Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
Fossil Fuel Crisis
Fossil fuels are made from the remains of living things like plants and animals that were trapped under deposits and buried deep in the earth millions of years ago. These ruins were compacted and fossilized over time, yielding carbon-rich fuels like coal, oil, and...
Recent Podcasts
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…
Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 20 - An Interview with Nathan Ohle, President/CEO of the International Economic Development Council
Mar 24, 2023 • 00:30:13
Nathan Ohle has been recently appointed as the President/CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Under his leadership, several initiatives are underway, including a comprehensive strategic plan that involves a thorough review of all IEDC membership services. Nathan emphasizes the importance of collaboration in economic development as opposed to…
Whittaker Associates Podcast Episode 19 - An Interview with Andy Bass, CEO NetNerd Ventures
Jan 14, 2023 • 00:40:07
Andy Bass is a long-time tech entrepreneur in West Michigan, having founded a variety of companies in the e-commerce and supply chain space over the past 30 years. He is the CEO of NetNerd Ventures, providing startup and technology strategy and software development services throughout Michigan. With a background in…
Whittaker Associates Podcast Episode 18 - An Interview with Matt McQuade, Managing Director, Business Development One Columbus
Oct 30, 2022 • 00:25:51
Matt McQuade, Managing Director, Business Development One Columbus shares with us his view of the future of economic development. As a millennial (born between 1981 and 1996) Matt brings a perspective on the future of economic development from a younger generation than several of our previous guests. With 12 years…
Whittaker Associates Podcast Episode 17 - An Interview with Julie Curtin, President Economic Development Practice, Development Counsellors International
Jul 8, 2022 • 00:21:32
Julie Curtin, President of the Economic Development Practice of Development Counsellors International (DCI) shares with us her insight into the future of economic development. In her role as a board member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), she worked directly with IEDC to support the launch of the Diversity…
Whittaker Associates Podcast Episode 16 An Interview with Ed Sitar, Senior Manager of Economic Development at ComEd
May 11, 2022 • 00:32:47
Ed Sitar, Senior Manager of Economic Development at ComEd. Ed oversees the company’s large business customer retention and expansion strategy to grow key industries in northern Illinois. Ed is a 28-year company veteran who has worked closely with Illinois municipalities, and regional and state economic development organizations. Ed holds…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 15 - An Interview with Jim Alexander, Senior Vice President of Attraction AllianceSTL of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Feb 22, 2022 • 00:22:30
Jim Alexander, Senior Vice President of Business Attraction for AllianceSTL of Greater St. Louis. Inc. shares with us the exciting story of the new National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) $2 billion campus in St. Louis that is under construction. The 99-acre site will house over 3,600 workers interpreting geospatial information…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 14 An Interview with Kate McEnroe Founder of Kate McEnroe Consulting
Jan 24, 2022 • 00:31:19
Kate is the founder of Kate McEnroe Consulting, a sole proprietorship founded in 1993 as a location selection and economic development consulting firm. Her MBA is from The Wharton School. Her background in corporate management positions gives her a solid foundation and the skills to sustain an evolving consulting practice…
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 12 An Interview with Maureen Donohue Krause, President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership
Nov 23, 2021 • 00:24:20
In the episode, Maureen shares with us her perspective on the economic development profession having served in leadership roles at local, regional, and state positions. She assumed her current position as President and CEO of the Detriot Regional Partnership in July of 2020. She describes leading her team that is…
Recent Posts
Disaster Capitalism: Not Right, Not Illegal
The recent wildfire that swept through Lahaina, Maui has been front and center on the news as recovery efforts have been ongoing. What is less reported is the fact that, within days after this disaster, real estate agents, developers, and others have been contacting...
Lessons in Compassion: A Journey in Volunteering
This month, I was given an extraordinary lesson in compassion when I had the opportunity to participate in a Rotary volunteer service project. The club provides volunteers each month to an organization known as Community Action House Food Club. Although I was aware of...
Prioritize Time for Hobbies
I was organizing my desk when I came across a piece of paper lodged between some file folders. When I turned it over, I realized it was a “summer bucket list” I had written containing all of the activities I wanted to do during the season. However, this list was from...
Are We Running Out of Electricity?
Each month, we strive to bring you articles on topics we are currently exploring. This month, my focus has been on power grids and solar farms and their potential to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions. My economic development colleagues at electric...
Reducing Food Waste
Food is wasted at every stage of production, from farming to distribution to retail to consumption. Among the causes are cooking losses, intentional food waste, losses from pests, mold, or insufficient climate management. Food waste is a significant global issue....
4 Tips for Hybrid Work Models
Since the pandemic, remote and hybrid work is on the rise, and it’s here to stay. Employees value the flexibility and work-life balance that remote and/or hybrid work offer, but as employers and employees adapt to this evolving work model, best practices have emerged...
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Latest
Me and Claude 2.0
As an avid science fiction reader, I have long been intrigued by Isaac Asimov's books on robots. Many of his short stories describe how robots become integrated into society - at times resented, and at other times embraced. One robot strives to become more human,...
Fossil Fuel Crisis
Fossil fuels are made from the remains of living things like plants and animals that were trapped under deposits and buried deep in the earth millions of years ago. These ruins were compacted and fossilized over time, yielding carbon-rich fuels like coal, oil, and...
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