Whittaker Report

Blog & Podcast

AI: Friend or Foe?

Friend Artificial intelligence (AI), a term that has caught our attention for its transformative potential, is already being deployed in myriad ways, improving our lives and boosting productivity. Notable among these AI implementations is ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. It aids us in editing our writing, drafting emails, and summarizing lengthy documents. The integration of...

Waste Trade: A Global Issue

International garbage in developing nations, commonly referred to as waste dumping or waste trade, is a serious problem that has come to light recently. It entails the transfer of waste from developed countries to emerging or less economically developed countries, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Despite the fact that this activity is normally prohibited, it still happens on occasion...

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung in Holland, MI, a town located on Lake Michigan in the Midwest. Over 4.5 million tulips are in bloom for the next two weeks, creating a spectacular display alongside the flourishing plum and pear trees. The town expects to welcome 50,000 tourists during this time, all eager to witness the beauty of these flowers. The Tulip Time Festival, which began as a one-day event in 1927,...
Spring Has Sprung

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung in Holland, MI, a town located on Lake Michigan in the Midwest. Over 4.5 million tulips are in bloom for the next two weeks, creating a spectacular display alongside the flourishing plum and pear trees. The town expects to welcome 50,000 tourists...

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Recent Podcasts

Interviews with Thought Leaders in Economic Development
Interviews with Thought Leaders in Economic Development
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 21 - An Interview with Alia Abbas, Founder and President of Alia Consulting
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  • The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 21 - An Interview with Alia Abbas,  Founder and President of Alia Consulting

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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.

    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

    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

    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…

  • The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 11 An Interview with Jon Roberts, Managing Director TIP Strategies, Inc.

    The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 11 An Interview with Jon Roberts, Managing Director TIP Strategies, Inc.

    Sep 9, 2021 • 00:56:26

    Jon Roberts, Principal and Managing Partner at TIP Strategies, Inc. share with us his thoughts regarding remote work and its long-term impact on the residential, commercial, and industrial real estate market. In the interview, Jon also discusses the importance to economic development of resilience in view of climate change.

Recent Posts

AI vs. Humans

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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Company Talent Attraction & Retention

Company Talent Attraction & Retention

The past several years, I’ve heard the same lament from business owners: “We’re in dire need of employees, but we cannot find help anywhere.” On-the-other-hand, I’ve also heard from job searchers that they are unable to find work or even receive a call-back from a job...

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We Are Definitely Not in Kansas Anymore…

We Are Definitely Not in Kansas Anymore…

The Whittaker Report newsletter is dedicated to keeping readers informed about the latest advancements in technology and their potential impact on society. In this article, we will explore three cutting-edge technologies: ChatGPT, Metaverse, and Web3. ChatGPT, also...

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Ethics in AI

Ethics in AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI)  is at the forefront of people’s minds lately, especially with the launch of ChatGPT last fall. The chatbot has found favor amongst professionals, students, and individuals that like to use or explore the capabilities of this language...

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2023: The Year Ahead and Beyond

2023: The Year Ahead and Beyond

This month I experienced a glimpse of the future of Artificial Intelligence when using ChatGPT’s OpenAI platform. The following article was written by a chatbot algorithm when I typed in the following instruction: “Write an article about social, technological,...

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Fast Fashion and Its Impact

Fast Fashion and Its Impact

A business strategy for the fashion industry known as "fast fashion" involves the quick and low-cost production of new collections of apparel and accessories in order to keep up with the newest trends. This model stands out for its emphasis on speed, low costs, and...

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Latest

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung in Holland, MI, a town located on Lake Michigan in the Midwest. Over 4.5 million tulips are in bloom for the next two weeks, creating a spectacular display alongside the flourishing plum and pear trees. The town expects to welcome 50,000 tourists...

read more

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,...

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