Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
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...
Recent Podcasts
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…
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
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
Eco-Friendly Plastics
By Saurav Rajbhandari The demand for plastic is never-ending. Almost every product we use today is made out of plastic. From the toothbrush we use after we get up in the morning to our laptops we use for work, nearly every product has some parts made out of plastic....
Site Selection Consultants Share Their Perspectives
By Dean Whittaker The closing session at this year’s International Economic Development Council meeting was a panel discussion with a group of Site Location Consultants. The panelists discussed trends they observed and concluded with a “wish list” of what economic...
Fundraising Tips from a Newbie
By Jami Gibson This past June, I wrote my article about the “be nice.” program, a mental health initiative aimed to raise mental health awareness, bullying and suicide prevention in K-12 schools. Since then, I spent most of my free time over the summer serving on a...
Did I just miss out on the Craft Beer revolution?
By Sharad KC It’s been more than four years since I came back home to Nepal after completing my bachelor’s degree in Pennsylvania. And if there is one thing that I miss about the United States, it’s the wide variety of beer available. Now I’m not complaining about the...
Social Media Marketing Trends
By Saurav Rajbhandari Companies operating within every industry have invested a fair amount of time and energy to focus on social media marketing. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other similar sites are used by people from all over the world, and this has created a...
Collaboration by Design
By Dean Whittaker Recently I was asked to facilitate a strategic planning process. However, the client was looking for a non-traditional approach. I recommended they consider a “strategic doing” approach, having, myself, participated in a local process facilitated by...
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Latest
Staying in Your Lane?
This month I had the privilege to interview Jon Roberts, Strategic Manager of TIP Strategies Inc., for the Whittaker Report Podcast. Jon’s insightful comments reflected the overall Podcast theme of the future of economic development. More specifically, we talked about...
What I Learned Sailing
I’m fortunate to live in West Michigan where I can pursue my passion for sailing on Lake Michigan, a lake 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, and Lake Muskegon. The two are connected by a canal about ¼ mile away from where I keep my small daysailer, Pearl, moored....
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