Whittaker Report
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Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, by Yuval Noah Harari This book explores the powerful role that information has played throughout human history and its impact on society and politics. Harari takes readers from the earliest human...
Recent Podcasts
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…
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…
Recent Posts
Veganism
The reasons people adopt veganism are varied, but they generally fall into four categories: ethical, environmental, health-related, and religious. Ethical vegans believe that it is wrong to use animals for any purpose, and that animals should not be killed, exploited,...
EDO Solutions to Grow Their Labor Pool
Last month, I wrote about the top ten site selection priorities, of which, labor costs were (not surprisingly) ranked at #1. Workforce costs and availability are at the forefront of every decision-maker’s mind when considering the future of their businesses,...
Tuition-Free College Degree at Hope College
This month, I had the opportunity to attend the Catalyst Summit at Hope College in Holland, MI. The purpose of the summit was to discuss access to higher education, with Hope offering free tuition to students through an innovative program. Students who participate...
Top Ten Site Selection Factors
Area Development recently published several articles related to the results from their 37th Annual Corporate Survey of corporate executive readers. Owners and executives from companies across several sectors were polled at the end of 2022 to determine their biggest...
Turning Worry into Wonder
Have you ever noticed that what we focus on tends to manifest in our lives? It's as if the universe responds to our thoughts and emotions, bringing into reality whatever we give our attention to. This can be both a blessing and a curse, as our worries and fears can...
AI vs. Humans
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to automate tasks that were previously performed by humans. This can lead to the displacement of some workers and the need for new skills in the workforce. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to...
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Latest
Evaluating Generative AI Tools
In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, large language models have emerged as powerful tools for a myriad of applications. Among these, ChatGPT, GPT-3.5, Perplexity, and Claude.AI stand out due to their distinct features and capabilities. Each of...
Don’t Fall for Fake News
Fake news is everywhere, yet social media seems to take the cake when it comes to fabricating and disseminating false information. And now with AI and other tools, it’s become quite easy to make images and videos look real and attribute quotes and actions to people in...
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