1    In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Emily Benjamin, the President and CEO of the Lee County Economic Development Group (LCEDG)—the very role Dennis once held. Together, they explore the realities of leadership transition, organizational change, and the evolution of community-focused economic development.

Emily shares her non-linear career journey into the field, how a strategic overlap period helped ensure a smooth handoff, and what it’s been like stepping into leadership of a small but impactful economic development organization. From navigating board dynamics and community expectations to fostering team trust and strategic growth, this episode offers an honest and practical look at what it takes to lead and evolve within the ever-changing world of community and economic development.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership transitions require planning, patience, and trust to succeed.
• An overlap period can help both outgoing and incoming leaders align on priorities and culture.
• Board relationships and clear communication are essential for stability and success.
• Economic development leadership means balancing community expectations with organizational capacity.
• Adaptability and quick thinking are vital in a small EDO environment.
• Support from a committed board and engaged stakeholders makes all the difference.
• Understanding the organization’s history and community context builds credibility and confidence.

What does it mean to be a young leader in economic development today? In this episode, Develop This! contributing correspondent Joi Cuartero Austin sits down with Chandler Shook, Centerville, Iowa’s new Main Street & Economic Development Director, to explore the realities, opportunities, and challenges of leading in a small community.

From his start as a city administrator to his current role championing Centerville’s revitalization, Chandler shares his insights on navigating leadership at a young age, building credibility, and turning limited resources into creative momentum.

Together, they discuss how young professionals are reshaping the field, why patience and progress often go hand in hand, and how Main Street continues to serve as the heartbeat of community identity and pride.

Main Street Amercia

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Chandler’s unconventional journey into public service and economic development
• The value and perspective young leaders bring to the profession—and the hurdles they face
• How smaller communities can leverage scarcity to spark innovation and collaboration
• Why “boomerang” residents are vital to sustaining local leadership
• How Main Street captures the true soul of a community
• What the next chapter of small-town economic development might look like

In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast, Dennis Fraise is joined by Ashley Canada and Eric Canada for the third installment in a four-part series on building an AI blueprint. They dive into the essential role of workforce upskilling in successful AI adoption, explaining why AI training must extend beyond technical teams to prevent the creation of a two-tier workforce.

The discussion highlights how inclusive AI training not only builds employee skills but also boosts morale, engagement, and organizational growth. Listeners will gain actionable strategies for empowering employees, leveraging AI to amplify human strengths, and involving staff in identifying opportunities for AI implementation.

The episode also explores quick wins that spark awareness, the evolving roles of AI in economic development organizations, and practical ways to integrate AI into a broader workforce development strategy.

Key Takeaways:

• Upskilling the entire workforce is essential for successful AI adoption.
• Selective training risks creating a two-tiered workforce.
• AI enhances human capabilities and engagement—it doesn’t replace people.
• Inclusive training fosters morale, ownership, and organizational alignment.
• Staff input is critical for identifying AI opportunities that add real value.
• Automating repetitive tasks frees humans for higher-value work.
• Understanding AI tools amplifies unique human strengths.
• Economic development organizations play a role in broader community AI education.
• Quick wins in AI training build awareness and momentum.
• Future-ready employees will work alongside AI copilots to achieve more.

In this episode of the Develop This! podcast, host Dennis Fraise dives into the newly released 2025 State of Site Selection annual report with guests Michelle Comerford from the Site Selectors Guild and Robyn Domber from Development Counsellors International. Together, they unpack the trends shaping facility location decisions and explore their implications for economic and community development professionals.

From the growing weight of risk factors such as policy shifts and tariffs to the pressing need for ready sites with robust infrastructure, the conversation explores how organizations can prepare for an increasingly complex site selection landscape. They also discuss the rising importance of reputation, including how community pushback can derail projects, and why proactive community engagement is now a must-have strategy.

Whether you’re working to attract new investment or help your community stay competitive, this episode delivers practical insights grounded in real-world data from the Guild’s annual report.

Key Takeaways:

• The Site Selectors Guild has published the State of Site Selection report annually since 2024.
• Risk—particularly in areas such as policy, tariffs, and uncertainty—is shaping decisions.
• Readiness—infrastructure, utilities, and shovel-ready sites—remains essential.
• Reputation and local pushback can create major hurdles for projects.
• Community engagement is critical to addressing concerns and building support.
• The report provides a clear and shareable resource for stakeholders.
• Site selectors are modeling multiple scenarios to help clients navigate uncertainty.
• Enhancing quality of life is key to attracting and retaining talent.

 

Summary

In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast, Dennis Fraise is joined by Ashley Canada and Eric Canada for part two of their four-part series on building an AI blueprint. The discussion zeroes in on the critical role of AI audits in shaping a business’s technology strategy. Training and governance are central elements integrated with an audit. From identifying broken processes to uncovering hidden inefficiencies, they explain why audits serve as a “health check” for organizational systems. They highlight the importance of understanding operations before implementing AI, measuring ROI to ensure real results, and preparing for common challenges such as disconnected data. Whether you’re leading a small business or managing large-scale operations, this conversation sheds light on how AI audits can maximize efficiency, reduce risk, and unlock new opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• AI audits help uncover inefficiencies in business processes.
• Understanding operations is a prerequisite for AI success.
• An AI audit functions like a health check for business systems.
• Common challenges include broken processes and disconnected data.
• Measuring ROI is essential for validating AI investments.
• Skipping audits can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities.
• Customer service and marketing are high-potential areas for ROI.
• Audits often reveal surprising hidden inefficiencies.
• Training and education are critical to sustainable AI adoption.
• AI audits apply to businesses of all sizes and industries.

In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast Dennis Fraise sits down with Michelle Comerford, Chair of the Site Selectors Guild, to discuss the Guild’s expanding role in shaping economic development strategies worldwide.

Michelle shares the Guild’s mission, the rigorous vetting process for membership, and how its 72 members, located across the globe, bring unmatched expertise to corporate location strategy. The conversation explores the Guild’s networking opportunities, global reach, and upcoming events, including the State of Site Selection annual report and the innovative REDI Sites program.

Listeners will gain insight into how the Guild partners with economic developers to strengthen communities, create growth opportunities, and set the standard for professional excellence in site selection.

 Key Takeaways

·        The Site Selectors Guild is a trusted, vetted network of professionals driving corporate location decisions.

·        Membership is highly selective—only the best earns a seat at the table.

·        With 72 global members, the Guild brings international expertise to local economic development efforts.

·        Networking at Guild events opens doors for partnerships and insights.

·        The State of Site Selection annual report offers critical data and trends for developers.

·        The REDI Sites program evaluates site readiness, giving communities a competitive edge.

·        A new Certified Site Selection Consultant credential is on the horizon.

·        The Guild’s leadership prioritizes continuous improvement and stronger engagement with economic developers.

 

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries, but success requires more than adopting new tools. In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise joins Ashley and Eric Canada to unveil the AI Transformation Blueprint—a strategic framework for navigating AI adoption with clarity and confidence.   Together, they explore how organizations can move beyond experimenting with countless AI solutions. This conversation focuses on building structured workflows, fostering continuous learning, and implementing guardrails that protect your reputation and resources.   Listeners gain actionable strategies for comprehensive AI approaches, aligning priorities, budgets, and talent development with innovation goals, to transform AI from overwhelming technology into a strategic advantage.   Blane Canada AI  

Takeaways

Start with an audit of your daily tasks to identify pain points.

Focus on understanding your workflow before diving into AI tools.

Training is essential for both leadership and team members.

Establish a clear AI strategy that includes operational, talent, and budget considerations.

Involve the entire team in AI training to foster a collaborative learning environment.

Guardrails are necessary to protect organizational reputation and budget.

Avoid analysis paralysis by taking actionable steps towards AI implementation.

Recognize the potential risks associated with AI and plan accordingly.

Utilize existing tools that may already have AI capabilities.

Seek expert guidance to navigate the complexities of AI adoption.

🎙️ Show Description

The future of work is undergoing a profound generational shift, and Gen Z is at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis and Mark Perna explore how Gen Z’s entrepreneurial mindset, focus on technology, and demand for authenticity are reshaping workforce dynamics. With Millennials and Gen Z projected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2030, organizations must rethink leadership, mentorship, and talent strategies to remain competitive. This conversation provides actionable insights on building trust-driven leadership, fostering intergenerational collaboration, and creating workplace cultures that attract and retain the next generation of leaders.

Mark Perna - Forbes articles 

Takeaways

• Gen Z will make up 30% of the workforce by 2030.
• 75% of the workforce will be Gen Z and Millennials by 2030.
• 84% of Gen Z wants to be entrepreneurs, viewing it as safer than corporate jobs.
• Younger generations prioritize work-life blend over traditional work-life balance.
• Technology choices significantly influence Gen Z's employment decisions.
• Gen Z prefers real-time feedback over annual performance reviews.
• Leadership must be built on trust and mutual respect.
• Mentorship is crucial for bridging generational gaps in the workplace.
• Younger generations value authenticity and transparency in leadership.
• The future workforce will need to solve complex societal issues.

Why start from scratch when you can buy your way to success? 🎙️

Harvard Business School’s Richard Ruback & Royce Yudkoff share their blueprint for entrepreneurship through acquisition, spotting high-value businesses, and raising capital.

🎧 Listen now: Think Big, Buy Small: Harvard’s Blueprint for Business Ownership

Harvard Business School professors Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff join Dennis Fraise to unpack their groundbreaking approach to entrepreneurship through acquisition. Learn how buying an established business can be a smarter, lower-risk path to ownership, the secrets to spotting high-value companies, and strategies for raising capital. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or future CEO, this episode offers a Harvard-backed blueprint for building wealth and leading with confidence.

HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business

Takeaways

• Entrepreneurship through acquisition offers a lower-risk alternative to startups.
• Successful entrepreneurs often seek professional independence and a direct link between effort and reward.
• Assessing fit is crucial; entrepreneurs should envision themselves in the role of CEO.
• Recurring revenue and high margins are key indicators of a quality business.
• Dull businesses can be highly profitable and manageable for entrepreneurs.
• Raising capital for acquisitions can come from various sources, including investors and SBA loans.
• The search process can be challenging, with many rejections before success.
• Understanding the market and industry is essential for finding the right business to acquire.
• Investors are increasingly interested in funding acquisition searches due to attractive returns.
• The upcoming season of 'Think Big, Buy Small' will explore diverse entrepreneurial journeys and niches.

Summary

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise and Rick Kiernan with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions discuss the evolving landscape of funding for economic development organizations. They explore the shift from traditional funding methods to a focus on workforce development, housing, placemaking, and childcare. Rick shares insights from his extensive experience in fundraising and highlights the importance of feasibility studies in understanding community needs. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of having a well-structured plan to attract funding and support for various initiatives that enhance community appeal and address workforce challenges.

Takeaways

• Economic development funding has evolved significantly over the years.
• Workforce development is now the primary focus for economic development organizations.
• Feasibility studies provide critical insights into community needs.
• Housing shortages are a major barrier to attracting talent.
• Placemaking is increasingly important for community attractiveness.
• Childcare availability directly impacts workforce participation.
• Community engagement is essential for successful fundraising campaigns.
• Economic development organizations must adapt to changing priorities.
• Collaboration with local stakeholders enhances fundraising efforts.
• A well-defined plan is crucial for securing funding and support.