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LAtest Podcasts & Posts

Episode 32 An Interview with Ron Kitchens – Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc.

In this episode, you will hear from Ron Kitchens, Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc. You will learn how Ron began his 30-year career in economic development as an entrepreneur with a passion for creating jobs, a passion that became a lifelong commitment to...

The Whittaker Report Episode 31 An Interview with Vern Schultz

Vern Schultz, SIOR, has been active in Chicago-area commercial real estate for more than 35 years. He joined Colliers in 1977 and currently serves as an Executive Vice President in the Industrial Advisory Group, representing tenants and owners throughout the Chicago...

The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 30 – An Interview with Ashley & Eric Canada of Blane Canada AI

Eric has been a pioneer in applying technology to economic development for over 30 years, and together with Ashley—who brings deep expertise in sales and marketing—they’ve transformed Blane Canada into a leader in AI and automation for business development. In this...

When a Client Says No

Every economic development professional builds a private mythology around the yes: the signed retainer, the board vote that went our way, the prospect that finally called back. We talk less about the no, which actually fills more of the calendar. I had a clean one...

AI in Economic Development – Issue 31.0

Building a Target BRE List With AI, Start to Finish Business retention and expansion work lives and dies on the quality of your call list. Visit the right employers in the right order and you catch expansions early and head off closures before they are announced....

Pricing Your Work When the Labor Has Changed

For most of my career, the arithmetic of consulting was stable. Work took the time it took, and price tracked effort closely enough that nobody had to think hard about the relationship. AI broke that arithmetic. A deliverable that once cost me three days of assembly...