About Us

No other firm has the experience, expertise, and capabilities of Whittaker Associates, Inc.
What makes us different?

Our History

Dean Whittaker, an economic development and real estate practitioner fascinated by emerging technologies, founded Whittaker Associates Inc. in 1987. By merging his professional expertise and his passion for technology, Dean could provide something other firms didn’t: hard-to-get company data.

By applying proprietary analytic methods, Whittaker Associates Inc. transforms this data into richer business knowledge. We bring meaning to information to help you achieve your business, real estate, and economic development goals.

Meet Our Team

Our Mission & Values

At Whittaker Associates we:

Uncover business opportunities using data analytics
Enable our clients to focus their resources on best prospects
Reduce inefficiencies in the marketing process

Our clients are:

Leading local, regional, and state economic development organizations
Owners or their agents of special use commercial/industrial property
Organizations able to benefit from a technologically-advanced approach to their marketing efforts

We are known for:

Accurate, timely, actionable business intelligence, which leads to repeat referral business
Our integrity, competence and innovation
Unique proprietary predictive analytics
Prioritized business opportunities using pattern recognition
Our impeccable reputation

What makes us different

Experience

We specialize in identifying ideal prospects in any industry for our clients. A 30-year economic development veteran, our president is a recognized expert on the use of technology in economic development.

Accessibility

We deliver our leads in a password-protected, web-based system that allows users to access information from any location to collaborate with us and other service providers in a user-friendly environment.

Innovation

Our proprietary research and lead-generation methodologies have been proven over time through solid results for our clients.

Strategy

We work with a network of strategic partners, reputable individuals and companies with specialized niches, unique capabilities, and valuable contacts in targeted geographic areas.

"Whittaker Associates has been an excellent source for lead generation and a valuable resource for our business development efforts. The SmartLeads program has proven to be very successful with their spot-on algorithm."

Traci Jao, TRIDEC

We have found tremendous value for our lead development team through working with Whittaker and Associates. The leads received were excellent and tailored to companies who would be a perfect fit for our Region.

Rachel Pierson Delamain, E.D.F.P.
Director of Business Development
Baton Rouge Area Chamber

Get Started Today

Schedule a Consultation

Get In Touch

The Whittaker Report

Email

dean@whittakerassociates.com

Phone

616.403.5076

Address

156 West 11th Street
Suite 107
Holland, MI 49423

Latest

The Last Time

Aug 27, 2025

My intention in writing this article is for it not to be a lament but to be a reminder to me, and perhaps to you. I recently came across two simple yet profound truths: everything that has a beginning must also have an ending, and the only constant in life is change....

AI in Economic Development – Issue 20.0