Whittaker Report

Blog & Podcast

Curiosity

Are you a curious person? If you’re reading this, my guess is you are. Curiosity leads us to ask, "What if?" It drives us to explore, to discover, and to grow. It nudges us out of our routines and into the unknown, where learning and transformation happen. For me, curiosity started early. My grandmother was endlessly curious about people and the world around her, and she passed that spark on to...

AI in Economic Development – Issue 12.0

Agents – AI Acting on Your Behalf What are agents, and why should you care? Agents are software AI programs that act autonomously on your behalf. Once deployed, they require minimal human input to function. These systems can perceive their environment, make decisions, and take action based on predefined goals. Agents use sensors—physical or virtual—to gather information. For instance, cameras...

Rocky Mountain National Park

My National Park Series, so far, has taken us through the splendor of some of the U.S.’s most treasured spaces, including Badlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef. But does it get any better than the Rocky Mountains? My visit in October of this year to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado had me seeing my first snowfall of the season against the backdrop of sweeping mountain views and...

Disaster Capitalism: Not Right, Not Illegal

The recent wildfire that swept through Lahaina, Maui has been front and center on the news as recovery efforts have been ongoing. What is less reported is the fact that, within days after this disaster, real estate agents, developers, and others have been contacting...

read more
WhittakerAssociates podcast rev

Recent Podcasts

Whittaker Report Podcast Thumbnail Kate Engle ()
The Whittaker Report Podcast
The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 26 an Interview with Kate Engel, Executive Director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus
Loading
/
  • The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 26 an Interview with Kate Engel, Executive Director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus

    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.

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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…

Recent Posts

Positive Thinking

Positive Thinking

By Sindhu Bhattarai Life, as it is, is not always a smooth ride. Life has its own challenges that everyone has to face at one point or another. Staying positive and calm during these situations helps you focus on the good aspects of life and gives you hope and energy...

read more
Talent Infrastructure Summit

Talent Infrastructure Summit

By Dean Whittaker The Talent Infrastructure Summit was held on September 28th, 2017 in Evansville, Indiana. It was an effort by the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, the Executive Leadership Council, and Old National Bank to stimulate regional...

read more
Talent-Driven Site Selection

Talent-Driven Site Selection

By Jami Gibson Talent retention and attraction has been a hot topic in the past several years, especially due to the baby boomer generation retiring and the talent gap that creates. One of the best sources I’ve found for informative articles about workforce...

read more
The Growing Sensor Industry

The Growing Sensor Industry

By Sindhu Bhattarai Previously, I wrote about how the automation industry is booming with every passing day. Robots, automated vehicles, automated machines and devices are taking over workplaces and factories. With the growing automation industry, the sensor industry...

read more
Nepali Politics: Then & Now

Nepali Politics: Then & Now

By Saurav Rajbhandari The Maoist party of Nepal launched the decade-long civil war in 1996 which took the lives of almost 17,000 people and displaced 100,000 people from their homes. It ultimately abolished the 240-years-long monarchy in 2006 after a peace agreement...

read more
Innovation in Government?

Innovation in Government?

By Dean Whittaker The Bloomberg Philanthropies, to stimulate innovation in government, conducted an Idea Accelerator Workshop for our community, Holland, Michigan, on how to take an idea and turn it into a reality. The workshop was preparation to apply for the Mayor’s...

read more

Schedule a Consultation

Get In Touch

The Whittaker Report

Sign up to receive helpful tools and insightful posts.

Address

156 West 11th Street
Suite 107
Holland, MI 49423

Phone

616.403.5076

Latest

Planning for the Unplanned

For over a month, we’ve been watching atrocities unfold in Ukraine. As millions of people fled their homes and country, they had little time or space to grab much more than a small bag of essentials. While it may be unlikely that we ever see that kind of humanitarian...

read more

A.G.E.

While sitting in the waiting room at the orthopedic surgeon, I had a conversation with an older gentleman who said he was suffering from an illness called A.G.E., and I was thinking I can relate to that! I was waiting for an appointment to discuss my joint replacement...

read more
Follow Us

Copyright © 2023 - Whittaker Associates Inc.
Site by Createfully.