EDO Breakthrough
Is there an economic development problem that you just can’t seem to make any progress on? Grab your phone and call the EDO Breakthrough podcast! After all, no challenge is unsolvable with a creative solutions team by your side.
In each episode, Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and host Sandy Dubay welcomes a new business leader, community luminary, and other modern mages to discuss the challenges, joys, and needs of communities across the United States. Sandy and her guest will combine their powers to answer your real-life economic development questions.
When our powers combine, we can make an EDO breakthrough!
Episodes
19 episodes
E18 - Beyond the Cover Story: PR Strategies for your EDO, with Mia Vaccaro
Public Relations isn’t always about chasing the spotlight and making headlines. In economic development, effective PR is about turning your narrative into a compelling message that resonates with the community you serve.In this episode, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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32:11
E17 - Small Investments, Big Impact: How to Improve Your Downtown, with Leeann Crews
The most impactful downtown revitalization strategy might just be the least expensive one…In this episode, Leeann Crews shares how the Downtown Frederick Partnership is implementing “incremental changes,” measuring community health, and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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43:31
E16 - Raising the Bar on Your Business Attraction Strategies, with Subash Alias
What if your next big business attraction project started with a mock site visit? In Missouri, that’s not just a theory—it’s a strategy that is delivering real results.In this episode, Subash Alias shares how Missouri Partnership is help...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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37:37
E15 - Creating a Business Resource Collective, with Sarah Mattson
Is your community’s economic potential limited because everyone works in silos? Today we’re joined by Sarah Mattson, Director of Entrepreneurship with the City of Chattanooga, who shares how simple and effective it is to create a Bu...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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38:40
E14 - Social Media for EDOs: Building Two-Way Communication, with Kayla Sherry
Do you feel like you’re shouting into the void every time you post on social media? Today we’re sharing how you can transform your EDO’s approach from broadcasting information to creating meaningful two-way conversations that drive engagement *...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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36:41
E13 - Strategic Plans: Your EDO’s Roadmap or its Roadblock? With Alex Dadok
Is your EDO’s strategic plan a short-term to-do list? Or just a vague vision that leaves employees with more questions? In this episode, Alex Dadok and I discuss why having the courage to question assumptions – and take real action – is the key...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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46:48
E12 - Building Organizational Capacity, with Joi Cuartero Austin
You can take inspiration from other communities and things you learn at conferences, but you simply can’t copy/paste what others are doing…it just won’t work. And that’s where Main Street America comes in, to help historic downtowns re-energize...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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35:18
E11 - AI’s Role in Economic Development: Maintaining Humanity in Innovation, with Jonathan Aberman
Jonathan Aberman is an internationally recognized thought leader in technology and innovation. In this episode, we discuss Washington D.C.’s focus on the service economy (vs. Silicon Valley’s focus on product) and the delicate balance of utiliz...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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41:31
E10 – Expediting the RFI Process, with Dane Carlson
For the season finale of EDO Breakthrough, we’ve invited Dane Carlson to be this week’s guest! Dane is the Host of the Econ Dev Show podcast and CEO of Sitehunt. We discuss all things podcasting, how to deal with change in the workplace, and th...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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31:10
E09 – Integrating Arts & Culture for Economic Success, with Ash Hanson
Ash Hanson is a rural arts advocate and in this episode, we discuss the four themes of rural community development: Activate, Connect, Nurture, and Support.She also shares how arts & culture can intersect with economic development, h...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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44:43
E08 – Infrastructure & Inclusivity, with Clarence Hulse
Clarence Hulse is one of the few individuals in the industry who actively sought out a career in economic development. In this episode, we discuss lifelong learning, reverse mentorship, and the programs Michigan City is implementing to attract ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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32:42
E07 – Mentorship in Economic Development, with Sandy Castor
Sandy Castor shares her perspective on how transportation and economic development work together, professional development opportunities, and the power of mentorship. We also discuss “soft” skills, saying yes more, and her accidental path to ec...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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42:07
E06 – Leveraging an Economic Development Week to Tell Your EDOs Story, with Sandy Dubay
This week’s episode is all about Economic Development Week, and how you can leverage it to share your EDO’s story with your local community. Economic Developers rarely promote their efforts or teams, and this is the perfect opportunity to do th...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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16:02
E05 – Networking and Building Relationships in Economic Development, with Ebonie Atkins
Ebonie Atkins, Managing Director of Henrico Economic Development Authority, shares tips for networking and creating relationships. We also discuss business retention tactics, regionalism, partnerships, and teaching economic geography....
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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30:54
E04 – Leveraging Your Community’s Personality for Talent Attraction, with Amanda Ellis
Amanda Ellis, Editor-in-Chief for Livability.com, shares how EDOs can leverage storytelling when marketing their communities. In this episode, we discuss workforce trends like hybrid working and relocating, how AI will affect search engine opti...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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37:02
E03 - From EDO to SBDC: Zach Gilmore’s Support of Businesses
Now working as a partner of an EDO, Zach Gilmore shares what it’s like to transition from a typical economic development role to supporting businesses more directly, his perspective on challenges that businesses are facing today, and how econom...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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28:52
E02 – All Economic Developers are Marketers Too, with Maria Satira
Maria Satira, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greeneville ENC Alliance, shares tips for knowing your audience, being the first person in a role, and staying in the know about PR. In this episode, we dive deep into all things ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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46:27
E01 – Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development with Andy Donahue
Andy Donahue, State Director of the Minnesota SBDC, shares how entrepreneurship is central to the nuanced, blended relationship between SBDCs, higher education institutions, and economic development organizations. We also discuss regionalism, t...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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36:50