Podcast
DevelopThis! #621 Beyond the RFP: How Communities Win in Today’s Site Selection Landscape
In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise welcomes Andrew Ratchford, Vice President at Site Selection Group, for a wide-ranging conversation on how the role of economic developers is rapidly expanding—and what that means for communities trying to compete for investment and jobs. As a proud partner of the Site Selectors Guild, Develop This! continues its mission of connecting economic developers with the […]
DevelopThis! #614 Raising the Bar on Site Readiness: Standards, Speed, and Site Selection
In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Phil Schneider, Project Principal at Global Location Strategies (GLS), to unpack one of the most critical challenges facing communities today: site readiness. With more than 30 years of global consulting experience and nearly 400 site selection engagements across manufacturing, headquarters, R&D, technology, and shared services, Phil brings a site selector’s unfiltered perspective on […]
DevelopThis! #618 The Site Selectors Guild Explained: Standards, Strategy, and the Future of Site Selection
In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Samantha Jefferson, Managing Director of the Site Selectors Guild. This episode continues the relationship between the Develop This! Podcast and the Site Selectors Guild, offering listeners direct insight into how site selectors think, lead, and shape economic development outcomes. Samantha shares her unique career journey and how early leadership […]
DevelopThis! #611 From First Impression to Final Decision: The Art and Science of the Site Visit
Site visits can make—or break—an economic development project. In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise is joined by Larry Gigerich, Executive Managing Director of Ginovus and one of the nation’s most respected voices in site selection and economic development. With more than 30 years of experience across local and state government, nonprofit leadership, and the private sector, Larry has […]
DevelopThis! #610 Looking Ahead to 2026: Chris Lloyd – Economic Development Trends You Can’t Ignore
As Develop This! kicks off its Crystal Ball series for 2026, host Dennis Fraise is joined by Chris Lloyd, Senior Vice President and Director of Infrastructure and Economic Development at McGuireWoods Consulting, for a forward-looking conversation on the forces shaping the future of economic development in partnrship with the Site Selectors Guild. Chris brings a national perspective on how federal tax policy, state conformity, executive orders, […]
DevelopThis! #605 From Tariffs to Talent: What’s Shaping Corporate Location Decisions Today
In this episode of Develop This! — Host Dennis Fraise sits down with Tracey Hyatt Bosman, Managing Director at Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company and a leading expert in location economics and site selection, for a timely conversation about how tariffs, policy volatility, and global uncertainty are reshaping corporate investment decisions. This episode is presented in partnership with the Site Selectors Guild, highlighting how […]
DevelopThis! #595 Workforce at a Crossroads: Compete, Adapt, and Thrive — with Jay Garner, Site Selectors Guild
In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Jay Garner, President of Garner Economics and a founding member of the Site Selectors Guild, to tackle one of the biggest challenges in economic development today—the workforce crisis. Jay and Dennis dig into the realities behind the “silver tsunami” as millions of baby boomers near retirement, explore the widening skills gap, and discuss […]
DevelopThis! #588 Key Trends from the 2025 State of Site Selection Annual Report
In this episode of the Develop This! podcast, host Dennis Fraise dives into the newly released 2025 State of Site Selection annual report with guests Michelle Comerford from the Site Selectors Guild and Robyn Domber from Development Counsellors International. Together, they unpack the trends shaping facility location decisions and explore their implications for economic and community development professionals. From the growing weight […]
DevelopThis! #587 Inside the Site Selectors Guild: Insights for Economic Developers
In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast Dennis Fraise sits down with Michelle Comerford, Chair of the Site Selectors Guild, to discuss the Guild’s expanding role in shaping economic development strategies worldwide. Michelle shares the Guild’s mission, the rigorous vetting process for membership, and how its 72 members, located across the globe, bring unmatched expertise to […]
Episode 50 – Water Resources in Economic Growth and Development
Larry Gigerich, Executive Managing Director at Ginovus, talks about this important natural resource's role in economic development.
Episode 49 – How to Effectively Position Your Community in the Post-Pandemic Era
Dennis Donovan, Principal at Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting, talks to Rick Weddle about how economic developers can reassess their competitive advantages as the world emerges from the pandemic.
Episode 48 – Diversity and Inclusion as a Business Imperative in Site Location
In this episode, host Rick Weddle speaks with Bob Hess, Vice Chairman of Newmark Global Corporate Services and practice lead for Global Site Selection, about diversity and inclusion as a business imperative in corporate site location.