Podcast
Develop This! #701 What Companies Really Look for During Site Visits
What does it take for a community to make the right impression during a company site visit? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise talks with Nicholette Ross, a principal at Global Location Strategies, about what companies and site selection consultants are really looking for when they visit a community. Nicolette explains why preparation […]
Develop This! #700 What Economic Developers Need to Know About FDI
What does it take for communities to compete for investment in an increasingly competitive global economy? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise talks with foreign direct investment expert Andreas Dressler about how communities can attract and benefit from FDI. Andreas explains why not all foreign investment is equally beneficial and why communities need […]
Develop This! #694 The Data Center Debate: Opportunity, Opposition, and Community Impact
Why does everyone hate data centers? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise talks with Chris Lloyd of McGuireWoods Consulting LLC to explore the growing debate surrounding data centers and what they mean for communities. The conversation examines why public opinion around data centers has shifted, from excitement over investment and economic growth to […]
Develop This! #685 How Communities Can Turn Their Assets into Competitive Advantages
How can communities identify their greatest strengths and turn them into a competitive advantage? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Jeanette Goldsmith, President of Strategic Development Group, to discuss how communities can build a smarter asset strategy that attracts investment and supports long-term economic growth. Jeanette explains that successful economic […]
Develop This! #684 Why Leadership Is the Ultimate Economic Development Strategy
What separates communities that thrive from those that struggle to attract lasting investment? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Gray Swoope, President & CEO of Vision First Advisors, to discuss why leadership—not incentives—is the most important driver of economic development success. Gray shares lessons from decades of experience helping communities navigate complex projects, explaining […]
Develop This! #682 Inside Site Selection: What Communities Must Do to Win Projects
What really happens before a company announces a major investment—and how do communities make the shortlist? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Seth Martindale, Vice Chairman at CBRE, to explore the behind-the-scenes world of site selection and what it takes for communities to compete for major economic development projects. Seth explains the extensive analysis […]
Develop This! #673 Navigating Uncertainty in Site Selection and Facility Investment
What does the future hold for facility investment in an increasingly uncertain economy? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Jerry Szatan, a veteran site selection consultant with more than 35 years of experience, about the challenges and opportunities shaping investment decisions today. Jerry shares why many companies are taking a more cautious approach to […]
Develop This! #664 30 Years of Site Selection Lessons from Matt Szuhaj
How is technology changing the way communities compete for investment and talent? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Matt Szuhaj, independent consultant, to explore more than three decades of change in site selection and economic development. Drawing on 30 years of experience, Matt shares how location strategy has evolved from a focus on cost […]
Develop This! #662 Why Trust, Talent, and Infrastructure Drive Site Selection Success
What separates communities that win major investments from those that get left behind? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Tess Fay, Vice President of Global Location Strategies, to explore the increasingly complex world of site selection and the factors shaping the future of U.S. manufacturing. Tess shares how companies evaluate locations through the lens of […]
Develop This! #649 The New Rules of Site Selection: Power, Risk, and the Future of Industrial Location Strategy
What are the new rules shaping where major industrial projects choose to land? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Courtney Dunbar, Director of Site Selection at Burns & McDonnell, to unpack how technology, geopolitics, and infrastructure demands are reshaping modern site selection. Courtney breaks down how today’s location decisions are being influenced far beyond traditional cost […]
Develop This! #644 Beyond Cost: What’s Really Driving Global Site Selection Today
What’s really driving global location decisions today? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Johan Beukema of BCI Global to unpack the shifting landscape of site selection and investment strategy. From AI and data centers to supply chain resilience, Johan explains how companies are rethinking where they invest—and why. As decentralization accelerates, talent and strong ecosystems are becoming […]
Develop This! #641 The War for Talent Is Over—Now What? A Global Perspective with Patsy Van Hove
In this episode of Develop This!, we go global with Patsy Van Hove of IBM Consulting and Plant Location International to unpack the evolving world of site selection and economic development. From shifting workforce dynamics to the growing importance of international collaboration, Patsy shares why talent—not geography—is now the driving force behind location decisions. You’ll hear how communities can stay […]