Whittaker Report
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AI in Economic Development – Issue 15.0
Below is an article written for The Whittaker Report about Grok and Grok 3, including details about the Memphis data center where Grok3 lives, its development history, and its water and power consumption. As an experiment, this story was written by Grok3 and Prompted...
Recent Podcasts
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.
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…
Recent Posts
Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks
Did you know that Utah is home to five National Parks? Only California and Alaska contain more national parks; however, the close proximity of the parks in Utah makes it easy to visit several during the same trip. Last month, I wrote about my time at Zion National...
Book & YouTube Recommendations
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...
The Big Read: Does Reading Still Matter?
Does reading matter? Of course it does. For me, it’s been a lifelong companion. As a kid, I wandered into the Earlville Public Library and found a world I didn’t even know existed. That place was full of wonders—old artifacts, novels (especially science fiction), and...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 10.0
Insights from the Latest Webcast Welcome back to The Whittaker Report. This month, I had the pleasure of hosting a webcast titled “Leverage Artificial Intelligence in Economic Development”. We dove into the exciting—and sometimes intimidating—world of AI and explored...
Art of Minimalism
The creative, design, and lifestyle philosophy of minimalism places a strong emphasis on elements' simplicity, clarity, and reduction to their most basic form. Although it began as an art movement in the late 1960s, it has since impacted design, music, architecture,...
Zion National Park
Last month, I wrote about my trip to Badlands National Park. As a continuation of what I’ll call my “National Park Series,”, I want to share some highlights from my time in Zion National Park. Located in southwestern Utah, Zion is one of many national parks within the...
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Latest
Drama – What Is It and Why You Should Care!
A friend reminded me this month of the drama we’re all experiencing across the country. That got me thinking, and instead of reaching for my trusty Webster’s Dictionary, I turned to ChatGPT for a definition. Here’s what it came back with: “In the world, drama can take...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 14.0
Exploring Grok: The New Frontier in Conversational AI In the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence, xAI's Grok stands out as a revolutionary tool that's reshaping how we interact with AI. Here's an in-depth look at what Grok is, its unique features, and how...
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