Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
AI in Economic Development – Issue 32.0
What a 1977 Science Fiction Novel Can Teach Economic Developers Today Nearly fifty years ago, author Thomas J. Ryan imagined a computer program that escaped the boundaries its creator intended for it. In his 1977 novel, The Adolescence of P-1, Ryan introduced P-1, a...
Recent Podcasts
Episode 32 An Interview with Ron Kitchens - Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Mar 25, 2026 • 00:30:43
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 helping communities grow and prosper.…
The Whittaker Report Episode 31 An Interview with Vern Schultz
Dec 31, 2025 • 00:28:44
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 market. Since joining Colliers, Vern has completed more than…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 30 - An Interview with Ashley & Eric Canada of Blane Canada AI
Sep 11, 2025 • 00:35:30
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. We’re going to talk about where economic development is headed, how…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 29 An Interview with Dennis Pruitt, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
Apr 29, 2025 • 00:33:16
Dennis Pruitt, SVP, is the Senior Vice President of Economic Development at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. He leads the Chamber’s business recruitment and expansion efforts, economic research, industry sector development, and destination retail initiatives. He also oversees the Greater Oklahoma City Partnership, a 10-county regional economic development alliance. With…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 28 - An Interview with Jen Wakefield, APR, President and CEO at Greater Richmond Partnership
Mar 12, 2025 • 00:27:24
Jennifer Wakefield. Jen is the President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership, where she’s been driving strategic growth and investment in the region since 2021. With over two decades of experience in economic development, marketing, and strategic planning, she’s led transformative projects in both Richmond and Orlando, boosting business…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 27 - An Interview with Barry Matherly, CEcD
Jan 29, 2025 • 00:20:52
In this episode, we hear from Barry Matherly, CEcD, President and CEO of Hickey Global, a full service economic development consulting firm. With over 28 years in economic development, Barry has been helping communities to prosper by creating opportunities for new investment and job growth. As a certified economic development…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 26 an Interview with Kate Engel, Executive Director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus
Apr 26, 2024 • 00:17:26
In this episode we hear from Kate Engel, Managing Director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus. Kate Engel. Kate is the interim executive director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation owned by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Kate’s primary responsibility is to supervise NICDC staff, direct business operations…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 25 - An Interview with Dr. Donald T. Iannone.
Jan 14, 2024 • 00:35:49
In this episode we hear from Dr. Donald T. Iannone, a poet, author, philosopher, and professor of theology. Don shares with us his view of the future of Economic Development and trends impacting the profession. He discusses the longterm impace of COVID on our mind, body and spirit. Do has…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 24 An Interview with Mark James, CEcD, Utility Practice Lead, Hickey Global
Dec 14, 2023 • 00:37:11
In this episode, Mark James discusses the electric utility industry role in site selection, current trends within the industry, electrical capacity, supply chain issues and the need to dramatically invest in the expansion of the grid. Mark also shares with us the future of economic development as seen from his…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 23 - An Interview with Karl Dye, President/CEO of TRIDEC
Nov 24, 2023 • 00:28:59
In this episode, we have a conversation with Karl Dye, President/CEO of TRIDEC (Tri Cities Development Council) serving Benton and Franklin Counties in Washington State. Karl discusses the opportunities for economic development organizations in decarbonization, climate change, and the electric power shortage. He also describers where he sees the economic…
Recent Posts
How Micro Habits Can Change Our Life
We often believe that transforming our lives requires big decisions, dramatic changes, and enormous amounts of motivation. But lasting change rarely happens overnight. More often, it begins with something much smaller: a tiny action repeated consistently. These small...
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...
Theme of the Month: Travel
Summer is in full swing, and many families take advantage of the school break and pleasant weather to travel to destinations both near and far. Whether it’s to visit friends or family, explore a new area, or simply for pleasure, travel offers so many benefits in...
The Secret Garden
When we first moved from our house in the suburbs to a condominium in town, I worried about losing easy access to nature including the beach and Lake Michigan. At our old home we lived within four blocks of the lake, a county park, and a state park. The poorer air...
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Latest
What Is Agentic AI, and Why Should We Care?
For the past couple of years, most of us have gotten used to a certain rhythm with AI: you ask it a question, it gives you an answer, and the exchange ends there. That is the chatbot model, and it has already changed how I research and write. But a newer term is...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 32.0
What a 1977 Science Fiction Novel Can Teach Economic Developers Today Nearly fifty years ago, author Thomas J. Ryan imagined a computer program that escaped the boundaries its creator intended for it. In his 1977 novel, The Adolescence of P-1, Ryan introduced P-1, a...
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