Develop This: Economic and Community Development

Economic developers are wired to ask the question: what's next?

While that question can often relate to projects or the organization,  it can also relate to your career.

Drew Kamp has recently been named the President/CEO  of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce in Iowa.  Prior to that, he had a variety of roles, duties, and opportunities at the Ames Chamber of Commerce.

In this episode, Dennis asks Drew about his process for gaining the right experience for the top leadership job in an organization.

Connect with Drew Kamp

Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce

Selecting the right chair of the board for your non-profit organization is very important.

This 7 part series is all about selecting the right individual for that position. 

Today's episode is #1 in the series....never have a board chair that makes less money than you!

Okay- perhaps never is a bit harsh, but here's the deal: you want a board chair that believes you get what you pay for.  While we aren't suggesting an organization overcompensates a CEO, it is in your best interest to make sure the volunteer leadership isn't trying to balance a budget on your back.

Tune in for Jason's methodology and full context.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Where is the intersection of arts and economic development?

In this episode, Dennis interviews Taneshia Nash Laird, CEO of the Newark Symphony Hall.  She talks revitalization, fundraising during a pandemic, and working with a team of millennials.  She also identifies three steps needed to succeed.

Connect with Taneshia Nash Laird

Newark Symphony Hall

In this episode re-run, Jason caught up with the folks from Golden Shovel Agency at the Mid America EDC Conference in Downtown Chicago in late 2019.

Warren Westcott and Greg Kolbjornsen talk about website pet peeves, virtual fam tours, and more.

More About Virtual Tours

Connect with Warren Westcott

Connect with Greg Kolbjornsen

What would you do if a natural disaster hit your community?  Ever heard of the term 'derecho'?

In this episode, Dennis interviews Nick Glew, President of the Marion Economic Development Corporation.  Nick's community was hit hard by the derecho storm in Iowa last summer, and he shares his experience in dealing with the aftermath.

Connect with Nick Glew

Marion Economic Development Corporation

The economic development industry has both challenge and opportunity ahead.

In this episode, Dennis digs in deep with IEDC board chair Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara.

Learn more about Tom's four key priorities:

-Assist our members and their communities as they thrive to help their economies recover and prosper as the pandemic hopefully dissipates

-Connect and collaborate with a new federal administration

-Make meaningful, measurable progress in addressing the chronic and worsening racial and social inequities in the global economy

-These priorities must be advanced while maintaining membership and financial strength, in tandem with the search for a successor to Jeff Finkle as he retires at the end of 2021

Learn More About Invest Buffalo Niagara

Connect with Tom Kucharski

International Economic Development Council

There is no shortage of obstacles that can get in the way of your economic development project.  Do yourself a favor- stack the deck.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason swap war stories about projects that were ambushed because commission volunteers or local elected officials didn't see the long-term vision.

Your EDO should work behind the scenes to recruit key individuals for various boards and commissions and then work to educate them on the process of an economic development deal.  Projects are hard enough to get across the finish line.  You need all the local support you can get.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

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!