Site Selectors Are People, Too

"I didn’t think this podcast was coming back—especially not like this."
After a year of significant professional and personal shifts, Devin Hillsdon-Smith returns for Season 3 of Site Selectors Are People, Too. This isn't just an industry update; it’s a raw, unfiltered look at the human behind the professional.
In this episode, Devin pulls back the curtain on a 2025 that was defined by "burnout, depression, anxiety, and an identity crisis." From the end of a major professional chapter at Cushman & Wakefield to navigating a difficult personal breakup, he shares the steps he took to climb out of "rock bottom" and eventually find the light at the top of the hole.
What we explore in this episode:
The Invisible Art of Professional Burnout: Recognizing the difference between productive stress and the chronic mismanagement of workplace pressure.
The Identity Crisis of "Enmeshment": What happens when who you are becomes indistinguishable from what you do for a living.
The Path to Recovery: A candid discussion on seeking professional help, therapy, and the role of medication in managing mental health.
Rising from the Ashes: The rebirth of Hyphen Strategies, the addition of a new VP of Business Development, and the power of a strong support network.
Whether you are in site selection, economic development, or any high-intensity field, this episode is a reminder that you aren't alone in the "vibration" of mental health issues. It’s okay to not be okay—and it’s even better to reach out.
Connect with Hyphen Strategies:
Follow us on LinkedIn: Hyphen Strategies LLC
Join our first Book Club pick: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Mental Health: Terms & Definitions Discussed
Burnout: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is strictly defined as an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition. It is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Depression: As defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It is pervasive and impacts all areas of a person's life.
Anxiety: While normal anxiety is a temporary human emotion characterized by the anticipation of a future concern, an anxiety disorder crosses the line from a standard stress response into excessive, persistent, and intrusive fear or worry that disrupts daily functioning.
Identity Crisis (and "Enmeshment"): A term coined by developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, describing a period of intense uncertainty and confusion about one's sense of self or role in society. In high-stakes careers, this often leads to "enmeshment"—where the boundary between who you are and what you do for a living completely dissolves.
Mental Health & Crisis Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling, you do not have to go through it alone. Please reach out to a professional or use the resources below:
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (Available 24/7 in the US and Canada).
Online Chat: 988lifeline.org
Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1.
 
Visit www.hyphenstrategiesllc.com for more.

In this episode, Devin talks through a topic he's passionate about - activating your real estate for economic development purposes. A community's land is one of its most precious assets, and if you don't take control of its future then someone sure as heck will. We explore how to break down the steps to real estate activation through a simple process and bring some order to the chaos. So let's roll up our sleeves, get down and dirty, and discuss some actionable steps to tackling real estate in economic development.
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):
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
Urban Land Institute (ULI)
The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE)
CCIM Institute
Journal of Property Investment & Finance
An Overview of DMAIC for Beginners
Measuring Commercial Real Estate's Impact
Understanding the Real Estate Development Process (& 4 Ways to Scale)
Real Estate Development Timeline: The Complete Developer’s Guide
Real Estate Development Process
Real Estate Development Crash Course: The Development Process in 7-Minutes

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 Gillenwater, the president & CEO of The Enterprise Group of Jackson in Michigan. We discuss what it's like as an economic developer to land in a new community and how to host a top tier familiarization (FAM) tour for site selectors.
 
Keith can be reached at:
keith@enterprisegroup.org
(517) 788-4456

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

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

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

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

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

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
 

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?