EDO Breakthrough

Now working as a partner of an EDO, Zach Gilmore shares what it’s like to transition from a typical economic development role to supporting businesses more directly, his perspective on challenges that businesses are facing today, and how economic developers can leverage their local SBDC offices.

Key Takeaways:

• How to get your stakeholders to understand and support your EDO
• How (and why) economic developers can leverage their SBDC offices
• Challenges that businesses are facing today, and their solutions
• Current industry trends and AI

About the Guest:

Zach Gilmore is a Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center in Marianna, Florida. Prior to the SBDC, he was the Vice President of Business Development with the Jackson County Economic Development Committee. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/zach-gilmore).

Resources Mentioned:

• Blog Post: Why Making Friends Is Good For Business
• SBDC UWF Website

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.

Maria Satira, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greeneville ENC Alliance, shares tips for knowing your audience, being the first person in a role, and staying in the know about PR. In this episode, we dive deep into all things marketing, and p.s., if you’re an economic developer – that means we’re talking to you too! 

Key Takeaways:

• Transferable skills from news anchoring to economic development
• Marketing insights that all EDOs can use as inspiration
• Talent retention activities that target high schoolers
• Establishing marketing goals that are aligned with your organization’s strategic plan

About the Guest:

Maria Satira is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greeneville ENC Alliance. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2020, Maria was a news anchor in Greenville and also spent time in newsrooms in Winchester, Virginia; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/mariasatira).

Resources Mentioned:

• 5 Tips on How to Get Additional Communications Support When You’re Down a Staff Person – Free Resource
• Greeneville ENC Alliance Website

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.

Andy Donahue, State Director of the Minnesota SBDC, shares how entrepreneurship is central to the nuanced, blended relationship between SBDCs, higher education institutions, and economic development organizations. We also discuss regionalism, talent retention efforts, and involvement with IEDC.

For anyone aiming for a significant promotion, he also shares insights into working at the center level vs. the state level for SBDC, including seeing the bigger picture, working with legislators, and managing larger budgets.

Key Takeaways:

• How regional clusters and remote workers affect economic development
• Talent retention and workforce development techniques that keep students in communities post-graduation
• Benefits of being involved with IEDC, state associations, and other professional development groups

About the Guest:

Andy Donahue is the State Director of the Minnesota SBDC at the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Prior to the Minnesota SBDC, he was the Center Director for the SBDC at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/andydonahue1).

Resources Mentioned:

• Minnesota SBDC Website

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.

Welcome to EDO Breakthrough - the podcast where we tackle economic development challenges head on! 

From small towns to bustling cities, every place has its own hurdles to overcome. The EDO Breakthrough podcast creates an environment of collaboration, innovation, and understanding where we can share our real-life challenges and brainstorm solutions. 

I’m your host, Sandy Dubay, a certified economic developer and founder of PPR Strategies, the creative engine behind the EDO Breakthrough podcast. Each week, I’ll be welcoming a different, brilliant place-based mind to talk through a real-life economic development challenge that have been shared with us by YOU… our gracious listeners. 

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.