Develop This: Economic and Community Development

Let's get real for just a minute.  Solving workforce challenges is a bit like herding cats, isn't it?

In this episode, Dennis brings back resident expert Mark Perna to offer tips and tricks to get education, business, and economic development to all speak the same language.

Mark your calendar NOW for these upcoming events:

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: CALL TO ACTION (March 9, 2022)

EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE: TAKE ACTION CONFERENCE (September 21, 2022 in Cleveland, OH)

To register and find out more, head to Education with Purpose - 2022 Take Action Conference

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

In this episode, Jason chats with Rick Kiernan with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions about the scope and variety of fundraising campaigns that can occur in a community.

As an EDO, should you be concerned about being involved in multiple fundraising efforts? If you raise money for a new community building, will that dry up dollars for economic development programming?

The answer, Rick says, is to tap into the priorities of funders.  Different businesses, organizations, and individuals have different funding priorities.  The key is to hit the right investor at the right time for the right cause.

You can grow the fundraising pie in your community as it is not a zero sum game.

Connect with Rick Kiernan

More about Convergent Nonprofit Solutions

The year is quickly coming to a close, so it is time for that all-important self-reflection.

In this episode, Dennis shares regrets from the year and his plan to address those in 2022.  His analysis may just inspire you to do the same.

In this episode, Jason interviews economic development magnate Janet Ady with Ady Advantage.

Jason brought Janet on the show to talk about the upcoming Mid-America EDC conference in Chicago (along with the generous scholarship program) but the discussion quickly took a left turn when she began talking about economic development strategies that will drive communities over the next 10 years.

Tune in for a great discussion about the past, present, and future of economic development.

...and be sure to register for the upcoming Mid-America EDC conference Dec 1-3 in Downtown Chicago.

Register for the conference

Connect with Janet Ady

More about Ady Advantage

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share 5 ways your organization should consider engaging in legislative advocacy.  In addition, they offer 3 do's and 3 don'ts should your organization launch a new advocacy program.

Don't forget to register for the Mid-America EDC Competitiveness Conference in Downtown Chicago the first week in December: https://www.midamericaedc.org/

In this episode, Dean Dziedzic, board president of the Mid-America Economic Development Council, joins Jason to give a preview of the upcoming Competitiveness Conference held in Downtown Chicago December 1-3.

This year's event boasts a new format, a variety of relevant information, the ability to connect with site selectors, and more.  In addition, Jason and Dennis will be live on-site recording future podcast episodes.

The registration deadline is November 19th.

Register for the Conference

More about Dean Dziedzic

More about Mid-America EDC

Can you imagine being married to an economic developer?  The erratic hours, the public persona, and the mental bandwidth required by the job can take a toll on family life.

In this episode, Jason encourages those in the field of economic and community development to take a moment to appreciate the support of their spouse.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

In this episode, guest host Tracye McDaniel, President of TIP Strategies and former IEDC Chair, joins Dennis again to finish part two of this series on wealth inequality.  Two guests from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis are back:

Ray Boshara, Senior Advisor and Assistant Vice President of the Institute for Economic Equity 

Nishesh Chalise, Director, Community-Based Policy and Analysis at the Institute for Economic Equity

Tune in to find out what information is essential for economic development professionals to help them understand the racial wealth gap and its impact on communities and economic development efforts.

Show Links:

Institute for Economic Equity

Bio for Ray Boshara

Bio for Nishesh Chalise

Book: The Next Progressive Era: A Blueprint for Broad Prosperity

More about Tracye McDaniel

In this episode, guest host Tracye McDaniel joins Dennis to interview two very special guests from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis:

Ray Boshara, Senior Advisor and Assistant Vice President of the Institute for Economic Equity 

Nishesh Chalise, Director, Community-Based Policy and Analysis at the Institute for Economic Equity

Two key topics for this discussion focus on the the pandemic and its impact on the economy as well as the exacerbation of inequality as a result of COVID-19.

Show Links:

Institute for Economic Equity

Bio for Ray Boshara

Bio for Nishesh Chalise

Book: The Next Progressive Era: A Blueprint for Broad Prosperity

In this episode, Mark Perna - speaker, author, Forbes Contributor, and international expert on all things workforce is back.  This time, he is here to provide some insight on Millennials and Gen Z and help us connect the dots to why they can be the solution for today's workforce crisis.

Show Links:

Education with Purpose: Call to Action Event

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.