 Eco…
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DT #523 IEDC Rural Entrepreneurship 101 Online Class - Mo Collins
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30:23Dennis 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 bandwid…
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DT #522 Moving From Burnout to Renewal Dennis Pruitt, Missouri Partnership
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36:51Moving 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…
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DT# 521 Redefining West Virginia’s Region 1's Economy; Life After Coal – With Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellow Shaun Donovan
26:59
26:59
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26:59Dennis 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…
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DT #520 Why We All Need a Personal Competitive Advantage - Mark Perna
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17:23Dennis 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 Ad…
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Dt #519 Springfield Ohio, When the National Spotlight Shines You – Horton Hobbs
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20:41Springfield, 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 …
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DT #518 Why Communities Get Eliminated from Projects with Chris Lloyd
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34:28In 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…
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DT #517 Dealing With Things Beyond Your Control
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9:06In 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?
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DT #516 The Power of the Unexpected Compliment
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9:04In 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.
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DT #515 2024 IEDC Annual Conference Recap and Review
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8:17In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on the 2024 IEDC Annual Conference that was held in Denver.
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How Direct Employee Ownership Created the Right Succession Plan, and Company Culture, at Cargas
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49:00SUMMARY: One of the exciting happenings in the world of employee ownership today is the proliferation of different models and methods for bringing employees into the ownership of a company. In this episode we discuss the Direct Stock Ownership model that Chip Cargas, Founder of Cargas Systems, implemented at his company. We also discussed where the…
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DT #514 Why Can't We All Get Along Election Edition
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9:42In 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?
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DT #513 The Power of Saying No With Mark Perna
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10:18Mark 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.
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DT #512 Economic Development is Like Magic with Magician Dennis Watkins
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50:14Dennis 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-scene…
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DT #511 Basic Economic Development Course - Heartland Edition
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32:32In 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…
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