For many of us, January brings new members to our board of directors.  We can either have them begin service wandering in the dark or prepared for their term.

In this episode, Jason offers advice and suggestions for board orientation as well as following-up after the first board meeting to take a quick temperature check.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Mark Perna is a speaker, author, CEO, and all-around nice guy.  In addition, he is one of the go-to resources for insight on education, workforce, and generational differences.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Mark and asks him the tough question: what is it that economic development professionals need to better understand about talent and the generations.

Learn More About Mark Perna

Connect with Mark Perna

Answering Why Book

All three of your co-hosts (Andy, Dennis, and Jason) return to the microphone to share their fearless predictions for the economic development industry in 2021.

Will Dennis dethrone workforce as the #1 economic development issue?

Will Andy give up on call centers for good?

Does Jason predict doom for weak economic development groups?

Tune in for some insightful banter for the start of the new year!

Strategic planning for your community is great, but if you can add in a layer of futurist thinking, you can put together a very meaningful plan that gets ahead of the curve.  Marty Vanagas is back to give us some tips for layering in this futurist thinking.

In this encore episode, Dennis gets some advice from Marty for starting this 'design thinking' for your organization and your community.

Some basic tips include:

-Be specific with your questions of the future.  Determine a good focal question to begin the discussion.

-Imagine coming into your community for the very first time.  What do you notice?

-Look at the environment around you and scan it for trends.  How will those trends adjust in the future?

-Challenge old ways of thinking. 

Bespoke Futures Blog

KEDGE Futures Training

In this encore episode recorded in late 2019, Jason interviews Ron Starner, Executive Vice President of Conway, Inc. and Site Selection Magazine.  Ron was on location at the Mid America EDC Conference in Downtown Chicago to provide his annual update to attendees on the results of the consultants survey.

Ron talks big data, his affinity for the Midwest, and the value of building and maintaining relationships over the long haul.

Mid America EDC

Connect with Ron Starner

Site Selection Magazine

Conway, Inc.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Michael Southard, Director of Economic Development for the Choctaw Nation Economic Development Partnership in Durant, OK.

Mike has over 25 years experience in economic and community development and is an IEDC award winner and serves an IEDC Accredited EDO.

His service territory is over 11,000 square miles, and Dennis digs deep with questions on rural America, misconceptions, the economic development career path, and anticipated future challenges.

Choctaw Nation Economic Development Partnership

Connect with Michael Southard, CEcD

This week's guest knows co-host Dennis way too well because she works with him on a daily basis.

Dana Millard is the Economic Development Project Director for Lee County Economic Development Group. 

Dana’s responsibilities include being the lead on Workforce Development and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, organizing events, generating communications and heads the business retention and expansion campaign throughout Lee County region. She currently sits on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for SE Iowa and connects education with industry to build a talent pipeline.

In today's episode Dennis and Dana will discuss the ways in which the organization has adjusted its delivery of programs during the pandemic.  Tune in for lots of ideas and tips.

More about Lee County Economic Development Group

Connect with Dana Millard

Knowing that 2020 has been a crazy year, how should organizations look at budgeting for 2021?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason quiz each other on estimating revenue, spending reserves, slashing programs, considering layoffs, and a number of other topics relevant in today's uncertain environment.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Brad Barth live on stage at the virtual Main Street Summit in North Dakota.

Brad serves as the Executive Director of Forward Devils Lake Corporation and talks fishing, COVID-19, and living in a lifestyle community.

More About Devils Lake

Connect with Brad Barth

What in the world does lemon water have to do with this business of economic and community development?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason wax poetically about goals, personal development, and forming good habits.