Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
AI in Economic Development – Issue 26.0
Building in Economic Development AI "Fallout Shelter" In eighth grade, I built a fallout shelter in my parents’ basement. (Yes, I really did.) I stockpiled my mom’s canned peaches and tomatoes and felt strangely proud of the 30 gallons of “drinkable water” sitting in...
Recent Podcasts
Episode 32 An Interview with Ron Kitchens - Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Mar 25, 2026 • 00:30:43
In this episode, you will hear from Ron Kitchens, Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc. You will learn how Ron began his 30-year career in economic development as an entrepreneur with a passion for creating jobs, a passion that became a lifelong commitment to helping communities grow and prosper.…
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…
Recent Posts
The Last Time
My intention in writing this article is for it not to be a lament but to be a reminder to me, and perhaps to you. I recently came across two simple yet profound truths: everything that has a beginning must also have an ending, and the only constant in life is change....
AI in Economic Development – Issue 20.0
Site Location Trends in the World of AI: 2025 The following is a Perplexity generated report on the AI site selection trends in 2025. It is worth looking at to see where things are headed and how these trends will impact how you go about presenting your location to...
Takeaways from the Road
This month, my husband and I set off for our annual RV trip that takes us from Michigan to the West, and back home - about 5,000 miles round-trip. For many years, my husband happily did the driving of our RV while I plied him with caffeine and conversation. However,...
How Climate Change Is Reshaping Business Site Location Decisions
As economic developers and site selectors, we’re no strangers to evaluating the usual suspects: labor availability, logistics, utilities, taxes, and incentives. But increasingly, climate change is reshaping how and where businesses—especially manufacturers—choose to...
Lessons From the Garden
This month’s lesson from my three raised-bed community garden plots centers on discovery. For a few weeks, I noticed the tips of my tomato plants were disappearing. I assumed the neighborhood deer had stopped by for a snack, so I sprayed deer repellent. But the...
A Four-Part Formula for Improving Your Feedback Skills
Giving and receiving feedback can be difficult, but it is a vital tool for effective communication both inside and outside the workplace. The key to successful feedback has been studied extensively by cognitive psychologist Dr. LeeAnn Renninger, and she has come up...
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Latest
Grieving
The loss of a dear, old friend this past week has drawn me into a period of grieving. Grief is an interesting companion at times like these—uninvited, persistent, and quietly reflective. Yet it also has a way of slowing us down, inviting us to pay attention to what...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 25.0
AI for Seniors: A Pilot Program In the rush to educate business leaders, government officials, educators, and entrepreneurs about artificial intelligence, one important group is often overlooked: senior citizens. You know the group. We gather at senior centers not...
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