Site Selectors Are People, Too

How to Market a Community: Jonathan Sackett on Economic Development Branding in Northeast Indiana

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
In this installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Jonathan Sackett, head of marketing and communications at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
How do economic development professionals market their communities? How do you create a compelling brand for a community? Tune in to find out and much, much more.
If you enjoyed this episode, you're in luck - this is Part 2 of 2 of a much larger conversation! Go check out Part 1 on The NEI Pioneer Podcast and follow them here: Podcast | Pioneer Starts Here

Work-Life Balance in Site Selection and Economic Development: Strategies for a High-Pressure Profession

In this episode of Site Selectors Are People, Too, Devin tackles work-life balance in a highly competitive environment. Let's take a look at some of the unique demands and challenges associated with each profession (site selection and economic development) and scratch the surface of some best practices and strategies for finding balance. Traveling too much? Expected to show up at too many community events? You're not alone.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
Work/Life Balance Tips for Professionals:
Forbes: Work-Life Balance Tips for Busy Professionals
Harvard Business Review: Time Management Tips
Resources for Site Selectors and Economic Developers:
Site Selectors Guild: Resources
International Economic Development Council (IEDC): Tools and Resources
Economic Development Administration (EDA): Resources for Economic Developers
Strategies for Managing Work/Life Balance:
Mind Tools: Work-Life Balance Toolkit
The Muse: How to Maintain a Work-Life Balance
Support Networks and Communities:
LinkedIn Groups for Site Selectors
Economic Development Networks and Forums
Mental Health and Well-being:
National Institute of Mental Health: Stress Management
Mental Health America: Work/Life Balance

Electric Cooperatives and Rural Economic Development: Matthew Marshall on Power, Sites, and the Upper Midwest

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
 
In this second installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Matthew Marshall, manager of member services, rates & economic development for the Minnkota Power Cooperative in North Dakota and Minnesota.
 
Matthew can be reached at:
mmarshall@minnkota.com
(701) 630-4658

Regional Economic Development Done Right: Keith Lambert on the Lansing, Michigan Model

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
 
In this installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Keith Lambert, chief operating officer for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership in Michigan.
 
Keith can be reached at:
keith@purelansing.com
(517) 331-2990

Confidentiality vs. Community: How Economic Developers Balance Transparency in Site Selection Projects

In the 1st Episode of Season 2 of Site Selectors Are People, Too, Devin responds to a listener question about how the public can get more engaged with economic development projects. How do we balance critical project confidentiality with the community's right to know what's coming next? It's not an easy topic, but it's one worth discussing.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
The Role of Transparency and Accountability for Economic Development in Resource-rich Countries
Making Politics Work for Development: Harnessing Transparency and Citizen Engagement
How transparency can help the global economy to grow
Our Commitment to Transparency
Transparency: Economic Development
Economic Development Transparency
Transparency and Accountability in Development: Where Do We Stand?
Transparency and Accountable Development
Sports, Jobs, & Taxes: Are New Stadiums Worth the Cost?
How Amazon, Google and Other Companies Exploit NDAs

Community Leadership in Economic Development: Bryant Niehoff on Southwest Indiana's Tech Park Strategy

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, will feature the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
 
In this first installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Uplands Science & Technology Foundation in southwest Indiana.
 
Bryant can be reached at:
BNIEHOFF@USTFWESTGATE.ORG
(812) 259-2177
 

How the RFI Process Works in Site Selection (And How EDOs Can Respond Better)

In the 10th episode of Site Selectors Are People, Too, Devin takes a look at the RFI and how it informs the site selection process as a whole. We dig into how the RFI is put together and how economic developers can better tailor their efforts to increase their chances of success. If you don't get the results you want, does that mean you failed? Or does that mean your community simply wasn't the right fit for the project?
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
How to Respond to an RFI
How to Write a Smart RFI
Breaking Down the Site Selection Process
10 Critical Factors to Consider During Corporate Site Selection
Buyer Beware: Navigating the Murky Waters of Site Selection
12 mistakes to avoid in the site selection process
Site Selection In 2024: What Risks Define Business Investment Decisions?

Day in the Life of an Economic Developer: What the Job Really Demands

In today's episode, Devin explores the realities of being an economic developer. What does it take to get the job done? What does a day in the life look like? Let's dig beyond the tip of the iceberg of being an economic developer, including what it takes to serve as the intersection between community and business.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
What is Economic Development?
Remaking Economic Development
Tools for Economic Development
The Importance of Young Firms for Economic Growth
What is an Economic Developer and How to Become One

Day in the Life of a Site Selector: What Corporate Site Selection Actually Looks Like

In today's episode, Devin explores the realities of being a site selector. What does it take to get the job done? What does a day in the life look like? Let's dig beyond the tip of the iceberg of being a site selector, including what it takes to manage a corporate site selection project.
Note: winning clients and getting paid will be discussed in future episodes.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
20 Key Factors and Bonus Insights for Site Selection
What Is a Site Selection Consultant and How to Hire the Right One
The Power Of Informed Decisions: Site Selection Principles And Best Practices
What Site Selectors REALLY Want
The Complete Guide to Site Selection
Seven Signs of a New Site Selection Reality

Trust in Site Selection: How to Build It, Break It, and Why It Closes Deals

Devin tackles a fundamental aspect of human interaction - trust. In this episode, we explore the definition of trust, how to build it, how to ruin it, and its role in economic development and site selection. Economic developers and site selectors serve as a bridge between communities and companies, requiring a focus on being trusted advisors and representatives.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
10 Ways to Build Trust in a Relationship
The Importance of Client Selection and Relationship Management
Trust is the glue of a healthy society. Here's how to bring it back.
Building Stronger Communities: Understanding The Power Of Community Economic Development
Five Straightforward Ways to Engage with Site Selectors
How Business Can Build and Maintain Trust
What is trust, why does it matter for development, and how do we measure it?
Eight Tips for Building, Maintaining, and Leveraging Your Professional Relationships
How To Build And Maintain Professional Relationships