Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
The Last Tourist
This month, I watched the documentary, The Last Tourist, on Hulu. The film offers a look into the global tourism industry, especially in developing countries, and the positive and negative effects it can have on a host community. One of the statistics presented in the...
Recent Podcasts
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…
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.
Recent Posts
The Four Agreements
By Dean Whittaker Would you like to change your life forever? Maybe, or maybe not, but if you follow the following four agreements it will certainly have an impact. In Don Miguel Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements, he lays out four simple rules by which to live our...
Circuit City, Best Buy, and Me
By Patrick McConahy On March 28 th the Circuit City executive team decided that the best way to decrease their overhead was to lay off 3,400 employees. However, instead of laying off their least experienced employees, they actually laid off their most experienced...
The United States: The New Jolly Green Giant?
By Rebecca Rooy I did a Google search on “Going Green.” The conclusion? Environmentalists rejoice! Normally there is a surge in environment consciousness around Earth Day anyway, but this year, Earth Day doesn't seem to be the major cause of environmental awareness....
The Search is On for Whittaker's Website
By Stephanie Poll A company's website can be one of its main marketing tools, so keeping up with trends and technology can really have an impact. Here at Whittaker Associates we are working to make our website an even greater asset and resource tool for our clients...
Migrant Special Report
By Joel Burgess According to a recently released United Nations report, there are now more than 191 million migrants worldwide, more than ever before. In fact, migrant numbers have more than doubled since the 1960s and if the entire world's migrant population belonged...
New Target Industries
By Jim Edmonson Good news for U.S. communities looking for new targets and skilled workers looking for work. After the dust clears and the non-competitive companies disappear, a host of emerging multinational companies will have their sights set on America . New York...
Schedule a Consultation
Get In Touch
The Whittaker Report
Sign up to receive helpful tools and insightful posts.
Phone
616.403.5076
Address
156 West 11th Street
Suite 107
Holland, MI 49423
Latest
Living a Healthy Lifestyle in the 21st Century
By Ayush Dev Pant From the very early stages of our childhood, we have been familiar with the phrase ‘Health is Wealth’. It is a no-brainer that sound health is the most important aspect for a lively way of life. Today, we live in a world where living a healthy...
The Joy of Student Interns
By Dean Whittaker Our team at Whittaker Associates was joined this summer by two Michigan State University interns, Joe Sigler and Yang Fu. Joe is a junior studying statistics and Yang is a graduate student in data analytics, who will graduate in December. One of the...
Follow Us
Copyright © 2025 - Whittaker Associates Inc.
Site by Createfully.