Podcasts

Tim Cowden, President, and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council share with us how he has successfully created a collaborative regional organization that encompasses 18 counties in two states. In addition to a strong team, and engage investors, the KCADC is intentional in its collaboration efforts.  This intentionality has enabled the KCADC to be recognized as one of the top regional economic organizations in the country.

In this episode, we will hear from Bethany Miller, Vice President of Business Development at the Greater Houston Partnership about her presentation at the International Economic Development Council Leadership Summit on the Benefits and Opportunities that being an inclusive community provide. She describes the efforts at the Houston Partnership to work with their private sector and their partner economic development organizations to provide equal opportunity to their increasingly diverse workforce and the role that mentorship and other initiatives play in creating a welcoming community.  Bethany shares her vision for the future of economic development as one that continues to addresses the issues of equality and inclusion and how she wants to be part of creating that future.

During this interview, Gene DePrez, Managing Partner of Global Innovation Partners takes us along on the 35-year career path that led him to take a unique approach to global corporate location strategy. In it, he begins by understanding the corporate culture and the overall corporate business strategy. Once he understands their goals and objects, he considers how the location of the business can be used to support the company in achieving its corporate objectives.