The SEDC Podcast

The Southern Economic Development Council
  • 4.0 (2)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Monthly

The official Podcast of the Southern Economic Development Council. Tune in for fun, informative, and sometimes off-the-wall conversations with #AmericanSouth leaders.

  1. 1d ago

    LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Jeff Vanhook and Christina Isbell

    Live from the Southern Economic Development Council 2026 Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin examines regionalism, infrastructure, and rapid industrial growth in conversations with two local leaders. The episode begins with Jeff Van Hook, CEO and Executive Director of the RGL Regional Industrial Development Authority in Kentucky, who outlines how combining the resources of Rockcastle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties amplifies regional influence and expands the area labor shed to 1.2 million people. Van Hook details the development of a 200-acre mega-site secured through local collaboration and strategic funding, highlighting how regional partnerships transform displacement from legacy industries into advanced manufacturing and automotive opportunities. The discussion then shifts to Haskell, Texas, with Mayor Christina Isbell sharing insights on managing unprecedented industrial momentum as a rural community of 3,100 residents prepares for five incoming data centers. Isbell candidly addresses the immediate impacts on local infrastructure, housing shortages, and spiking rental costs, alongside the long-term benefits of a 60 percent increase in sales tax revenue and significant business expansion. Emphasizing intergovernmental transparency and county-city communication, Isbell provides practical lessons on negotiating with major tech developers, modernizing zoning ordinances, and proactively engaging citizens when hyper-growth arrives in small towns. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

  2. 3d ago

    LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Adam Perschke, Robert Long, Kelly Forbes

    Recorded live on location at the Southern Economic Development Council 2026 Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin speaks with regional leaders and industry innovators shaping the economic development landscape. The episode opens with Adam Perschke, CEO of Incenti, who breaks down how their EDOS operating system and new Insights benchmarking platform centralize operations, streamline project workflows, and unlock historical data for economic developers. The conversation underscores the growing role of automation and data-driven intelligence across modern development organizations. The focus then turns to regional strategy and community growth with economic development directors Robert Long and Kelly Forbes. Long details Chester County, South Carolina's major foreign direct investment wins, capitalizing on dual-rail connectivity, robust utilities, and mega-site availability to secure large-scale manufacturing and industrial projects. Forbes follows with insights from the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation in Kentucky, explaining how lean local teams leverage rapid permitting, high logistical access, new state-funded industrial site expansions, and active engagement in SEDC's milestone 80th anniversary initiatives to attract long-term investment. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

  3. Aug 11

    Season 3 Episode 8 | Ron Bertasi

    In this episode, Matt Tackett welcomes Ron Bertasi, co-founder and CEO of GIS WebTech. Bertasi shares insights from his career path, the growth of GIS WebTech over the past decade, and how technology has shifted from following location trends to actively driving site selection. The discussion explores the competitive advantages of the American South, the impact of AI on the profession, and a preview of the upcoming Technology Summit for Economic Developers in Atlanta.The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

  4. Jul 21

    Season 3 Episode 7 | Dr. Joann Massey

    In this episode, host Matt Tackett sits down with Dr. Joann Massey, President and CEO of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) of Memphis and Shelby County. Dr. Massey shares her deeply personal connection to her hometown and discusses how EDGE is leveraging Memphis’s unmatched global logistics assets—including the Mississippi River, five Class 1 railroads, and the primary FedEx hub—to drive advanced manufacturing, supply chain efficiency, and major technology investments, such as the xAI data center. Tune in to hear how Memphis is transforming global advantages into localized prosperity through its motto: "Powering progress through partnerships." The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

  5. Jul 14

    Season 3 Episode 6 | Trevor Pawl

    Join host Matt Tackett as he connects with Trevor Paul, the newly appointed CEO of One Louisville, to unpack the massive economic momentum happening across the Commonwealth. In this episode, Trevor shares insights from his transition into the regional economic development sector and discusses what it takes to guide a major community organization through structural growth. From historic capital investments by Ford and GE Appliances to building robust public-private partnerships, discover how Louisville is positioning itself to be a premier hub for modern industrial innovation and long-term career opportunities. The SEDC Podcast is Sponsored by Insyteful.

  6. Jun 11

    LIVE from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit - Hunter Boyd & Chris Rankin

    On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews highlighting regional product development, infrastructure alignment, and competitive business attraction. The opening interview features Hunter Boyd, Executive Director of the Northeast Kentucky Economic Development Authority, who discusses the strategic development of shovel-ready sites and multi-modal logistics hubs. Boyd shares insights on how regional partnerships and utility preparation are transforming acreage to attract major new industrial and commercial investment. The focus then shifts to the High Plains region of Texas. Chris Rankin of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance details localized strategies for workforce development, industrial expansion, and corporate recruitment. Rankin outlines how a strong regional talent pipeline and proactive community marketing allow a mid-sized market to successfully secure high-impact projects. Together, these conversations demonstrate the targeted, infrastructure-first approaches used throughout the Southern Economic Development Council network to foster resilient economies and win capital investments. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

  7. Jun 8

    LIVE from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit - Chris Webb, Max Stewart, Todd Tucker

    On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews highlighting localized strategies for business attraction, regional marketing, and infrastructure development. The opening interview features Chris Webb, Business Attraction Manager at Plano Economic Development, who discusses how to navigate corporate relocations in highly competitive suburban markets. Webb shares insights on leveraging a community's tech talent pipeline and existing corporate base to win headquarters and high-impact regional operations projects. The focus then shifts to distinct organizational models and regional retention practices across the South. Todd Tucker, Economic Development Director for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, details how a unified partnership between a county economic development corporation and a local chamber of commerce streamlines industrial recruitment in North Carolina. Finally, Max Stewart, CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corp, breaks down the advanced manufacturing landscape in South Carolina, outlining tactical approaches to site constraints, automated space efficiency, and long-term utility planning. Together, these conversations demonstrate the targeted strategies deployed throughout the Southern Economic Development Council's footprint to secure major capital investments. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

  8. Jun 4

    LIVE from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit - Susan Sankey, Amy Fesser, Ryan Egly

    On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews evaluating rural development strategies and community-level economic alignment. The opening interview features Susan Sankey, Executive Director of the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation, who outlines the unique landscape of industrial recruitment in West Texas. Sankey shares tactical insights on how smaller municipalities can leverage local assets and coordinate land preparation to remain highly competitive for emerging industrial projects. The focus then shifts to the regional workforce and diversification strategies being deployed across other sectors of the South. Amy Fesser, Executive Director of Borger Inc., details how specialized community marketing and targeting industrial expansions can stimulate growth in competitive manufacturing corridors. Finally, Ryan Egly, President and CEO of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, breaks down the fundamentals of rural economic stability and regional infrastructure partnerships. Together, these conversations demonstrate the targeted, collaborative approaches used throughout the Southern Economic Development Council network to secure new capital investments. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The official Podcast of the Southern Economic Development Council. Tune in for fun, informative, and sometimes off-the-wall conversations with #AmericanSouth leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    The Southern Economic Development Council
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Southern Economic Development Council
  • Show Website
    The SEDC Podcast

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