Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast

Health Benefits of Asian Cuisine
Over the years, Asian cuisine has become more popular in the western world and has taken over the market in terms of the health benefits and flavorful taste. Asian cuisine is incredibly diverse. From Vietnamese Pho to Indian curries, there's a vast array of flavors...
Recent Podcasts
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.
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…
Recent Posts
Emotional Intelligence: Revitalizing Work-Life
By Ayush Dev Pant Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a gravitating topic today as people are gradually understanding the role of EQ in enhancing the quality of life we’re living. People with high emotional intelligence tend to be more successful in the workplace. So what...
Book Recommendation: Noah’s Town – Where Animals Reign, By Maury Forman
In Maury’s usual use of humor and a billion puns, he tells us a 21st Century fable to remind us of the need for disaster preparation and recovery. He also points out the importance of creating the tools and the relationships to “weather the storm” and, more...
The Future of Mobility
By Dean Whittaker Mobility – the movement of people and goods from place-to-place. Earlier this month I heard a presentation by Jeff Stout, Executive Director, APDS at Yanfeng, a global automobile interiors manufacturer. In his message he described the autonomous...
Slower Pace of Life
By Brittany Gebben Last month, I visited the country of Thailand with my husband and some friends of ours. Since our return, I’ve really been thinking about something we noticed while visiting and that is- a slower pace of life. Overall, the Thai atmosphere is much...
Self Care
By Sambridhi Shrestha Sometimes we tend to lose ourselves in order to keep someone or something in our life. But the peace that we have with ourselves is obstructed by this attempt, destroying our self-confidence because nothing can bring back the happiness. We care...
Social Entrepreneurship – An Answer to Global Problems
By Ayush Dev Pant Every business era is dominated by a certain business trend. The trends are set by the response of the market towards various product and service. A trend taking huge leaps in the business domain is Social Entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship...
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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...
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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