Podcast Episode

Episode 020: Ashley Cagle | Wake County Economic Development
Episode 020: Ashley Cagle | Wake County Economic Development 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Ashley Cagle from Wake County Economic Development joins Nick Riashi to talk about her journey in economic development and leadership thus far. Ashley shares her advice on how to continue finding the thrill in your job, as well as how she sets boundaries that allow her to be her best self both at work and at home.

Ashley is the Assistant Executive Director at Wake County Economic Development, where she leads their talent strategy and the business expansion, recruitment and relocation efforts. She was named to DCI’s Top 40 Under 40 list in 2019.

Episode 019: Kenny McDonald | Columbus 2020
Episode 019: Kenny McDonald | Columbus 2020 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Kenny McDonald from Columbus 2020 joins Carla Sones to talk about all things leadership. Kenny and Carla discuss how the onslaught of information in today’s world can be a challenge, and what Kenny admires most about his team. He shares several great leadership lessons, and talks about how he stays grounded.

As president and chief economic officer, Kenny serves as the primary leader of all economic development and business attraction efforts for the 11-county Columbus Region. He has an extensive background in site selection, regional economic development, community marketing,
business recruitment and international business development. Kenny serves on the boards of the Columbus Chamber, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), MidAmerican Global Ventures, NAIOP Central Ohio, SciTech, and Transportation Research Center.

Episode 018: Jeff Mayes | Consumers Energy
Episode 018: Jeff Mayes | Consumers Energy 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Nick Riashi talks with Jeff Mayes. Jeff shares how he makes deliberate commitments to learn about things that make him uncomfortable. He talks about how he transitioned from politics to economic development and what he has learned along the way. Jeff also shares his advice on how to bring people together to build something bigger than themselves.

Jeff is the executive director for business customer care at Consumers Energy, where he is responsible for all business clients within the company’s service territory. Prior to joining Consumers Energy, Jeff served for three terms as Michigan’s 96th District State Representative, where he chaired several committees and co-authored Michigan’s first renewable energy standard. 

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.

Episode 016: Brian Hilson | Economic Development Association of Alabama
Episode 016: Brian Hilson | Economic Development Association of Alabama 150 150 America's Jobs Team

Brian HilsonThis Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Brian Hilson, Rural Development Specialist at the Economic Development Association of Alabama and former CEO at the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), shares his insights on leadership. His passion for leading with goodwill and integrity is clear. Brian talks about the importance of being an open communicator and having a can-do, nothing-is-too-small-for-me attitude. In February 2019 Brian announced he would be stepping down as CEO of BBA.

Brian served as CEO at BBA for 8 years, and he has over 39 years of experience in economic development. Having spent his entire career in the economic development profession, Brian is a strong believer that employment opportunities are the best way to make communities better. His current role as Rural Development Strategist for the Economic Development Association of Alabama is focused on supporting rural communities around the state with their economic development needs.

Episode 015: David Rumbarger | Community Development Foundation (Tupelo, MS)
Episode 015: David Rumbarger | Community Development Foundation (Tupelo, MS) 150 150 America's Jobs Team

David RumbargerThis Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

David Rumbarger joins Carla Sones to share his leadership journey and insights. David talks about how constant change is a challenge for today’s leaders and his advice for emerging leaders of “we did this, not me did this” is so simple yet so powerful. David shares who in his life brings him reality, who inspires him and who keeps him grounded.

Davis has over 30 years of economic development experience and has been at the helm of the Community Development Foundation of Tupelo, MS since 2000. He played a pivotal role in locating Toyota’s Corolla plant to North Mississippi, which today employs 2200 people with over 1.2 billion dollars of investment. Under David’s leadership, Tupelo has been ranked in the Top 10 of Site Selection magazine 10 times since 2006.

Episode 014: Carol Henderson | Cushman & Wakefield
Episode 014: Carol Henderson | Cushman & Wakefield 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Carol Henderson talks about why keeping people engaged is such a challenge in today’s workplace climate. She shares her insights on vulnerability and gives some amazing advice for emerging leaders. Carol’s authenticity shines through the whole interview, especially when she talks about her focus to stay inquisitive and to always improve.

Carol is a Senior Director at Cushman & Wakefield. She has over 17 years of experience in the site selection industry and incentives negotiation. Her responsibilities include evaluating, negotiating, implementing and administering business incentives.

Episode 013: Ann Miller | Buda EDC
Episode 013: Ann Miller | Buda EDC 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Ann Miller, Executive Director at Buda Economic Development Corporation, talks with Carla Sones about her leadership journey. She talks about why having the courage to inspire others is so pivotal to her leadership style, and she shares how her mom’s fight with cancer inspired a passion for positivity in her. Ann also talks about her passion for challenging herself and how she continuously strives to be better in all she does. She has so much great advice for leaders at any level in today’s episode.

Ann has 14 years’ experience in economic development and is the Executive Director of the Buda Economic Development Corporation in Buda, TX. She is one of the youngest people to have received the CEcD designation. In 2015, Ann was recognized as one of the Top 40 under 40 by DCI.

Episode 012: Kurt Foreman | Delaware Prosperity Partnership
Episode 012: Kurt Foreman | Delaware Prosperity Partnership 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Kurt Foreman, CEO at Delaware Prosperity Partnership, joins Carla Sones to talk about his leadership journey. Kurt shares his insights on the challenge of jadedness in the civic arena, as well as the danger of thinking we are indispensable. He talks about the importance of creating energy for people to rally behind an end goal and the beauty of the inherent optimism that represents America.

Kurt is the President and CEO of Delaware Prosperity Partnership, which is the state’s first public-private economic development organization created to promote the state of Delaware as a premier business location. Kurt’s extensive experience in economic development includes serving in various senior economic development roles in both chamber-based and independent economic development groups throughout the U.S., including Oklahoma, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the Washington DC metro area.

Episode 011: Jeff Pappas | ESRP
Episode 011: Jeff Pappas | ESRP 150 150 America's Jobs Team

This Week on America’s Jobs Team Podcast:

Jeff Pappas, Executive Vice President of Site Selection and Brokerage at ESRP Real Estate Services, shares thoughts on generational differences and how he sees those playing out in the workplace, as wells as the 3 Hs that keep him growing and developing. Jeff talks about the importance of a mentor and what he thinks it means to be an American. 

Jeff has over 20 years of experience in the site selection business. At ESRP, Jeff represents corporate clients on a local and national basis and his skills include identifying favorable demographics and negotiating economic incentives for a wide range of clients, particularly in the teleservices, telecom and high-tech industries. He specializes in negotiating multiple leases across the country for various clients in the office, industrial, medical, and retail space. If you want to hear more from Jeff, you can follow him on Twitter @BPOJeffPappas.