Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
AI in Economic Development – Issue 23.0
The Exponential Shift: What Will Change Fastest in 2026 2026 is shaping up to be the year when technology—especially AI—stops feeling incremental and starts feeling exponential. Several forces are converging and accelerating at once, and together they will reshape how...
Recent Podcasts
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…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 22 - An Interview with Lee Crume, President & CEO of BE NKY
Jul 20, 2023 • 00:19:11
Learn about BE NKY, a regional economic development organization and hear from Lee Crume, President & CEO of the organization as he describes the success they are having and his view of the changing nature of economic development.
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 21 - An Interview with Alia Abbas, Founder and President of Alia Consulting
May 20, 2023 • 01:13:15
In Episode 21, Alia Abbas shares with us her experience as a first-time attendee at the Select USA Conference, an investment summit in Washington DC annually. It provides an opportunity for economic development organization to meet with potential international investors considering establishing business operations in the United States. Alia Abbas…
Recent Posts
What Change Can Teach Us
Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and podcaster whose TED talk, “Why change is so scary - and how to unlock its potential,” caught my attention. If any word has summed up my last year, it is change. Marriage, the loss of my father, a new position at work, and...
Time in a Bottle
“If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I’d like to do…” — Jim Croce Jim Croce’s timeless song “Time in a Bottle” speaks to the fleeting nature of life and the yearning to preserve its best moments — to hold on to them before they slip away. Measuring...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 22.0
AI’s Transformative Impact on Industry Sectors How AI Is Redefining the Landscape Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how work gets done across industries — not just in what is automated, but in where and how value is created. Three sectors in...
Site Selection: Brownfield vs. Greenfield
This month, while perusing AreaDevelopment’s latest news, I read a wonderful article, “Your Next Factory Might Already Be Built,” by Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Americas Strategic Consulting, at Cushman & Wakefield. All over the country, we see...
Site Selection: Building the AI Infrastructure
We marvel at the ability of AI to provide useful information and advice when prompted well. With the emergence of Agentic AI, we’re on the verge of having personal assistants capable of carrying out complex tasks on our behalf. All of this depends on a massive...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 21.0
Event Planning Have you ever planned an event? There’s so much to consider—date, time, venue, guests, theme, budget, committees, set up, clean up, and follow up. That was exactly my challenge when I came up with the idea for a neighborhood dog show. After moving into...
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November Blues
The November Blues arrive quietly each year, carried in on the gray overcast skies that settle over us at 42° north. As the sun retreats and the days shorten, I’m reminded once again of the cyclical nature of life—light giving way to darkness and then, slowly,...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 23.0
The Exponential Shift: What Will Change Fastest in 2026 2026 is shaping up to be the year when technology—especially AI—stops feeling incremental and starts feeling exponential. Several forces are converging and accelerating at once, and together they will reshape how...
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