Whittaker Report

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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...
Top Ten Site Selection Factors

Top Ten Site Selection Factors

Area Development recently published several articles related to the results from their 37th Annual Corporate Survey of corporate executive readers. Owners and executives from companies across several sectors were polled at the end of 2022 to determine their biggest...

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Recent Podcasts

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The Whittaker Report Podcast Episode 26 an Interview with Kate Engel, Executive Director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus
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  • 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

Direct Selling: A Growing Industry

Direct Selling: A Growing Industry

By Jami Gibson It seems that in recent years, direct selling has become extremely popular. Companies like Amway, Tupperware, Avon, and Mary Kay have been selling their products person-to-person for decades, but other companies are popping up or gaining traction in the...

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Pokhara – A city where much can be learned

Pokhara – A city where much can be learned

By Sharad KC Henry Ford once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” This very quest for knowledge has brought me to this beautiful city of...

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Impact of Tech on the Hotel Industry

Impact of Tech on the Hotel Industry

By Saurav Rajbhandari Technology has been a major driver of change in the way we conduct business. It stands true for all sectors. Self-driving cars in the automotive industry and automated burger machines in the food industry, technology disrupts and creates new...

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A Shift in Tourism Development Paradigm

A Shift in Tourism Development Paradigm

By Sudeep Kandel Last month, I had an opportunity to attend a ‘Workshop on Ecologically and Socially Sustainable Tourism' at Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics in Himanchal Pradesh, India. It was a unique experience to attend this workshop even before...

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Embracing Disruption

Embracing Disruption

By Dean Whittaker As Bob Dylan says in his song, “The Times They are a Changin.” His point was clearly illustrated at the recent Industrial Asset Management Council conference held in New Orleans this month. The keynote remarks by Peter Zeihan, author of “The...

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Top Site Selection Factors

Top Site Selection Factors

By Jami Gibson Area Development recently released their 30th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives. The poll takes into account company decision-maker’s future location and expansion plans as well as the level of importance of several site location factors. The full...

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Latest

The Month of July 2021

Periodically, we go through this existential moment when working on the Whittaker Report wondering does anyone read it?  So, if you enjoy reading it, please drop us a note.  We would love to hear from you. Whew, what a month it has been. After celebrating the Fourth...

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Waves of the Pandemic

As we walk in the second year of the global pandemic, the gravity of its ripple effect on the economy and humanity has induced a damage that might take us longer to recover than was expected. While most of the developed nations have somewhat recovered from the...

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