“The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.” –Carly Fiorina Data can be a really intimidating topic to talk about as economic developers. What types of things should you be tracking? What out-of-the-ordinary items are site consultants looking for? Which numbers should you be keeping a pulse on to help support…

“Keep them engaged in the process and not just when you need something. It’s about building a relationship on trust and mutual respect.” –Ryan Combs Whether it’s business leaders, regional elected officials or community partners, building a reputation for trust and reliability is key in getting projects across the finish line. But, as is often…

“Modern agricultural businesses have and are changing to become more efficient as technologies and marketing needs change and drive more profitability.” –Andrew Carty What are the implications from the unforeseen logistical situations such as the Suez Canal blockage and the Mississippi River shut down? Why does this affect international trade, and how is the agricultural…

“Any information that can help us tell the story of a community better is always something that will help create an advantage for a community.” –Kyle Neu Do you ever just want that exclusive information from a site consultant? Do you go back and forth on what information to share? Carla Sones talks with Kyle…

“Economic development is a very long game” –Meghan DiGiacomo Do you ever feel like economic development can seem reactionary? Do you wish people knew that the industry isn’t a sprint? On today’s episode, Meghan DiGiacomo talks with us about the marathon of economic development. At Highlands County Economic Development, Meghan knows the work that she…

“You have all these strengths but they’re really just sitting there on the table until you start exercising them.” –Carla Sones Do you know what attributes you excel in? Are you aware of your top strengths? This can sometimes feel only self-reflective, but how does this affect our work and our teams? Faye Davis talks…

“What I’m seeing is how multinational corporations are considering their international presence. It’s talent, talent, talent, and then the site, community and financials.” –Daniel Silverman We can’t have any conversations about projects and deal flow without running into the topic of workforce. It’s a topic that transcends borders and industries, and is top of mind…

“When you love what you do, it’s sometimes hard to let go of things that, as a leader, you probably need to let go of.” –Carla Sones We can all name a time that we have been micromanaged and you can probably remember how it felt. But is micromanaging more dangerous than we think? With…

“You have to have passion. You may not always start with passion for the place, but you have to have passion for the work.” –Ashley Cagle Though many changes in how the world works were already shaping up pre-pandemic, the last year and a half has accelerated the work style of the future. As companies in…

“You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.” –Maxwell Maltz Do you ever not move forward on something out of fear of making a mistake? Is the thought of dealing with the aftermath of a mistake enough to avoid the situation all together? How does this unavoidable part of leadership drive so much of what we…