web02.fireside.fm Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:35:05 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Chambers Of Commerce” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/chambers%20of%20commerce Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 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 206: The Fifth Season of Economic Development with Juliet Abdel https://podcast.econdevshow.com/206 7519f5e0-5dd5-4d1a-970f-4267ae3cd331 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 206 The Fifth Season of Economic Development with Juliet Abdel full Dane Carlson A wide-ranging conversation with Juliet Abdel on leading a modern regional economic development organization, embracing international investment, and protecting people from burnout in a high-pressure profession. 32:33 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Juliet Abdel, President and CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, to talk about building a regionally focused, globally minded economic development organization. Drawing on Cedar Rapids' "fifth season" advantage (time, accessibility, and quality of life) Juliet shares how the region leverages industry clusters, international relationships, and leadership discipline to compete. The conversation blends practical economic development strategy with candid insights on burnout, boundaries, and leading people well in a demanding field. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Treat quality of life as a competitive asset, not a marketing afterthought. Focus attraction efforts on industry clusters that naturally complement what already exists locally. International business development does not require a global city, only consistent relationship-building. Cast a clear vision so teams understand the "why," not just the tasks. Protect staff health by modeling boundaries, especially around after-hours communication. Build attraction strategies around regional strengths, not generic wish lists. Encourage team members to say no when capacity or clarity is missing. Leverage peer networks aggressively. Most good ideas already exist somewhere else. Recognize burnout as an organizational risk, not a personal weakness. Remember that economic development works best when personal well-being and professional performance reinforce each other. Special Guest: Juliet Abdel. econdev, economic development, eco devo, economic development, Cedar Rapids, international investment, Midwest economy, leadership, burnout, workforce strategy, industry clusters, chambers of commerce, quality of life In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Juliet Abdel, President and CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, to talk about building a regionally focused, globally minded economic development organization.

Drawing on Cedar Rapids' "fifth season" advantage (time, accessibility, and quality of life) Juliet shares how the region leverages industry clusters, international relationships, and leadership discipline to compete.

The conversation blends practical economic development strategy with candid insights on burnout, boundaries, and leading people well in a demanding field.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Treat quality of life as a competitive asset, not a marketing afterthought.
  2. Focus attraction efforts on industry clusters that naturally complement what already exists locally.
  3. International business development does not require a global city, only consistent relationship-building.
  4. Cast a clear vision so teams understand the "why," not just the tasks.
  5. Protect staff health by modeling boundaries, especially around after-hours communication.
  6. Build attraction strategies around regional strengths, not generic wish lists.
  7. Encourage team members to say no when capacity or clarity is missing.
  8. Leverage peer networks aggressively. Most good ideas already exist somewhere else.
  9. Recognize burnout as an organizational risk, not a personal weakness.
  10. Remember that economic development works best when personal well-being and professional performance reinforce each other.

Special Guest: Juliet Abdel.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Juliet Abdel, President and CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, to talk about building a regionally focused, globally minded economic development organization.

Drawing on Cedar Rapids' "fifth season" advantage (time, accessibility, and quality of life) Juliet shares how the region leverages industry clusters, international relationships, and leadership discipline to compete.

The conversation blends practical economic development strategy with candid insights on burnout, boundaries, and leading people well in a demanding field.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Treat quality of life as a competitive asset, not a marketing afterthought.
  2. Focus attraction efforts on industry clusters that naturally complement what already exists locally.
  3. International business development does not require a global city, only consistent relationship-building.
  4. Cast a clear vision so teams understand the "why," not just the tasks.
  5. Protect staff health by modeling boundaries, especially around after-hours communication.
  6. Build attraction strategies around regional strengths, not generic wish lists.
  7. Encourage team members to say no when capacity or clarity is missing.
  8. Leverage peer networks aggressively. Most good ideas already exist somewhere else.
  9. Recognize burnout as an organizational risk, not a personal weakness.
  10. Remember that economic development works best when personal well-being and professional performance reinforce each other.

Special Guest: Juliet Abdel.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> The Power of Showing Up in Communities with Jamie Beasley (Re-upload... take 2) https://podcast.econdevshow.com/191-reupload-2 89466503-5c23-4e95-a809-775721959b2b Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson full Dane Carlson Dane Carlson talks with Jamie Beasley about her journey in economic development, her role connecting Oklahoma’s small towns with state resources, and her new venture, Econ Dev Ops. 23:34 no (Due to technical issues, this episode has been reuploaded. My apologies to Jamie and to all our listeners. –Dane) In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson welcomes back Jamie Beasley, who shares her path from chamber leadership to her current role as a Regional Development Specialist in north central Oklahoma. Jamie discusses the joys and challenges of working with small towns, the importance of building authentic community connections, and the value of bringing fresh ideas from other places. She also introduces her new initiative, Econ Dev Ops, a virtual assistant service tailored to chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, designed to help overburdened leaders focus on strategy and growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Spend time in the field. Nothing replaces face-to-face conversations. Look at how other communities solve problems; good ideas travel well. Small towns often lack staff capacity; find ways to connect them to resources. Collaboration across counties and regions can amplify limited resources. Celebrate small wins to keep communities motivated for long-term goals. Don't underestimate the importance of simply listening to local leaders. Recognize that chamber directors and small-town EDs often juggle multiple roles. Consider outsourcing administrative tasks (like social media, invoicing, and newsletters) to free up strategic capacity. Include small towns in summits and regional events--they often feel overlooked. Focus on relationships and encouragement--sometimes validation is as valuable as funding. Special Guest: Jamie Beasley. econdev, economic development, eco devo, economic development, small towns, Oklahoma, chambers of commerce, community building, rural development, economic connectors, virtual assistants, Econ DevOps, regional growth (Due to technical issues, this episode has been reuploaded. My apologies to Jamie and to all our listeners. –Dane)

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson welcomes back Jamie Beasley, who shares her path from chamber leadership to her current role as a Regional Development Specialist in north central Oklahoma.

Jamie discusses the joys and challenges of working with small towns, the importance of building authentic community connections, and the value of bringing fresh ideas from other places.

She also introduces her new initiative, Econ Dev Ops, a virtual assistant service tailored to chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, designed to help overburdened leaders focus on strategy and growth.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Spend time in the field. Nothing replaces face-to-face conversations.
  2. Look at how other communities solve problems; good ideas travel well.
  3. Small towns often lack staff capacity; find ways to connect them to resources.
  4. Collaboration across counties and regions can amplify limited resources.
  5. Celebrate small wins to keep communities motivated for long-term goals.
  6. Don't underestimate the importance of simply listening to local leaders.
  7. Recognize that chamber directors and small-town EDs often juggle multiple roles.
  8. Consider outsourcing administrative tasks (like social media, invoicing, and newsletters) to free up strategic capacity.
  9. Include small towns in summits and regional events--they often feel overlooked.
  10. Focus on relationships and encouragement--sometimes validation is as valuable as funding.

Special Guest: Jamie Beasley.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> (Due to technical issues, this episode has been reuploaded. My apologies to Jamie and to all our listeners. –Dane)

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson welcomes back Jamie Beasley, who shares her path from chamber leadership to her current role as a Regional Development Specialist in north central Oklahoma.

Jamie discusses the joys and challenges of working with small towns, the importance of building authentic community connections, and the value of bringing fresh ideas from other places.

She also introduces her new initiative, Econ Dev Ops, a virtual assistant service tailored to chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, designed to help overburdened leaders focus on strategy and growth.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Spend time in the field. Nothing replaces face-to-face conversations.
  2. Look at how other communities solve problems; good ideas travel well.
  3. Small towns often lack staff capacity; find ways to connect them to resources.
  4. Collaboration across counties and regions can amplify limited resources.
  5. Celebrate small wins to keep communities motivated for long-term goals.
  6. Don't underestimate the importance of simply listening to local leaders.
  7. Recognize that chamber directors and small-town EDs often juggle multiple roles.
  8. Consider outsourcing administrative tasks (like social media, invoicing, and newsletters) to free up strategic capacity.
  9. Include small towns in summits and regional events--they often feel overlooked.
  10. Focus on relationships and encouragement--sometimes validation is as valuable as funding.

Special Guest: Jamie Beasley.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 188: Site Selectors Often Experience Your City First as Visitors with Tulsa's Renee McKenney https://podcast.econdevshow.com/188 d8f07cb4-0f38-4b73-b37c-b866073a4e0b Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 188 Site Selectors Often Experience Your City First as Visitors with Tulsa's Renee McKenney full Dane Carlson A conversation with Renee McKenney on how Tulsa blends tourism, placemaking, and economic development to punch above its weight on the national stage 26:28 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Renee McKenney, Senior Vice President of Tourism for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and President of Tulsa Regional Tourism. Renee shares how Tulsa has leveraged its unique history, Route 66 heritage, and creative culture to attract visitors, residents, and businesses. From hosting major sporting events and revitalizing Black Wall Street to promoting film, music, and culinary scenes, Tulsa is redefining itself as a vibrant destination. Renee also explains how integrating tourism with economic development under the chamber umbrella creates a powerful synergy that fuels placemaking, business attraction, and civic pride Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Integrate tourism and economic development--site selectors often experience your city first as visitors. Identify and elevate authentic community assets (history, culture, sports, etc.). Lean into storytelling; narratives like Route 66 or Black Wall Street resonate nationally. Invest in placemaking that surprises and delights both locals and visitors. Use large-scale events (sports, festivals, shows) as business attraction opportunities. Partner with creative industries (film, music, arts) to build brand identity. Capitalize on civic pride to mobilize communities around unique initiatives. Focus on accessibility and vibe because livability drives both talent and business attraction. Treat tourism as "importing money and exporting experiences." Always be ready for your "prime time": community investments build toward big moments like centennials, championships, or global events. Special Guest: Renee McKenney. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Tulsa, tourism, placemaking, Route 66, Black Wall Street, economic development, sports tourism, film industry, civic pride, chambers of commerce In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Renee McKenney, Senior Vice President of Tourism for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and President of Tulsa Regional Tourism. Renee shares how Tulsa has leveraged its unique history, Route 66 heritage, and creative culture to attract visitors, residents, and businesses. From hosting major sporting events and revitalizing Black Wall Street to promoting film, music, and culinary scenes, Tulsa is redefining itself as a vibrant destination. Renee also explains how integrating tourism with economic development under the chamber umbrella creates a powerful synergy that fuels placemaking, business attraction, and civic pride

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Integrate tourism and economic development--site selectors often experience your city first as visitors.
  2. Identify and elevate authentic community assets (history, culture, sports, etc.).
  3. Lean into storytelling; narratives like Route 66 or Black Wall Street resonate nationally.
  4. Invest in placemaking that surprises and delights both locals and visitors.
  5. Use large-scale events (sports, festivals, shows) as business attraction opportunities.
  6. Partner with creative industries (film, music, arts) to build brand identity.
  7. Capitalize on civic pride to mobilize communities around unique initiatives.
  8. Focus on accessibility and vibe because livability drives both talent and business attraction.
  9. Treat tourism as "importing money and exporting experiences."
  10. Always be ready for your "prime time": community investments build toward big moments like centennials, championships, or global events.

Special Guest: Renee McKenney.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Renee McKenney, Senior Vice President of Tourism for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and President of Tulsa Regional Tourism. Renee shares how Tulsa has leveraged its unique history, Route 66 heritage, and creative culture to attract visitors, residents, and businesses. From hosting major sporting events and revitalizing Black Wall Street to promoting film, music, and culinary scenes, Tulsa is redefining itself as a vibrant destination. Renee also explains how integrating tourism with economic development under the chamber umbrella creates a powerful synergy that fuels placemaking, business attraction, and civic pride

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Integrate tourism and economic development--site selectors often experience your city first as visitors.
  2. Identify and elevate authentic community assets (history, culture, sports, etc.).
  3. Lean into storytelling; narratives like Route 66 or Black Wall Street resonate nationally.
  4. Invest in placemaking that surprises and delights both locals and visitors.
  5. Use large-scale events (sports, festivals, shows) as business attraction opportunities.
  6. Partner with creative industries (film, music, arts) to build brand identity.
  7. Capitalize on civic pride to mobilize communities around unique initiatives.
  8. Focus on accessibility and vibe because livability drives both talent and business attraction.
  9. Treat tourism as "importing money and exporting experiences."
  10. Always be ready for your "prime time": community investments build toward big moments like centennials, championships, or global events.

Special Guest: Renee McKenney.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 156: The Art of Economic Development Fundraising with Clint Nessmith https://podcast.econdevshow.com/156 ffbdb604-c528-4869-b5da-bc4595fa9ad1 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 156 The Art of Economic Development Fundraising with Clint Nessmith full Dane Carlson CEO Clint Nessmith discusses the specialized role of economic development fundraising consulting and how his firm, Resource Development Group, helps organizations raise money for community advancement initiatives. 32:33 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Clint Nessmith, CEO of Resource Development Group, reveals the niche world of economic development fundraising consulting. He explains how his firm exclusively works with economic development organizations and chambers of commerce across the country, particularly focusing on larger regional chambers in major markets. Nessmith shares insights about the fundraising process, the importance of market validation, and how proper fundraising can unite communities behind a shared vision. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways Consider hiring specialized fundraising consultants for major economic development campaigns Validate your fundraising goals through market research before launching campaigns Use fundraising processes to unite community stakeholders behind a shared vision Focus on creating comprehensive plans that address market-identified needs Don't hesitate to delay fundraising if market validation suggests you're not ready Leverage external expertise to add credibility to your fundraising efforts Stay informed about economic development funding trends through industry resources Build fundraising models that match your organization's size and scope Use fundraising campaigns as opportunities to strengthen community relationships Incorporate market feedback into your organizational messaging and planning Special Guest: Clint Nessmith. econdev, economic development, eco devo, fundraising, economic development, chambers of commerce, regional development, market validation, community advancement, consulting, strategic planning, capital campaigns, organizational growth In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Clint Nessmith, CEO of Resource Development Group, reveals the niche world of economic development fundraising consulting. He explains how his firm exclusively works with economic development organizations and chambers of commerce across the country, particularly focusing on larger regional chambers in major markets. Nessmith shares insights about the fundraising process, the importance of market validation, and how proper fundraising can unite communities behind a shared vision.

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

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Consider hiring specialized fundraising consultants for major economic development campaigns
  2. Validate your fundraising goals through market research before launching campaigns
  3. Use fundraising processes to unite community stakeholders behind a shared vision
  4. Focus on creating comprehensive plans that address market-identified needs
  5. Don't hesitate to delay fundraising if market validation suggests you're not ready
  6. Leverage external expertise to add credibility to your fundraising efforts
  7. Stay informed about economic development funding trends through industry resources
  8. Build fundraising models that match your organization's size and scope
  9. Use fundraising campaigns as opportunities to strengthen community relationships
  10. Incorporate market feedback into your organizational messaging and planning

Special Guest: Clint Nessmith.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Clint Nessmith, CEO of Resource Development Group, reveals the niche world of economic development fundraising consulting. He explains how his firm exclusively works with economic development organizations and chambers of commerce across the country, particularly focusing on larger regional chambers in major markets. Nessmith shares insights about the fundraising process, the importance of market validation, and how proper fundraising can unite communities behind a shared vision.

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

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Consider hiring specialized fundraising consultants for major economic development campaigns
  2. Validate your fundraising goals through market research before launching campaigns
  3. Use fundraising processes to unite community stakeholders behind a shared vision
  4. Focus on creating comprehensive plans that address market-identified needs
  5. Don't hesitate to delay fundraising if market validation suggests you're not ready
  6. Leverage external expertise to add credibility to your fundraising efforts
  7. Stay informed about economic development funding trends through industry resources
  8. Build fundraising models that match your organization's size and scope
  9. Use fundraising campaigns as opportunities to strengthen community relationships
  10. Incorporate market feedback into your organizational messaging and planning

Special Guest: Clint Nessmith.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>