Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
The Gift of Life
Recently I experienced the death of an 89-year-old friend. He was a truly remarkable person as was made apparent in the eulogies given by his family members and friends at his service. He left behind a beautiful legacy. Reflecting on his impact and the way he quietly...
Recent Podcasts
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…
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.
Recent Posts
Rara Lake – A wonderful travel experience to western Nepal
By Sindhu Bhattarai I love to travel and explore. My bucket list consists of many places home and abroad; mostly places from my native country Nepal. I recently had a wonderful experience of traveling to Rara Lake, the largest lake of Nepal. From Kathmandu it took us...
Endings and Beginnings
By Dean Whittaker As the drama of 2016 draws to a close and the hope of 2017 springs forward, I am amazed by life’s journey. We’ve all experienced joys and sorrows in the year that is passing. Joy found in the new friends/clients, the deepening relationship with...
The Reset Button
By Jami Gibson It may seem cliche to look back at the past 12 months and anticipate the upcoming year when every New Year rolls around, but I think everyone does it. Like a reset button, the changing of the calendar year provides the illusion of a fresh start. It...
Beware of Fake News!
Photo Source: BBC News, www.bbcnews.com By Sharad KC The recent U.S. election has shed light on the surge in fake news websites flourishing with the help of various social media websites. Some people even claim that it played a significant part in deciding the...
Christmas Celebrations in Nepal
By Saurav Rajbhandari In Nepal, Christmas is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike, just as it is in the United States. This year, the Nepali government also announced a national holiday on Christmas Day. Although it had been recognized as a national...
How school and 2 jobs are helping me grow and learn new things
By Sambridhi Shrestha College life has been really busy for me lately. Apart from studies, I am also working as a part-time researcher at Whittaker Associates (WA Analytics), and I am involved in running an electronic shopping platform known as Outlet-Smart Shopping....
Schedule a Consultation
Get In Touch
The Whittaker Report
Sign up to receive helpful tools and insightful posts.
Phone
616.403.5076
Address
156 West 11th Street
Suite 107
Holland, MI 49423
Latest
Where Are All the Cars?
By a quirk of fate, I find myself in the used car market. I spent yesterday touring six different automobile dealerships looking for used cars, of which, there are none. The situation is that new cars are sold in advance with a significant waiting list. Therefore,...
Yoga for the Body and Mind
The benefits of yoga have made it increasingly popular worldwide. While the practice is ancient, it is still used as a source of exercise and relaxation in our modern world. Yoga is considered a healing process for the body and mind. Yoga for the Body Physical health...
Follow Us
Copyright © 2025 - Whittaker Associates Inc.
Site by Createfully.