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 things. Mignonne discusses her work helping create Aerospace Arizona. 

• Mignonne Hollis
• Sierra Vista, Arizona 
• Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation (AREDF)
• Aerospace Arizona

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 development is a broad career track. How do you find your niche?

A career in economic development can take you in so many different directions, and many people do not start out to be an economic development professional.

How can you best prepare for the ever-changing landscape of the economic development world?

Is it better to be a generalist or a specialist?

Should you follow your passion?

What are some considerations you would look for in a position?

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, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives with the St. Tammany Corp. They discuss the AEDO process from the organizations perspective. 

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 from success and achieving our full potential?

1.      Procrastination

a.      Set goals

b.      Prioritize tasks

c.      Start with the most challenging task

d.      Build in some rewards

2.      Perfectionism

a.      Do not let perfect be the enemy of good

b.      Whose standards?

c.      Cannot let go of something

                                                               i.      Missed deadlines

3.      Impulsiveness

a.      Instant reward

                                                               i.      Hooked on the adrenaline and feelings

b.      Shopping

c.      Not considering long-term consequences

4.      Not listening

a.      Two ears, one mouth

b.      Are you really interested in what others have to say or just promoting your opinion?

c.      Listening is an underrated skill

5.      Not Being Able to See the Other Side

a.      There is usually more than one path

b.      The need to be in control

c.      Everyone makes decisions differently

d.      Not thinking Win-Win

6.      Not Being Able to Succinctly Articulate Your Position

a.      Droning on and on

b.      Respectful of people’s time

c.      Learning to effectively communicate

                                                               i.      Volume talkers

7.      Working on the Wrong Things

a.      What is the most important thing you should be working on right now?

b.      Doing only the things you want to do

c.      Confusing busy with effective

8.      Being Easily Distracted

a.      Distractions are everywhere

                                                               i.      Phones

                                                             ii.      Social media

                                                           iii.      Texting

                                                           iv.      Drop-in visits

9.      Failing to Take Risk and Think Big – Or Too Many Risks

a.      Accepting the status quo

b.      Whopper or stretch goals

c.      Having a shiny object to chase

d.      Sometimes, you just have to go to the moon

10.  Lack of Self-care

a.      Unplugging from work

b.      Personal care

                                                               i.      Health

                                                             ii.      Exercise

                                                           iii.      Wellness

c.      Managing stress

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 discuss the process of becoming an Accredited Economic Development Organization. 

• What is AEDO, and why is it important?
• How many AEDOs are there?
• Why does good governance and organizational excellence matter? 
• When an organization decides to pursue the AEDO designation, what is the first step?
• Is there an area of the AEDO process that seems to be particularly challenging for ED organizations?
• Is the AEDO process pass or fail, or does the AEDO committee provide guidance during the process?
• The two parts of the AEDO process 
  • 1. The documentation
  • The site visit
• Advice for organizations that are considering becoming an AEDO

William “Bill” Murphy is the President & CEO of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, Ardmore Development Authority, Ardmore Tourism Authority, and the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce Foundation where he leads a team of professionals to execute the community’s business, economic and tourism development efforts.

He has over 20 years of experience leading economic development efforts in communities and regions in Ohio, Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Ardmore, Murphy served as the Deputy Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce where he led the state’s business development efforts through the department’s business attraction, in-state business development, international and community development divisions. He has also led the economic development efforts in Tulsa, Columbus, GA and in communities throughout Southwest Ohio. Through this work, he has helped facilitate projects with companies that have resulted in more than $3 billion in announced new capital investment and more than 3,000 jobs.

Murphy is a graduate of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio earning his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and his Master’s in Public Administration. He is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council. Murphy has also earned his designation as an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council. Finally, he has earned his Master Economic Development Practitioner designation from the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program from Clemson, Southern Miss, Texas Christian Universities and the University of New Mexico.

Jim Fram is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) with 30+ years of successful economic development and senior-level chamber of commerce management experience in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Jim led two economic development organizations to accreditation by the International Economic Development Council (Tulsa, OK, and Hot Springs, AR). He also led three Chambers of Commerce to Five Star Accreditation by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce (Lincoln, NE, Tulsa, OK, Hot Springs, AR).

He has served on the faculty at the Heartland Basic Economic Development Course and the Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course. He is a past Chairman of the Oklahoma Governor’s Economic Development Team (2007). He is an Honorary Life Member of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) and a Fellow Member (FM) of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He is also a frequent instructor, moderator, and guest speaker at numerous economic development and Chamber of Commerce organizations, conferences, and events across the country.

In January of 2018, he fulfilled a longtime dream and founded Community Growth Strategies, LLC., a consulting firm that focuses on assisting communities as well as regional economic development efforts and chambers of commerce. His office is in his home in Columbia, MO, where his wife, Kelli, is a consultant, project manager, and instructor at Westminster College.

Working on the Other Side: From Elected Official to Economic Development

 In this episode, contributing correspondent Joi Cuartero Austin is joined by Kyle Moore, President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation in Quincy and Adams County, Illinois. Kyle discusses his journey from elected official to economic development professional.

•  Going from the private sector, to elected official, to economic development.
• Stakeholders working together in a big, small town on a community strategic plan.
• Perspective on working on the public and private side of economic development.
• Advice for economic developers working from elected officials as representatives of the business community.
• Helping elected officials understand the role of their local economic development organization.
• Methods of sharing economic development successes.