Research Uncensored

This week we are joined by One East Kentucky's superstar team, Chuck Sexton, CEO and Ivy Stanley, Project Manager. We discuss their creative backgrounds that have helped propel their success in economic development, the work it takes to promote a rural region and highlight a major project win and what it meant for their region. 

This week we are joined by Wade Williams, Vice President of Global Business Development at REDI Cincinnati, the first point of contact for companies considering the 16-county, three-state Cincinnati region..

We dive into Wade's past work experience managing business operations and complex real-estate acquisition projects with Duke Energy’s Ohio and the Kentucky Office of the President. In addition, we discuss the latest major investments the REDI Cincinnati territory region has seen along with highlighting some key project wins, and much more!

We're ringing 2021 with a special simulcast episode alongside our good friends and fellow podcasters, The Next Move Group, We Are Jobs. Joining us is NMG's Co-Founders, Chad Chancellor and Alex Metzger where we reflect on the lessons of 2020 and discuss our trend predictions for 2021 in economic development and investment attraction.

This week we are joined by Jeanine Jerkovic, Economic Development Director at the City of Surprise in Phoenix, Arizona. We delve into Jeanine's early career in politics that saw her work for the late Senator John McCain and as a Trade Commissioner for the Canadian Consulate in Phoenix. Jeanine also discusses how she has utilized creative marketing tactics, such as the #SnacksWithSurprise  campaign to raise the City of Surprise's brand and online presence.

This week we are joined by Site Selector Superstar - Michelle Comerford! We explore Michelle's experience with the Austin Consulting group as Managing Director,  and her current role as Project Director and Industrial & Supply Chain Practice Leader for Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co. (BLS & Co), which specializes in site selection, location economics, and incentives negotiation for corporate clients.

 In addition, Michelle shares her valuable insight on how economic developers should utilize data, her thoughts on the future of reshoring and nearshoring projects, and how Site Selector's have adapted their work during the current pandemic. 

This week we're joined by Sean Dyke, CEO of  St. Thomas EDC of Ontario, Canada! We dive into Sean's experience living in Japan, his work with the Southwestern Ontario Marketing Association and his creative push to promote his region with the marketing campaign #stthomasproud that saw one notable celebrity chiming in. We also discuss the many charity organizations and campaigns that Sean champions all in an effort to enrich his region from within! 

Join us this week as we chat with Ean Johnson, Vice President, Economic Development for OmniTRAX, one of the largest private railroad & transportation management companies in the United States. Ean discusses the symbiotic relationship between the rail industry and economic development, while touching on his career milestones, professional designations and philanthropic organizations that are near and dear to his heart.

This week we are joined by the American economic development legend, Kenny McDonald, CEO of One Columbus and currently serves as the chair of International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

We discuss how Kenny has helped lead the Columbus Region’s regional overall strategy for growth and dive into his over 25 years of economic development and site selection consulting experience, plus much more! 

Bonus Episode! We're taking a little vacation from our in-depth interviews with the foremost economic developers this week in order to speak with the WWE legend, Jacques Rougeau Jr. aka The Mountie. 

Jacques is a Canadian retired professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s with the World Wrestling Federation. He began his career by wrestling under his real name, as part of a tag team called The Fabulous Rougeaus with his brother Raymond Rougeau.

We delve into Jacques' career, the time he battled the legendary Hollywood Star, Hulk Hogan in Montreal and his two decade career in public speaking, advocating for anti-bullying to the Quebec youth. 

This week we are joined by Joe Melvin, Director of Business Development for North Carolina’s Southeast who was recently recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 economic developers for 2020 by Consultant Connect for his outstanding leadership and innovation to the profession.

We discuss what led Joe to economic development, how he manages his duties across the 18-county regional partnership, some of his favorite stories from on the road and how he still finds time to follow his passion as a Preacher doing missionary work in Africa.