Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
Drama – What Is It and Why You Should Care!
A friend reminded me this month of the drama we’re all experiencing across the country. That got me thinking, and instead of reaching for my trusty Webster’s Dictionary, I turned to ChatGPT for a definition. Here’s what it came back with: “In the world, drama can take...
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
Understanding Quarter Life Crisis
Sometimes, young adults in their mid-20s to early 30s are known to have “quarter-life crises,” which are marked by feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and discontentment about a variety of elements of life, including relationships, careers, and personal identities. The...
Target Industry Study Leveraging the Power of Generative AI
Over the past month, I had the opportunity to work on an in-depth target industry analysis for an economic development client. The goal was to assess the continued viability and potential of their existing and emerging industry targets considering economic shifts at...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 5.0
The Future of AI: Next-Gen Computing Unleashed Welcome to the Frontier At a buzzing GTC AI developers’ gathering, NVIDIA's chief visionary, Jensen Huang, took the stage to unveil what's next for artificial intelligence (AI). His talk wasn't just a peek into the...
Exploring NOLA
This month, I visited New Orleans, and it was the first time I was in the city with no obligations or agenda - a truly relaxing getaway where I could do anything I wanted. So I asked ChatGPT to recommend the top five things to do in and around NOLA, and here is what...
The Joy of Learning: Using AI as a Teacher
For me, one of my greatest joys is learning, a trait inherited from my grandmother’s boundless curiosity. She instilled in me the habit of questioning why, how, who, what, and when. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered how AI could serve as a teacher. It...
AI in Economic Development – Issue 4.0
Creating and Implementing an Impactful AI Strategy: Steps for Economic Development Leaders Artificial intelligence has become a crucial driver of innovation, competitiveness, and transformation across sectors. As a result, economic development organizations have a...
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Latest
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,...
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,...
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