The SEDC Podcast

In this episode of the SEDC Podcast, SEDC President Matt Tackett hosts a special conversation with Howard Franklin, President and CEO of government relations and public affairs firm Ohio River South. Reflecting on an advocacy career that began alongside iconic figures like former Atlanta Mayors Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin, Howard shares pivotal lessons on mentorship, volunteerism, and the critical importance of simply showing up. The discussion dives deep into the firm’s milestone work—including helping secure $300 million to complete the Atlanta BeltLine—and examines why professional advocacy plays an essential role in navigating complex, fast-paced legislative sessions across the South. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin wraps up Tuesday afternoon with two influential leaders navigating project strategy and regional advocacy across the American South. First, Ford Graham, Senior Vice President at McGuireWoods Consulting and Partner at McGuireWoods LLP, shares essential perspectives on the changing dynamics of project recruitment. Ford breaks down the rise of local pushback around large capital investments, emphasizing why economic developers must proactively educate their communities, maintain flexibility in incentive structures, and stay prepared to capture domestic and foreign direct investment as global market conditions stabilize.

Next, Ray sits down with Joe Hines, Director of Economic Development and Site Selection at Timmons Group, to celebrate his new role as the incoming Chair of SEDC. Joe discusses the critical junction facing the profession, outlining plans to establish a federal public policy platform that champions interstate priorities like energy infrastructure, supply chain corridors, and workforce development. Together, these conversations highlight the necessity of preparation, regional collaboration, and unified leadership to keep the South competitive on the national and global stage.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with industry leaders shaping site selection, rural economic development, and intelligence platforms across the South. First, Deanna Riggs and Megan Dulamal of Latapult detail how their web-based GIS platform bridges communication between site selectors, civil engineers, and economic developers, highlighting new utility data layers and thoughtful, responsible AI integration. Next, Shelley Short, President and CEO of the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance, highlights recent wins in Clark County, Arkansas, including their shovel-ready mega site, local successes with global brands like Hostess and Georgia-Pacific, and how local sales tax investments continue to strengthen community infrastructure and workforce readiness.

Rounding out the episode, Sankalp Banerjee and Kirat Singh, Co-Founders of Insitu, discuss how modern economic development organizations are moving away from passive trade show visits toward laser-focused, proactive project chasing. They explore how custom software solutions, seamless data coordination across business attraction and retention teams, and actionable feedback loops help lean organizations eliminate busywork and compete at the highest level.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with economic development leaders and data strategists driving regional growth across the Southeast. First, Jim DeCesare, Executive Director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority and Founder of The DeCesare Group, recaps a historic run of capital investment and job creation in Simpson County, Kentucky. Jim shares frontline perspectives on project wins like the Kroger Distribution Center and Shinwon, navigating public perception around major data center developments, and his upcoming transition to launch a new economic development authority in Grayson County.

Next, Dalal Alkhaldi and Stocker Lloyd from Lightcast examine the critical need for defensible, transparent workforce data in local economic development. Stalker breaks down why shift-share analysis often offers a more dynamic window into emerging growth than traditional location quotients, while Dalal highlights ongoing client training, AI workforce studies, and the dangers of unvetted data hallucinations in board presentations. Closing out the episode, Ryan Nance, Director of Economic Development for North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, discusses the grassroots role of electric co-ops in building resilient communities, balancing technical skills with courageous local communication, and preparing for the operational shift toward agentic AI workflows.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Live from the final day of the 2026 Southern Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with two leaders examining economic development through the lenses of scholarly research and statewide execution.

First, Ray talks with Tim Gibbs, CEO of Four Corners Economic Development. Tim discusses his newly completed doctorate and dissertation, which examine workforce participation rates in northeastern Kentucky. Drawing on human capital theory, social capital theory, and economic self-sufficiency, Tim breaks down what happens when legacy industrial, rail, and corporate headquarters leave a region, the structural barriers that keep working-age citizens on the sidelines, and how his Workforce Participation Framework helps practitioners align local policy with human reality.

Next, Ray welcomes Jason El Koubi, President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). Recognized nationally as a top-three state for business by CNBC, Virginia has built an enduring economic development model centered on nonpartisan governance, cross-regional collaboration, and deep local partnerships. Jason highlights the Commonwealth's surging sectors, including aerospace, defense, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the underlying energy and digital infrastructure driving the next generation of regional growth.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Live from the 2026 Southern Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin speaks with two economic development leaders, addressing regional growth, site preparation, and the shifting competitive landscape.

First, Ray is joined by Pam Armstrong, Director of Economic Development for the Bedford County, Virginia Office of Economic Development. Located between Roanoke and Lynchburg, Bedford County leverages a regional labor shed of over 500,000 workers. Pam discusses the community’s leadership as America's conveyor manufacturing hub, major wins including a 100% American-made solar manufacturer, the development of shovel-ready Tier 4 and Tier 5 industrial sites, and targeted workforce programs designed to credential students for high-demand technical careers.

Next, Ray sits down with Ted Abernathy, Managing Partner at Economic Leadership LLC. Drawing on four decades in economic policy, Ted previews his conference keynote focusing on why the historic advantages that fueled Southern growth over the past 50 years- lower costs and rapid processes- are no longer enough on their own. Ted breaks down how emerging technology, research commercialization, national defense assets, and policy changes across competitor states require economic developers to lead with proactive foresight, not complacency.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Live from the 2026 Southern Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with two key leaders shaping economic development across the region.

First, Ray speaks with Kevin Johnson, Senior Director of Marketing and Sales Enablement at H.J. Russell & Company and Chairman of the SEDC Communications Committee. Kevin shares how H.J. Russell approaches affordable housing, aviation infrastructure, and community-centered building across the country. He also dives into the creative strategy behind SEDC’s quarterly newsletter and why active committee involvement is the single best path for professional networking in the organization.

Later, Ray is joined by Mike Mullis, President of J.M. Mullis, Inc. and the longest-serving member of SEDC. Drawing on decades of global site selection experience, Mike offers candid perspectives on the current data center moratoriums, the rise of community college and technical training programs to rebuild the manufacturing pipeline, and why economic developers must bring total flexibility and local leadership to the table to win major capital investment projects.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with three industry leaders sharing tools and strategies to drive regional growth. First, Matt Drennan, Co-Founder of Impact Marketplace, breaks down how communities and businesses leverage New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to close funding gaps, incentivize manufacturing and reshoring, and support emerging initiatives like affordable for-sale housing. Next, Lee Anderson, Vice President of Customer Success at Localintel, discusses how dynamic web visualizations, curated data platforms, and responsible AI guardrails help economic development organizations communicate their value proposition and streamline project responses.

Rounding out the episode, Maureen Carpenter, President and CEO of the Glasgow-Barren County Industrial Development Authority, shares recent success stories from Kentucky, including major capital investments, the South Cooper Industrial Park expansion, and key lessons in navigating foreign direct investment with international companies. Together, these conversations offer valuable insights on securing project financing, mastering digital storytelling, and fostering community readiness across the South.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down for a special conversation with 16-year-old artist and digital creator Myra "MJ" Johnson of MJ Creates. With an audience of over 62,000 YouTube subscribers, Myra shares her journey from an introverted beginner painting fall crafts to managing an engaged online community, balancing high school coursework with regular video production, and learning to navigate viewer analytics and feedback.

Throughout the interview, Ray and Myra discuss the parallels between digital storytelling and community-building, touching on content strategy, handling constructive criticism, and her plans to expand into long-form projects and publishing. Attending her second SEDC conference, Myra offers a fresh, energizing perspective on networking, connection, and turning creative passion into a long-term career path.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

Recorded live from the 2026 Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, this episode features host Ray Methvin talking with economic development leaders driving growth across the South. First, Jennifer Perryman, Executive Director of the Savannah Industrial Development Corporation, details site readiness, infrastructure expansion, and business retention strategies in West Tennessee. Next, Jason Rainey, Executive Director of the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Industrial Authority and Chamber of Commerce, shares how integrating chamber and industrial development efforts accelerates local investment and strengthens workforce pipelines in Kentucky.

Ray also sits down with Raul Peralta, Senior Vice President of Business Development at ECS Southeast, to break down the engineering and environmental dynamics behind major site selection. Raul discusses the importance of early due diligence, de-risking mega-sites, and navigating geotechnical assessments to keep major deals on track. Together, these conversations offer practical insights and operational strategies for economic developers working across the region.

The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.