The Iowa Lakes Corridor is conducting 11% of all BR&E visits in the state of Iowa. In this episode, Golden Shovel's Bethany Quinn is joined by Curt Strouth, President & CEO, and Joanne Follon, Business Retention and Workforce Partnership Coordinator for an engaging discussion on BR&E best practices, how to develop a good program and the joy of making an impact. Learn more about their BR&E program here. #BRE #BusinessRetentionExpansion #IowaLakesCorridor

In advance of Mid-America EDC's Best Practices Conference we sat down with Erin Sparks, Economic Development Lead at Great River Energy and 2nd Vice President for Mid-America EDC. Erin shares a preview of what economic developers can expect to learn at the conference, along with the fun activities that are planned. She also shares invaluable insights from her journey in economic development, from her early days at CETA (Community and Economic Development Associates) to her current role supporting 26 member-owner cooperatives across Minnesota.

Erin discusses the importance of adopting a consulting mindset to remain agile and responsive, even when resources are lean. We also dive into Great River Energy’s Data Center Site Assessment Program—a groundbreaking initiative that sets the standard for site readiness and has opened doors to new economic opportunities. Whether you're an economic developer, community leader, or just curious about how strategic thinking can transform rural communities, this episode has something for you.

Lindsay Rubeniuk is passionate about growing rural communities. Her work in the Canadian Prairies has been transformative. Listen to discover how you can implement an immigration talent attraction strategy.

Suzie Kenner is the Executive Director of the Tourism Division of the Devils Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (and of the Chamber). Since 2009, she has been promoting the City of Devils Lake, mostly in the leisure market, as a top hunting and fishing destination, growing tourism to become the #2 economic driver for the community. 

She joined us on Shovel Talk to share actionable tips and strategies that community leaders can use to grow their tourism sector. Listen to learn how to execute a media event, analyze tourism data, and grow your primary tourism sectors. 

Rachel Kreikemeier Executive Director of Gage Area Growth Enterprise (NGage) joins GSA Executive VP, Bethany Quinn, to discuss the innovative ways NGage is building childcare capacity in Gage County, Nebraska. From Babysitting Clinics to forming a nonprofit, NGage is leading in the childcare space. Listen to learn from Rachel and their organization. 

Justin Sommer, Executive Director of Preble County Development Partnership, joined Bethany Quinn, Executive Vice President of Golden Shovel Agency, on Shovel Talk to discuss 2024 priorities and how economic developers can make an impact in their communities. 

Justin began his career in economic development on the workforce side and worked for the City of Piqua and the private sector before becoming the Executive Director in Preble County. His diverse backgrounds prepared him to ‘solve the puzzle’ and tackle big challenges like developing sites, building residential homes, and attracting more workers - all goals he has for 2024. All of those projects take time and persistence. “I wanted to be a baseball player when I was a kid. If someone had a .300 batting average they are likely to get into the hall of fame because they’re really good. But that also means that they missed 70% of the time,” said Justin. “In economic development, we are going to be told no a lot. You need to keep stepping up to the plate and taking a swing, because eventually you’ll make contact.”

Looking for new ways to tell your community’s story? Amanda Ellis, Editor and Chief of Livability has ideas and the data to back them up. Hear Amanda’s insights and learn about her journey into economic development through the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. Oh, and did you know that she is a ballet dancer?

2023 was an exciting year for the Golden Shovel team. Our last episode of 2023 features Aaron Brossoit (CEO), Bethany Quinn (Vice President of Strategy & Content Development), Darren Varley (Vice President of Client Retention & Creative Services), Warren Westcott (Vice President of Sales),Greg Kolbjornsen (PlaceVR Executive Producer) and John Marshall (President) talking about what was 2023 and what will be 2024. Enjoy and Happy Holidays from the entire Golden Shovel team!

Listen as the Grapevine Economic Development team shares about landing the 4th location for MeowWolf, how the TEXRail Commuter Rail has transformed Grapevine and their journey in starting a podcast.

Catherine George, the Economic Development Specialist for the North River Commission, joined GSA's CEO, Aaron Brossoit on ShovelTalk, to discuss hyper-local economic development strategies. Located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, their approach encourages entrepreneurship, supports small businesses, and reaches out to the non-English speaking community. Their success demonstrates the power of promoting hyper-local growth, even if you live in a big city!

Bob Ahlfeld from St. Lawrence County IDA shares his insights on how upstate New York is the ideal location for renewable energy expansion and companies looking to do business across the U.S./Canadian border. Oh, and Bob's been a Broadcaster for NCAA Division I Hockey for the past 25 years with fun stories to tell!

Does your community have empty downtown buildings? Are you struggling to attract investment? Take a page out of NeTia Bauman’s book and focus on the entrepreneurs in your own backyard. Since becoming CEO of Greater Fergus Falls, NeTia and her team have helped over 200 entrepreneurs start or grow their business. Their downtown went from over 20 vacant storefronts to four in three years. The best part? These entrepreneurs are creating jobs and larger investments are rolling in. Listen for best practices you can use in your community. 

In this episode, Bethany Quinn, President of Golden Shovel, sits down with Marvin Price, Executive Vice President of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, to discuss how strategic vision, perseverance, and regional collaboration led to over $16 billion in capital investment and 10,000 new jobs in just four years. Marvin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Greensboro secured the Toyota project to their megasite, expanded its aerospace sector, and is growing life sciences. Their story provides that economic development is a long game—but one worth playing. This conversation is a must-listen for economic developers looking for inspiration and actionable insights on securing transformative investments for their communities.

2022 was an exciting year for the Golden Shovel team. Our last episode of 2022 features Aaron Brossoit (CEO), Bethany Quinn (Vice President of Strategy & Content Development), Darren Varley (Vice President of Client Retention & Creative Services), Warren Westcott (Vice President of Sales) and Greg Kolbjornsen (PlaceVR Executive Producer) talking about what was 2022 and what will be 2023. Enjoy and Happy Holidays from the entire Golden Shovel team!

Shannon Landauer, CEcD, is the President & CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor and the immediate past President of the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI).

Shannon champions mentorship and is a fierce advocate for young economic developers looking to grow within the industry. On this podcast she explores ways to engage economic developers in mentorship programs.

Having started her career working for a small rural community, Shannon understands the power of community and regional partnerships. She advocates for a regional approach to economic development as a way to make rural America more competitive. "One community may not have a technical and community college while another may lack a large industrial park. But together, they have what companies are looking for. We win by pooling our resources." 

In episode three of the remote worker mini-series you'll meet Tayler Gill (aka "Traveling Tayler"), a remote worker, travel coach and trip facilitator for Hacker Paradise. Amanda met Tayler through Hacker Paradise, a company that curates experiences for remote workers in communities across the world. Listen as Amanda chats with Tayler about what Hacker Paradise looks for when scouting new communities and businesses to work with, all about Youtube, her coaching businesses and of course, remote work!

Learn more about "Traveling Tayler" on social media!

https://travelingtayler.com/
https://travelingtayler.com/instagram/
https://www.youtube.com/c/travelingtayler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayler-gill/

In the second episode of the remote worker podcast mini-series, Amanda introduces you to Adim Ofunne who is an entrepreneur and business owner from Nigeria. Adim shares his journey to owning two very different businesses, one being a product based business he started mid-COVID using Kickstarter. Listen in to hear about the successful crowdfunding campaign and his experiences working remotely.

Links:
https://nativescards.com/

Alicia Wilson is the first Vice President for Economic Development at John Hopkins University and John Hopkins Health System. As the largest employer in the City of Baltimore and state of Maryland, John Hopkins recognized the impact the organization could play on the economic development of the city of Baltimore specifically. Creating this department and hiring Wilson is a historic first for the organization.

In the first episode of our new remote worker podcast mini-series, Amanda introduces you to Alexis Ramos, remote worker and TikToker from the US who lives and works abroad. Alexis shares a bit about current conditions and humanitarian efforts in Eastern Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

We dive into her professional background, what brought her to remote and travel life, and pros and cons for companies who employ remote workers and digital nomads. Don’t miss her tips and tricks for remote work, travel and TikTok for business. She also shares some of the most important things a community can provide to attract remote workers and of course, a few fun travel stories she has experienced with Amanda and other remote workers she has met along her journey.

Find Alexis on Social Media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@tabumoney
https://www.youtube.com/c/tabumoney 

Humanitarian/Donation Efforts for Ukraine:

Razom for Ukraine (Ukrainian NGO):
https://razomforukraine.org/razom-emergency-response/ 

Nova Ukraina:
https://novaukraine.org/donate/ 

UNICEF:
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/conflict-ukraine-pose-immediate-threat-children 

Polska Akcja Humanitarna (Polish NGO helping displaced persons in Ukraine and in Poland):
https://www.pah.org.pl/en/ 

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are matching up to $3 million USD for humanitarian relief for those who have fled Ukraine in Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and surrounding countries:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-ukraine

Video can reach your audience in powerful ways. In this podcast, Greg Kolbjornsen walks our audience through developments in video and the metaverse and how economic developers can use these powerful tools. We also take a trip down memory lane, hearing hilarious stories from video shoots throughout the world. Listen to discover what Greg's most adventurous shot was (and how he wasn't wearing a proper harness!). 

Gerri Lawing knows what it takes to further complicated development goals at a regional level. As the economic developer for GVEC, Gerri promotes growth in a large territory that includes rural and urban areas of Texas. Hear her insights and learn how working with Golden Shovel has made it easier for Gerri to get the job done! 

As a passionate advocate for his community and tribe, Arvin Trujillo builds bridges between a wide group of stakeholders and communities. His approach to economic development is collaborative and inclusive - something that has made it possible for historic agreements to be reached and projects to be completed. Learn from his strategic approach to community building that is both optimistic and forward-thinking. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to collaborate on a broader scale or promote a regional mindset. 

Sara Harris is the next generation of economic developers and she's tackling a legacy challenge - transitioning an energy economy into one that is diverse and attractive to younger residents. Her strategies, and the collaborative efforts of the MDC, are working. A historic oil and gas community, Midland is undergoing a transformation with notable achievements that include being recognized as a startup hub and developing a Spaceport Business Park.

Brent Christensen, President/CEO of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, fondly remembers tinkering as a child in the offices of Christensen Communications Company in Madelia. Much has changed over his 30-year career, but his passion for bringing people together remains constant. Tune in to hear his vision for the future of telecommunications and the crucial role local providers can play in economic development. His inclusive approach emphasizes community involvement, developing strategic partnerships, and maintaining the industry’s collaborative spirit.

Lisa Hurley is an award-winning economic developer who has made her mark in rural Nebraska. Her forward-thinking ideas have put her at the forefront of economic development innovation. She was an early adopter of new technology like virtual reality videos and integrated social media campaigns. Her strategies have resulted in economic growth and job creation, but in this episode of Shovel Talk, Lisa takes the conversation one step further by examining what it means to care for yourself while you care for your community. It's time to get real with Lisa Hurley. 

Steve Grove, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, joins the Golden Shovel team on this episode of Shovel Talk. Formerly with Google and YouTube, Commissioner Grove has a unique perspective on what it takes to build a system that is equitable and accessible by all. That mindset is at the focus of his department’s efforts to spur economic recovery and growth in Minnesota. He shares strategies, insights, and recommendations for how leaders can work to build an economy that works for everyone. Oh! And he also played Shovel Toss. You’ll never believe his answers to Amanda’s questions!

Mark Lautman is a visionary who foretold today's workforce shortages in his 2011 book, When The Boomers Bail. As an economic architect who led the development of master planned communities, Lautman takes a data-driven approach to community building, job creation and talent attraction. Learn about his transformative approach to economic development and how it can be implemented by economic developers throughout the country. 

Owning and running a 'public house' has always been a dream for this successful couple. Get to know Tom and Molly as they share their journey to (or back in Molly's case) a historic East St. Paul neighborhood, opening Brunson's Pub in 2017. You will also learn about their community involvement, the origin of some of their famous menu items and even a review of some high school fashion choices.

From the smallest kid in school to the largest presence in Pflugerville's economic development, Amy Madison's journey is one of grit, constant determination and the refusal to take "no" for an answer. Join us to learn more about Amy's journey, how her refusal to accept "no" has won dollars and projects for her community and to hear funny stories from her childhood and past economic development conferences. You won't want to miss it! 

The road to economic development is sometimes long and winding, or in this case it may just be a yellow brick road. Chuck Sexton has always loved to perform. From being invited to audition for Julliard, to becoming a radio personality and playing the Cowardly Lion in theater productions of the Wizard of Oz, Chuck knows how to entertain and how to put on a show. Those same skills have been quite useful when serving as the President & CEO of One East Kentucky - a regional economic development organization. "When people think of Appalachia they hear banjos playing in their head but I've never seen any banjos. Instead, we have a skilled workforce and companies using the latest technologies," said Chuck. Now, he's using traditional video, virtual reality and virtual tours to put on the biggest show of all - the one that gets people to see the truth about East Kentucky and the people who call it home. Click to hear more, including an impression and song from Chuck's theater days!

Meet Aniki Allen, the inspiring Founder and Creator of Ice Cream Bowties. This teen youngpreneur is blazing the trail for other aspiring entrepreneurs. Listen to hear how an eight-year-old playing with legos turned a hobby into a business, and a business into a movement. Through the Youngpreneur Workshops Aniki hosts with his mother and co-founder, Marsha, they are showing kids that it is possible to pursue their dreams, start a business, and forge their own path through entrepreneurship. This form of youth empowerment is inspiring and can become part of any economic developers strategy to cultivate the next generation of business leaders in their communities. 

Meet the COO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Ryan Tanke. Ryan shares his career path from selling tickets to unpaid intern to NBA executive. Ryan's story is a testament to perseverance and 'stick-to-itiveness' in pursuit of a dream. Also learn about what helped shape Ryan as adolescent and he also happily accepts the role of guinea pig for a new ShovelTalk game.

Meet the two inspiring minds behind NetWork Kansas, a supportive and resourceful network for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Steve Radley and Erik Pedersen share their own journey in entrepreneurship, from the failures to the successes, and of course, starting NetWork Kansas. We’ll find out how they spend their time “off the clock” (because who doesn’t need an excuse to go to Vegas) and they reveal the top three action items that any aspiring entrepreneur needs to know and can start today to set out on the path to entrepreneurial success.

Visit the NetWork Kansas website: https://www.networkkansas.com/ 

Bethany and Amanda follow the journey of Garry Clark, President and CEO of the Greater Fremont, Nebraska Development Council, published author and public speaker. Listen as he shares his experience growing up in the projects of Washington D.C. and his career path that lead him to rural Nebraska. Garry shares his motto of resiliency through COVID-19 and advice for tackling fear. Stick around until the end to hear the story behind his staple, everyday neckwear - his bowtie.

Join Chris Suozzi, aka Coach Swazz, Executive Vice President of Business and Workforce Development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), as he shares his innovative approach to engaging youth in high-demand careers. From the successful "GLOW With Your Hands" event to youth apprenticeship programs, Chris offers practical strategies for economic developers to partner with local businesses and schools, creating a strong talent pipeline. Learn how early hands-on experiences in STEM, skilled trades, and advanced manufacturing are shaping the next generation of the workforce.

Bethany and Amanda interview Horton Hobbs, VP, Economic Development at Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Find out what it was like growing up around notable scientists, how he ended up working in economic development and how his team has handled the pandemic. Horton shares advice he’s received along his career path and even gives us a glimpse into his family life.

A 500-acre mixed-use master plan takes years of planning and partnering with diverse organizations and stakeholders. Brian Rademacher, Director of Economic Development at the City of Ormond Beach, was the right person to shepherd Ormond Crossings through this process. A strong advocate for strategic planning and regional partnerships, with a background in transportation, Brian shares his unique perspective and suggestions for economic developers looking to increase their impact.

Michael Darger has spent the last 25 years at the University of Minnesota, the last 21 of which has been focused on Business Retention & Expansion, and lately Business Succession and Transition (BST). In this episode of ShovelTalk, Michael shares insights from their original research on what business owners care about when making a transition and who they are having transition conversations with. 

He shares recommendations on how economic developers can become part of these conversations and help keep businesses within their local communities.

Additional, free resources are available through the University of Minnesota.

In this episode of ShovelTalk, Aaron Brossoit, CEO of Golden Shovel Agency has an in-depth conversation with Eric Canada, a well known thought leader in the economic development field and author of Economic Development for the Team. Eric shares key insights from his book, emphasizing how teamwork and collaboration are critical to driving community success. Whether you're an economic developer or a community leader, this episode offers valuable guidance on fostering partnerships, overcoming challenges, and building stronger, more resilient communities.

Donald Iannone is a professor who has created economic development strategies for over forty communities. His latest book explores what it means to achieve the American Dream for diverse generations and people, how economic developers can help them to achieve it, and the foundational importance of democracy and freedom. Then ask yourself - how do you define the American Dream?

How do you become a pilot? How can a local airport become a tourist destination? Join us for a conversation with Kyle Wensmann as he presents strategies community leaders can implement to create general aviation opportunities. 

Inclusive economic development means creating opportunities for everyone in the community to build wealth. But, how do we do that as economic developers? NGIN's Senior Advisor, Cuevas Peacock shares his insights and information on a grant program that can help your community to increase capacity and bring about transformative change.

Christophe Trahan shares his team’s approach to BR&E, why relationships matter and how deep conversations are producing economic opportunities for local businesses and the foreign companies growing in this Northeast Texas community. Listen for Christophe’s tips on how communities of any size can use BR&E to create a positive economic impact.  

Fort Worth has just become the 11th largest city in the U.S.—surpassing Austin—and it’s not slowing down. In this episode, Robert Allen, President & CEO of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, shares how the city is balancing big-league business attraction with strong support for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and residents. From aerospace and logistics to film, TV, and vibrant downtown corridors, Fort Worth’s privately funded, nimble approach to economic development offers a blueprint for communities everywhere. Robert also opens up about his path into the field from the Governor's office to leading statewide economic development efforts, the importance of civic collaboration, and the lessons he’s learned in making cities both competitive and livable.

What happens when a former TV news anchor trades the bright lights of the city for the charm of rural America? In this episode, we sit down with Cory Hepola, host of the hit docuseries My Town, to explore the heart, hustle, and hidden treasures of small-town life.

Cory shares his personal journey from dreaming of the big city to rediscovering the magic of small communities—and how My Town is rewriting the narrative about rural America. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, powerful examples of local pride in action, and tips on how communities can catch the eye of national media.

Bonus: My Town is now accepting applications for its next season—find out what it takes to get your town on the map!