Carla Sones

Episode 057: Tim Eckerle | Grant County Economic GROWTH Council
Episode 057: Tim Eckerle | Grant County Economic GROWTH Council 150 150 America's Jobs Team

On This Week’s Podcast:

Tim Eckerle, executive director at Grant County Economic GROWTH Council joins Carla to talk leadership, and on 60 Seconds with a Site Consultant Brad Migdal (senior managing director of business incentives practice, Cushman & Wakefield) shares insight about how the profession has been disrupted.

Tim and Carla talk about Tim’s journey into economic development. Tim dives into why he’s all about figuring out solutions rather than dwelling on problems, and what the word “renew” means to him this new decade.

Since 1984, Tim has been the executive director of the Grant County Economic Growth Council, Marion, Indiana.  As the Growth Council’s initial director, Tim has been responsible for developing the organization’s mission and overseeing its development.  During his tenure, the Growth Council has participated in attracting 20 diverse new manufacturers such as automotive parts, plastic lids manufacturers, and an ethanol plant, as well as participated in over 2 billion dollars’ worth of modernization and expansion projects. Under his leadership, the Growth Council launched several entrepreneurial development projects including the I-69 Collegiate Innovation Challenge, Taylor Business Plan Competition, the high school base Young Entrepreneurs Program and the Spirit of Entrepreneurship award.

America’s Jobs Team is sponsored by Research on Investment / Gazelle.ai
Episode 050: Jill Bland | Southwest Michigan First
Episode 050: Jill Bland | Southwest Michigan First 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Carla Sones sits down with Jill Bland, managing partner at Southwest Michigan First. Jill shares impactful, personal stories about how she landed in economic development and who her role model was those first years of her career. Jill talks about the necessity of accepting that we cannot solve all the problems on day one (or even year one), and why she places great value in bringing all points of view to the table.

A lifelong resident of Michigan and graduate of Western Michigan University, Jill has been part of the Southwest Michigan First team since its inception in 1999. Jill has been contributing to the region’s economic growth efforts for over 33 years in various local government and economic development roles. In addition to accelerating the region’s existing company base, Jill is focused on creating governmental collaborations. Her excellent leadership at Southwest Michigan First and throughout the community was recognized in 2016 when she was named a Silver Stevie Winner in the category of Female Executive of the Year by the Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.

Episode 044: Jenna Kavanaugh | Invest Buffalo Niagara
Episode 044: Jenna Kavanaugh | Invest Buffalo Niagara 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Carla Sones talks with Jenna Kavanaugh, chief operating officer (COO) at Invest Buffalo Niagara. Jenna talks about the challenge of constant change and the need to always keep evolving. She shares her insights on shaping a vision alongside people and why it’s important to gain consensus around it. Throughout the interview, it’s very evident that Jenna recognizes the need to develop the human-interactive side of leadership.

Jenna is  the COO at Invest Buffalo Niagara. Jenna sets the strategic direction of the organization, manages and directs the day to day operations, and is focused on driving continuous improvement to advance their economic development approach. Jenna raises profile of the Buffalo Niagara region as a viable place to operate and grow a business through market intelligence research and industry outreach strategies.

Episode 041: Courtney Ross | Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Episode 041: Courtney Ross | Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Courtney Ross from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce joins Carla Sones on today’s show. The two of them dive deep on being a working mother, why economic development was the perfect fit for Courtney, and how Courtney’s father inspired her. Courtney also shares insight on the characteristic she has seen derail people’s careers and why navigating the generational divide is both an opportunity and a challenge.

Courtney is the chief economic developer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, where she leads on business recruitment, retention and expansion, as well as talent recruitment and retention. The Nashville Chamber has been named the nation’s top economic development group 4 times under her leadership.

Episode 040: Grady Fitzpatrick | Greater New Orleans Inc.
Episode 040: Grady Fitzpatrick | Greater New Orleans Inc. 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Grady Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of business development at Greater New Orleans, Inc. joins Carla Sones on the podcast today. Grady dives into the danger of the ego trap and why empathy is so important. He shares insight about why he is a firm believer in being fair to everyone’s work style, and he talks about why he takes continued development as a leader very serious.

Grady has been with Greater New Orleans, Inc. for over 8 years. There, he leads the business development team, which is responsible for increasing jobs and investment throughout the 10-parish region of Greater New Orleans. He and his team focus on retention and expansion of existing industry, as well as business recruitment of our key industry clusters.

Episode 037: Dan Breen | Jones Lang LaSalle
Episode 037: Dan Breen | Jones Lang LaSalle 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Dan Breen, managing director of location economics at Jones Lang LaSalle, joins Carla Sones to talk leadership. The two of them dive deep on why Dan believes it’s so important to be adaptable and agile in today’s world, as well as the importance of diplomacy. Dan talks about what role podcasts and his drive for being a constant learner have played in his life journey, as well as why coming from a family of immigrants has solidified his love for the United States.

Dan specializes in helping clients identify, negotiate and implement tax and financial credits and incentives.  Dan has successfully secured a variety of significant incentives for projects throughout the U.S. and Caribbean, including major manufacturing facilities, distribution, disaster recovery and call centers, and headquarters, administrative and retail locations.  Dan has served clients in multiple industry sectors, including manufacturing, distribution, financial services, information technology, health care and pharmaceutical businesses.

Episode 036: Philip Marschall | Navigator Consulting
Episode 036: Philip Marschall | Navigator Consulting 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Philip Marschall (partner, Navigator Consulting) talks leadership with Carla Sones. Together, they dive deep on today’s information overload, the challenge of adapting marketing to different international markets, and whose leadership style Philip admires. Philip also shares his insights on arrogance and selfishness, and why staying open to new ideas is so important.

Philip is partner at Blair & Partner in Düsseldorf, working chiefly in projects and GIS-based location analytics for Navigator Consulting’s European client base. He was working at the German-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta from 2013-2014 before joining forces with Navigator Consulting. Philip has since managed eight international site selection projects. With an academic background in Geography and Economics, he possesses critical expertise in the fields of cluster theory and localized drivers for business growth.

Episode 032: Kathy Mussio | Atlas Insight
Episode 032: Kathy Mussio | Atlas Insight 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Kathy Mussio of Atlas Insight talks with Carla Sones about her journey from the music industry to site selection. Kathy dives deep on the importance of culture and hiring the right people, as well as why listening is such an important skill to have as a leader and much more.

Kathy is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Atlas Insight. With over 25 years of combined experience as a management, incentive and site selection consultant, she is widely considered an industry expert in the site selection and incentive negotiation business. Kathy provides location strategy for both industrial and commercial clients, with a focus on Atlas’ manufacturing clients.

Episode 029: Josh Bays | Site Selection Group
Episode 029: Josh Bays | Site Selection Group 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Josh Bays, partner at Site Selection Group, joins Carla Sones on today’s show. Josh and Carla talk about the effect of the intense divisiveness in today’s society, and why Josh believes having a heightened sense of self-awareness is a pivotal quality for people in a leadership position.

Josh leads the industrial practice at Site Selection Group. He is a critical part of the executive team as well, where he helps provide and implement strategic direction. Josh has completed more than 750 projects for global clients, some of which include Adidas, Amazon, Boeing and many more. His candor and to-the-point honestly in today’s interview is refreshing and provides a ton of insight!

Episode 017: Heidi Smith | Tennessee Valley Authority
Episode 017: Heidi Smith | Tennessee Valley Authority 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Heidi Smith joins Carla Sones for an interview exploring Heidi’s leadership journey. Heidi shares some great advice about leading by example, especially with regards to having a “do whatever it takes to get it done” attitude. She talks about why it’s crucial to own your mistakes and why she sees continued development as a crucial part of her role.

Heidi is the General Manager of Global Business at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). There, she is responsible for business attraction and community development. Heidi works closely with TVA’s customers and community partners to recruit businesses and projects to the area.

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