Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
Empathy: A Leadership Skill The World Needs Right Now
Successful organizations are the results of successful leadership. With the world welcoming Gen Z (the most sensitive generation) to the marketplace, leadership trends are inclining towards employee sentiments more than ever. Different organizations have flourished...
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
Tahoe EDQ: Questions
What You Do Matters!
By Dean Whittaker Recently I had the opportunity to return to the small Midwest farm town in which I grew up. Over the past forty years I have seen the town gradually decline. First the clothing store closed, then the five-and-dime, the furniture store, a restaurant,...
ED Case Study – Oklahoma Boomerang Project
By Jim Bruckbauer An Economic Development Best Practice Attracting talent to an area can be an important but elusive part of an economic development strategy. As you watch the trend of talent moving and business following, how can you instead attract some of the...
The Rain Broker
By Todd Smithee The rain maker is a mythical being (usually associated with the legal profession) who excels at generating new business. Several years ago an attorney introduced me to a new term " the "rain broker." The rain broker is a person who, due to his or her...
Presenting Via Webinar – My June Learning
By Dean Whittaker In June, the Whittaker Associates team presented three webinars, seminars that take place online with "attendees" watching on-screen all over the country. We found the experience exhilarating and worthwhile, if a bit surreal. Attendees seemed to...
Michigan: Moving from auto to green
By Vidhan Rana With 15.2 percent unemployment in June 2009, Michigan is the state hit hardest by the current economic hardship. In the last few years, nearly all the economic indicators in the state have been negative. The motor vehicle manufacturing sector has,...
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Latest
And so the adventure begins!
By Brittany Gebben My name is Brittany Gebben and I'm excited to join the Whittaker Associates team. I graduated from Hope College with a degree in Communications and have spent the past few years working in business development, specializing in communication and...
Workforce Diversity: The Modern Mindset
By Ayush Dev Pant The workforce of a company is the backbone for operations and business as well as corporate functions. The era of automation and complete robotics is still not approved by all, and human employees are here to stay for a long time. A strong workforce...
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