Whittaker Report
Blog & Podcast
4 Tips for Hybrid Work Models
Since the pandemic, remote and hybrid work is on the rise, and it’s here to stay. Employees value the flexibility and work-life balance that remote and/or hybrid work offer, but as employers and employees adapt to this evolving work model, best practices have emerged...
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
NUMB3RS
By Sharad KC The Edward Snowden saga has given us a lot of political drama, another reason to dislike big government, and a negative aspect of the use of technology, but above all, it has showed us the real power of numbers and their value in the age of big data. We...
The Future of Learning
By Dean Whittaker This month I’ve been learning about the way we learn inside our educational system. As we all know, improving this institution is one of our greatest challenges. While working at a university, I wondered why it takes a semester to learn anything....
Make Your Community Stand Out
By Jami Gibson I feel like I learned a wealth of knowledge this month after hearing Roger Brooks present a webinar on community branding for the Pro Learning Lab. He always leaves his audience energized and ready for change! As an expert in his field, he not only...
Napping on the Job
By Patrick Cisler It’s 9:00, the night before my article is due, and I am scrambling to think of what I can write about for the newsletter. The more I brainstorm about what to write, the more tired I become. And then it hits me; if only I had a nap earlier today, I...
Reflections on China Visit
By Patrick Cisler Much of what I had read about in the paper or saw on the news regarding China was visible from the moment I arrived. I observed the rising middle class as we drove from the airport in Shanghai to our hotel and noticed that the majority of the cars on...
July Webinar: "The Future of Work: Skills We All Need to Stay Relevant"
Staying relevant requires life-long learning to maintain and improve our skills. In this 90-minute interactive webinar, you will learn answers to these questions and more: • What will work look like in the future? • What skills will we need? • Where and how can these...
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Latest
The Power of a Person to Make a Difference in the World
The January 6th events in Washington taught me that I value a democratic form of government because of the freedom it offers me. It also taught me that one person can make a difference in the world. The courage of one person, Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police Officer,...
Combatting Negative Thinking
Happy New Year! Has yours started off happy? Many people across the country (world!) were looking forward to 2021 bringing a fresh start; however the first couple weeks of the new year left the nation with a lot on their minds. As the unfathomable...
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