Danielle Casey, President & CEO of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, joins Dennis and discusses finding your path in economic development. How do you find the right fit? How do you know when to move to the next position? Is working your way up in one organization preferable, or is there value in working for multiple organizations? Is ther…

Bryan Daniels, the President and CEO of the Blount Partnership – Incoming IEDC Board chair, joins Dennis, and they discuss what is ahead for the economic development profession and IEDC in 2025. Bryan Daniels was born and raised in Greeneville, Tennessee, which is adjacent to Cherokee National Forest. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communic…

IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle joins Dennis, and they discuss the 2025 IEDC conferences and the changes happening to the IEDCC conferences in 2025. o 2025 Leadership Summit Washington, D.C. February 23 – 25 o 2025 Rural Summit Great Falls Montana June 23 – 25 o 2025 Annual Conference Detroit, MI September 14 – 17…

IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle joins Dennis, and they reflect on Nathan's first three years leading IEDC and what the future holds for the economic development profession and IEDC.

Mark C. Perna joins Dennis, and they discuss Being Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable. Discover why being uncomfortable can actually be positive, and why focusing on a personal competitive advantage now prepares us for when our personal “want-to” arrives. The Competitive Advantage Track Is Available Free on Mark's Website Learners will discover: …

Dennis gets personal about his decision to retire from his economic development position and discusses what is next for Develop This!

Dennis is joined by Maria Berg-Stark, the Senior Director of Membership at IEDC, and they discuss the changes to IEDC's membership structure. IEDC recently rolled out a new membership plan, reducing our membership offerings from 27 categories to 10. Individual Member Types Member Type Price* (USD) Definition Student $35 Must be enrolled in at least…

Clark Smith has almost 40 years of experience in economic development. Clark began his economic development career as executive director of the Hampton Area Chamber and Development Corporation. He then joined the Iowa Department of Economic Development, where he worked as a community consultant and manager of existing industry. Most recently, Clark…

Dennis is joined by Aaron Brossoit, CEO of the Golden Shovel Agency, to talk about AI for economic developers. Aaron and Golden Shovel Agency are at the leading edge of implementing AI. Aaron helps AI neophyte Dennis better understand AI and how economic development professionals can use it. Be sure to check out Aaron's avatar below, which speaks m…

Dennis is joined by Kaycee Bunch, an economic developer and podcast host. Dennis and Kaycee discuss the unique challenges faced by female economic development professionals. The Leading Ladies of Economic Development is a great podcast for all economic development professionals. Give it a listen; you won't be disappointed! The Leading Ladies of Eco…

Dennis is joined by Mo Collins, Director of Entrepreneurship - International Economic Development Council, and they discuss the upcoming Rural Entrepreneurship 101 online class. Courtney Zaugg is the other instructor of the Rural Entrepreneurship class. Rural Entrepreneurship 101 - online November 20, 2024 11:00 am - 6:00 pm EST The rise of bandwid…

Moving from burnout to renewal - Dennis Pruitt, Missouri Partnership In this episode, Dennis and Dennis discuss the reality of burnout and practical next steps to help deal with the effects of burnout. Outline I. Definitions II. Causes III. Significance IV. Caveats V. Fundamentals of building personal energy VI. Practical Next Steps…

Dennis is joined by Shawn Donovan, an Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellow working in West Virginia. They discuss the Economic Recovery Corp, what it is like to be an ERC Fellow and Shaun's work in West Virginia. New River Gorge National Park ERC Project Project Title: Redefining West Virginia’s Region 1's Economy; Life After Coal Host Community or…

Dennis and Mark Perna discuss the importance of and the three critical elements of a personal competitive advantage. Robust academic knowledge Technical competencies Professional skills Even though the Competitive Advantage Track is designed to talk to Gen Zers about their careers, there are lessons for all of us to learn and ponder. Competitive Ad…

Springfield, Ohio, has recently been in the national spotlight after the community was mentioned in several political debates. What happens when you go from being one of 67 communities named Springfield to the one everyone is talking about? Is all publicity good publicity? How does an organization respond to the glare of the national media? Horton …

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Chris Lloyd from the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team. Dennis and Chris discuss best practices for responding to RFPs and the intangibles that can prevent a community from being considered for a project. Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic…

In this episode, Dennis talks about the frustrations of dealing with issues and projects that are beyond your direct control. What do you do when quiet diplomacy fails, and entities are determined to engage in behavior detrimental to the area you live and work in?

In this episode, Dennis explores the power of the unexpected compliment. Too often, we quickly criticize and forget to tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them. Take a deep breath and unleash the power of the unexpected compliment.

In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on the 2024 IEDC Annual Conference that was held in Denver.

In this episode, Dennis laments how the seeds of distrust have been sown in our election process and how that distrust affects even local elections. Why is it so hard to disagree and still respect each other's opinions?

Mark Perna joins Dennis to discuss the power of saying no. Sometimes, saying no is the best strategy. Dennis and Mark talk about how and why to say no.

Dennis is joined by third-generation magician and award-winning entertainer Dennis Watkins from the Magic Parlour in Chicago. Dennis and his wife attended a show at the Magic Parlour, and Dennis was so impressed he asked magician Dennis Watkins to join him on an episode of Develop This! Listen in for a fascinating discussion of the behind-the-scene…

In this episode, Denis is joined by James Hoelscher, CEcD (Course Director) for The Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) and the Program Manager at the University of Northern Iowa's Institute for Decision Making. Dennis and James discuss the basic economic development courses and how they vary around the county. IEDC lists 25 basic economic…

Dennis is joined by Kirk Garton, program director of OUEDI - OU Economic Development Institute. OUEDI alumnus Dennis discusses the OUEDI curriculum and the process of completing the classes, which are available online and in person. OU EDI Core Requirements OU EDI has aligned its curriculum to meet the education standards and requirements set by th…

Enjoy this classic Develop This! episode from 2021 Develop This! will be back next week with an all-new episode Are you new to the business of economic and community development and wondering how to get started? Whether you are brand new to the business or a seasoned economic developer looking to get back to basics, this episode is for you. Dennis …

Enjoy this classic Develop! This episode from 2020. Develop This! will be back with an all-new show next week. Many projects require divergent groups to work together, so how can we reach consensus when there are very different opinions? In this episode, Dennis and Jason share tips and strategies for identifying mutual goals, navigating compromise,…

Dennis is joined by Mark Perna. In light of President Biden's dropping out of the presidential race, they discuss how old is too old and the power of having multiple ages working together.

Dennis is joined by Dell Gines, the Chief Innovation Officer of the International Economic Development Council. They discuss the upcoming IEDC annual conference, which will be held in Denver from September 15-18, 2024. Early Bird Registration Deadline ends July 26th. Discover The Mile High City Calling all changemakers, visionaries, influencers, di…

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer, of the International Economic Development Council. Find out more about Dell's passion for economic development and his path to joining IEDC. Dr. Dell Gines is a nonprofit executive and certified economic developer with over 15 years of experience in organizational transforma…

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Mark Perna, who discusses how to deal with stress and burnout in your job. We've all been there, with sleepless nights and nagging insecurities. Dennis and Mark discuss their own challenges and ways to deal with the two-headed monster of stress and burnout.

Dennis is joined by Will Baggett, an author, motivational speaker, and authority on personal branding, body language, and soft skills leadership. A self-described "speaker snob," Dennis was blown away when he heard Will give a presentation at the IEDC Leadership Conference. Dennis and Will discuss how to find your North Star and exercise your leade…

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Ella Woger-Nieves, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Puerto Rico. Dennis and Ella discuss all things Puerto Rico, from the thriving pharmaceutical industry to the highly educated workforce and tax benefits. Ella Woger-Nieves, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Puerto Rico, leads the organization’s mission of prom…

It's another 500th special edition show! Dennis is joined by Develop This! contributing correspondents Joi Cuartero Austin and Sean Maguire. Dennis, Joi, and Sean pull out their crystal balls and discuss what the future holds for working economic development professionals.

Join Dennis and Develop This! cofounder Jason Hutcheson as they reminisce about the podcast's early days and wax poetic about their personal journeys and what the future holds.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Mike Neal - President and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Mike presents a master class on how to build and lead a dynamic team of professionals and how to utilize strategic partnerships to build a world-class organization. Mike Neal is in his 18th year as president and chief executive officer of the Tulsa Reg…

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Suzanne Dale Estey, Executive Director of the Washington Economic Development Association. Dennis and Suzanne preview the 2024 IEDC Future Forum and talk all things Washington State. The 2024 Economic Future Forum will be held in Spokane, Washington, on June 16-18 The 2024 Future Forum will explore 'Transformati…

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Mark Perna, who discusses leadership and how to develop your leadership style. Leadership - the action of leading a group of people or an organization Leadership is only evident when it’s poor Leadership is not one-size-fits-all There are many styles of leadership…Example servant leaders A servant leader shares …

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Kevin Dick, President and Chief Executive Officer Carolina Small Business Development Fund in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area. They discuss the importance of small businesses as part of the ecosystem of a community, region, and state. The Carolina Small Business Development Fund is a not-for-profit organ…

Denisse Carter - Economic Development Administrator Doña Ana County Dennis is joined by Denisse Carter - Economic Development Administrator Doña Ana County, a newly minted Certified Economic Developer. Dennis and Denisse discuss the certification process and the benefits of becoming a Certified Economic Developer. T The coursework for the CEcD cert…

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Trish Heidenreich, Founder/CEO of EDI Group -Economic Development Initiatives Group. Trish recently underwent a career change. Previously, she was the Director of Economic Development for the Town of Bel Air, MD. and now is a self-employed consultant and founder of the EDI Group. Trish and Dennis discuss career …

Dennis is joined by Mignonne Hollis, the executive director of the Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation and founder of Aerospace Arizona Dennis and Mignonne discuss the opportunities and challenges of economic development work in rural America and rural Arizona. Just because you live in a rural area does not mean you can't do cool thing…

Dennis is joined by generational expert Mark C. Perna. Dennis and Mark discuss the inherent bias older generations have against younger generations. Mark Perna is the author of Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Henry Silentman, the program manager at the Shiprock Regional Business Development office in Northwest New Mexico. Dennis and Henry discuss the opportunities and challenges of working in economic development in the Navajo Nation

Finding Your Path in Economic Development Dennis is joined by Develop This! contributing correspondents Joi Cuartero Austin CEcd, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality with Main Street America, and Sean M. Maguire, AICP CEcD Economic Development and Planning Executive. Together, they discuss finding Your Path in Economic Development. Economic d…

Dennis is joined by Eloisa Klementich, CEcd, PhD, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta and IEDC board chair. They discuss Eloisa's career path in economic development and her plans and goals for IEDC.

What does it take to become an Accredited Economic Development Organization? The St. Tammany Corp in Mandeville, LA, recently completed the process. There are over 5,000 economic development organizations, and fewer than 80 have achieved this prestigious designation. In this episode, Dennis is joined by Chris Masingill, CEO, and Ashley Llewellyn, S…

Dennis is joined by Jonas Peterson, the CEO of Southwest Michigan First and IEDC's Immediate Past Chair. Jonas also talks about his economic development career journey and his current role as the CEO of Southwest Michigan First, his time as the chair of IEDC, and the growth and future of IEDC.

Dennis is joined by Mark Perna, who discusses ten habits that can keep us from reaching our full potential. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey Be Proactive Begin With the End in Mind Put First Things First Think Win-Win Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Synergize Sharpen the Saw What are the habits that keep us fr…

In this episode, Dennis offers up some common sense strategies to help deal with tough budget times. Do great work Communicate Measure Build coalitions Measure your organization against your peers Build relationships Be transparent Engage your board

Dennis's organization, Lee County Economic Development Group, recently became an AEDO - Accredited Economic Development Organization through IEDC. Dennis is joined by Bill Murphy - President & CEO of Ardmore Development Authority in Ardmore, OK, and Jim Fram - Consultant and Economic Development Leader - of Community Growth Strategies, and they dis…