web01.fireside.fm Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:22:43 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Career Transition” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/career%20transition Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. en-us episodic Actionable economic development strategies and stories Dane Carlson Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. no econ dev, economic development, ed Dane Carlson show@econdevshow.com 184: The Colorblind Tulip Farmer: Revolutionizing Rural Economic Development with Andrew Miller https://podcast.econdevshow.com/184 825db38d-2e9a-45c5-9c35-f3589eb1a9a9 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 184 The Colorblind Tulip Farmer: Revolutionizing Rural Economic Development with Andrew Miller full Dane Carlson Andrew Miller discusses his journey from economic developer to entrepreneur, explaining how he transitioned from advocating for business development in Skagit County to actually purchasing and operating a tulip farm himself. 22:54 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Andrew Miller, a multi-faceted leader who serves as CEO of both the United Way of Skagit County and Tulip Valley Farms, as well as commissioner at Skagit PUD. Miller shares his unique journey from working at major tech companies like Amazon to returning home to Skagit County as an economic developer, only to eventually become the entrepreneur he had been encouraging others to be. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face when advocating for entrepreneurship and innovation, the resistance to change in established systems, and Miller's decision to "walk the walk" by purchasing a farm business when others wouldn't take the leap. Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Look for gaps in existing industries where innovation can create new business models (like adding U-pick to traditional tulip festivals) Study successful elements from adjacent industries and adapt them to your community's assets Create bridges between urban and rural communities through experiential tourism Focus on finding and selling what's remarkable about your community to people willing to pay for it Combine unexpected elements (like Scottish Highland cows with tulips) to create unique attractions Make agriculture and rural life accessible to urban neighbors who lack farming connections Consider compound risks when developing agritourism ventures (weather for growing AND weather for visitors) Use personal availability and storytelling to create authentic connections with visitors Help passionate people in your community turn their interests into viable businesses Remember that credentials matter less than passion and willingness to learn in entrepreneurship Special Guest: Andrew Miller. econdev, economic development, eco devo, agritourism, rural economic development, tulip farming, U-pick, Skagit Valley, community engagement, agricultural innovation, rural tourism, small business, career transition In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Andrew Miller, a multi-faceted leader who serves as CEO of both the United Way of Skagit County and Tulip Valley Farms, as well as commissioner at Skagit PUD. Miller shares his unique journey from working at major tech companies like Amazon to returning home to Skagit County as an economic developer, only to eventually become the entrepreneur he had been encouraging others to be. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face when advocating for entrepreneurship and innovation, the resistance to change in established systems, and Miller's decision to "walk the walk" by purchasing a farm business when others wouldn't take the leap.

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Look for gaps in existing industries where innovation can create new business models (like adding U-pick to traditional tulip festivals)
  2. Study successful elements from adjacent industries and adapt them to your community's assets
  3. Create bridges between urban and rural communities through experiential tourism
  4. Focus on finding and selling what's remarkable about your community to people willing to pay for it
  5. Combine unexpected elements (like Scottish Highland cows with tulips) to create unique attractions
  6. Make agriculture and rural life accessible to urban neighbors who lack farming connections
  7. Consider compound risks when developing agritourism ventures (weather for growing AND weather for visitors)
  8. Use personal availability and storytelling to create authentic connections with visitors
  9. Help passionate people in your community turn their interests into viable businesses
  10. Remember that credentials matter less than passion and willingness to learn in entrepreneurship

Special Guest: Andrew Miller.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Andrew Miller, a multi-faceted leader who serves as CEO of both the United Way of Skagit County and Tulip Valley Farms, as well as commissioner at Skagit PUD. Miller shares his unique journey from working at major tech companies like Amazon to returning home to Skagit County as an economic developer, only to eventually become the entrepreneur he had been encouraging others to be. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face when advocating for entrepreneurship and innovation, the resistance to change in established systems, and Miller's decision to "walk the walk" by purchasing a farm business when others wouldn't take the leap.

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Look for gaps in existing industries where innovation can create new business models (like adding U-pick to traditional tulip festivals)
  2. Study successful elements from adjacent industries and adapt them to your community's assets
  3. Create bridges between urban and rural communities through experiential tourism
  4. Focus on finding and selling what's remarkable about your community to people willing to pay for it
  5. Combine unexpected elements (like Scottish Highland cows with tulips) to create unique attractions
  6. Make agriculture and rural life accessible to urban neighbors who lack farming connections
  7. Consider compound risks when developing agritourism ventures (weather for growing AND weather for visitors)
  8. Use personal availability and storytelling to create authentic connections with visitors
  9. Help passionate people in your community turn their interests into viable businesses
  10. Remember that credentials matter less than passion and willingness to learn in entrepreneurship

Special Guest: Andrew Miller.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 155: Building Cedar Park's Future with Arthur Jackson https://podcast.econdevshow.com/155 56db0a50-36e9-4d85-ab99-73b4a5680363 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 155 Building Cedar Park's Future with Arthur Jackson full Dane Carlson Cedar Park, Texas' Chief Economic Development Officer shares his journey from sales to economic development and discusses how he and the city are working together to build a thriving suburban community in Austin's shadow. 26:48 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Arthur Jackson, Chief Economic Development Officer for Cedar Park, Texas. Arthur shares his unexpected path into economic development following a layoff from a sales director position, leading to his role with the Austin Chamber and eventual leadership in Cedar Park. Through their conversation, Arthur reveals how his sales background enhances his economic development approach, emphasizing the importance of listening and resilience. He also showcases Cedar Park's impressive achievements as the safest and most affluent city in the Austin area, while discussing the delicate balance of regional cooperation and local development in the greater Austin metroplex. Cedar Park is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Under Arthur’s leadership, this rapidly growing suburb of Austin is attracting innovative businesses that are transforming the tech, aerospace and clean energy industries including rocket tester Firefly, Hyliion, which provides clean, flexible and affordable electricity production., and Hanyang. Cedar Park offers space, affordability and access to talent while capitalizing on its proximity to Austin. The City is also attracting talent and providing enhanced livability to its residents by investing in itself. Cedar Park, which was incorporated about 50 years ago, has 80,000 residents and experienced 44.2% growth in the last population Census, but it never had a downtown or gathering place. The City’s approach to community development was to bet on big-box retail, a minor league sports and event arena (HEB Center), hotels, and 31 miles of trails and parks, along with housing. This presented an opportunity to build a modern-day downtown with resident buy-in. Cedar Park is currently building its first downtown with the Bell District—a $750 million development anchored by a $31 million state-of-the-art public library that opened this November. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Arthur Jackson. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Cedar Park, Austin metro, Texas economic development, Suburban growth, Career transition, Regional cooperation, Sales skills, Site selection, Safety rankings, Educational excellence In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Arthur Jackson, Chief Economic Development Officer for Cedar Park, Texas. Arthur shares his unexpected path into economic development following a layoff from a sales director position, leading to his role with the Austin Chamber and eventual leadership in Cedar Park. Through their conversation, Arthur reveals how his sales background enhances his economic development approach, emphasizing the importance of listening and resilience. He also showcases Cedar Park's impressive achievements as the safest and most affluent city in the Austin area, while discussing the delicate balance of regional cooperation and local development in the greater Austin metroplex.

Cedar Park is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Under Arthur’s leadership, this rapidly growing suburb of Austin is attracting innovative businesses that are transforming the tech, aerospace and clean energy industries including rocket tester Firefly, Hyliion, which provides clean, flexible and affordable electricity production., and Hanyang. Cedar Park offers space, affordability and access to talent while capitalizing on its proximity to Austin.

The City is also attracting talent and providing enhanced livability to its residents by investing in itself. Cedar Park, which was incorporated about 50 years ago, has 80,000 residents and experienced 44.2% growth in the last population Census, but it never had a downtown or gathering place. The City’s approach to community development was to bet on big-box retail, a minor league sports and event arena (HEB Center), hotels, and 31 miles of trails and parks, along with housing. This presented an opportunity to build a modern-day downtown with resident buy-in. Cedar Park is currently building its first downtown with the Bell District—a $750 million development anchored by a $31 million state-of-the-art public library that opened this November.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Arthur Jackson.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Arthur Jackson, Chief Economic Development Officer for Cedar Park, Texas. Arthur shares his unexpected path into economic development following a layoff from a sales director position, leading to his role with the Austin Chamber and eventual leadership in Cedar Park. Through their conversation, Arthur reveals how his sales background enhances his economic development approach, emphasizing the importance of listening and resilience. He also showcases Cedar Park's impressive achievements as the safest and most affluent city in the Austin area, while discussing the delicate balance of regional cooperation and local development in the greater Austin metroplex.

Cedar Park is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Under Arthur’s leadership, this rapidly growing suburb of Austin is attracting innovative businesses that are transforming the tech, aerospace and clean energy industries including rocket tester Firefly, Hyliion, which provides clean, flexible and affordable electricity production., and Hanyang. Cedar Park offers space, affordability and access to talent while capitalizing on its proximity to Austin.

The City is also attracting talent and providing enhanced livability to its residents by investing in itself. Cedar Park, which was incorporated about 50 years ago, has 80,000 residents and experienced 44.2% growth in the last population Census, but it never had a downtown or gathering place. The City’s approach to community development was to bet on big-box retail, a minor league sports and event arena (HEB Center), hotels, and 31 miles of trails and parks, along with housing. This presented an opportunity to build a modern-day downtown with resident buy-in. Cedar Park is currently building its first downtown with the Bell District—a $750 million development anchored by a $31 million state-of-the-art public library that opened this November.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Arthur Jackson.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 153: Sandy Dubay Created Her Own Path in Economic Development https://podcast.econdevshow.com/153 e55956f7-f9d5-4b6d-aca5-9d0973e509ae Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 153 Sandy Dubay Created Her Own Path in Economic Development full Dane Carlson Sandy Dubay shares her journey from traditional economic development to founding her own consulting firm and creating the EDO Breakthrough Podcast. 29:25 no In this episode of the Sandy Dubay opens up about her unexpected path from traditional economic development to entrepreneurship, sparked by a life-changing moment when she was pregnant with her first child and a friend's suggestion led her to establish her own consulting practice, which has now grown to a team of eight people over 22 years, while also discussing her passion for educating new economic developers through her her EDO Breakthrough Podcast. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Sandy Dubay. econdev, economic development, eco devo, entrepreneurship, economic development, education, podcasting, mentorship, career transition, consulting,, leadership, professional development In this episode of the Sandy Dubay opens up about her unexpected path from traditional economic development to entrepreneurship, sparked by a life-changing moment when she was pregnant with her first child and a friend's suggestion led her to establish her own consulting practice, which has now grown to a team of eight people over 22 years, while also discussing her passion for educating new economic developers through her her EDO Breakthrough Podcast.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Sandy Dubay.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Sandy Dubay opens up about her unexpected path from traditional economic development to entrepreneurship, sparked by a life-changing moment when she was pregnant with her first child and a friend's suggestion led her to establish her own consulting practice, which has now grown to a team of eight people over 22 years, while also discussing her passion for educating new economic developers through her her EDO Breakthrough Podcast.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Sandy Dubay.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>