Research Uncensored

In this episode, we are joined by Chris Chen, Head of Investment Promotion – Canada for Invest Hong Kong. Chris shares his experience of transitioning from the fintech industry to the public sector. We also discuss how Invest HK transformed its investment promotion programs during the pandemic and leveraged digital technologies to reach investors. 
Tune in for a great conversation!

In this episode, we are joined by Gina Bento, Managing Director, Bento Consulting. Gina shares with us some of her extensive experience in investment and trade promotion, including her role in establishing SelectUSA, the highest-profile FDI event in the United States.

Before setting up her own consulting practice, Gina worked for the US Commercial Service in Montreal, where she was responsible for promoting, coordinating, and facilitating Canada-US trade relations in the aerospace and finance sectors. She also held positions with the New York State’s Economic Development Agency, the Canadian International Council and consulted for the public and private sector in international affairs and business development.

 In this episode, we speak with Chris Steele, Principal of Economic Development at EBP-US, a Boston-based economic research firm that conducts cutting-edge economic analysis for regional development. We delve into Chris's extensive background as a site selector and discuss the role incentives play in economic development beyond business recruitment.

In this episode, we are joined by Shannon Landauer, the President & CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, a rural economic development organization serving 4 counties in Iowa. 
We delve into Shannon’s extensive experience in economic development, her advice to young professionals trying to break into the industry as well as the key role rural economic development professionals play in their communities.

In this episode, we are joined by Nathan Ohle, the new President & CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. 
Nathan is an internationally recognized economic development expert with more than 17 years of experience leading public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Nathan discusses his career and explains his decision to join IEDC as President&CEO. He shares his thoughts on attracting young people to the economic development field and discusses IEDC's new initiatives to enhance equity and diversity within the profession. 

This episode we are joined with seasoned economic development professional Barry Broome, President & CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. Barry is responsible for leading community-driven efforts to attract, grow and scale new businesses; develop advanced industries and guide new job-creation strategies throughout the six-county region. In his role, he has established the first public/private partnership economic development organization led by chief executive officers in California.
Join us this week, as we discuss what it took for Barry to rise to the top of the ED game and how to build successful economic development organizations from the ground up. 

This episode we are joined by our UAE in-market representative, Abdullah Jasem, Founder & CEO of Dubai-based Emirates Trade & Investment (ETI). We cover our partnership and Abdullah's experience as a diplomat before committing to a career in consulting. In addition, we cover ResearchFDI's upcoming mission to Dubai at the 2022 Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) and hear Abdullah's insight on the UAE's growing markets and his strategic advice to North American economic developer's on how best to engage in FDI discussions while in the Middle East. 
 

This episode we are joined with seasoned economic development professional Danielle Casey, President of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance in New Mexico. We discuss Danielle's career and prominent roles in Scottsdale and Sacramento and what led her to New Mexico. We also get Danielle's insight on how to manage site selector relationships, the role of professional branding and her thoughts on best practices in investment attraction, business development and marketing strategies.

This week we are joined by David Leezer, Vice President of Business Attraction at the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce in Texas. We delve into David's expertise on using social media as a tool to attract investment and promote a region's brand, as well as his thoughts on the future of remote work and how region's can strategically tackle this new hybrid market and what it means for the future of projects.

Starting off 2022 with a simulcast with our good friends at the Next Move Group! This episode has quite a few fun surprises to announce for both firms! In addition, the group reflects on the previous year and chats about trends they expect to see in 2022. This is an episode you don't want to miss!