Breaking Down Barriers

David Oliver sits down with Rhonda Ladig, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), to challenge common assumptions about rural innovation. Rhonda shares how CORI's 43 member communities and 101+ tech startups span healthcare, aerospace, biotech, cybersecurity, and outdoor recreation with over 10% of ventures already AI-driven. The conversation digs into how CORI measu...

Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the state's largest generalist farm and ranch organization, with a presence in all 77 counties, runs one of the most surprising and effective rural entrepreneurship programs in the country. What started with census data showing rural population decline turned into a state-designated rural business accelerator, a $5.75M rural venture fund, and a statewide technical assistance...

In this landmark episode of Breaking Down Barriers , EIC CEO David Ponraj sits down with one of the most influential voices in economic development—Nathan Ohle, President & CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). With 100 years of history and a pivotal centennial celebration on the horizon, Nathan shares what's driven him across two decades in the field, where the profess...

In this episode, EIC CEO David Ponraj, VP of Clients Molly King, and Associate Product Owner David Oliver break down what it actually takes to build a technical assistance (TA) program that serves entrepreneurs well and produces the data story your funders need to see. From intake form design to impact tracking, this is a practical, field-tested guide for economic development organizations, SBDCs,...

What separates a truly impactful cohort program from one that's just filling seats? In this episode, hosts Taylor Sherbine and David Oliver sit down with Karen Collins, Director of Programs at LAUNCH Chattanooga, to explore what it actually takes to build, run, and sustain cohort-based entrepreneurship programs that meet real community needs. Karen brings a rare perspective: she's sat on both side...

In this episode of Breaking Down Barriers , host David sits down with LeSean Shaw, co-founder of Empowered AI and Actual Reality Technologies, and a Toledo, Ohio native on a mission to make artificial intelligence accessible, equitable, and community-centered. LeSean shares the powerful "bean in a bowl of rice" lesson passed down from his great-grandmother—a metaphor that shaped his drive to creat...

What does it actually take to run a high-tech incubator in a public-private partnership — and make it work at scale? In this episode, Molly King is joined by Taylor Sherbine from the EIC team, plus Paula Macpherson, Executive Director of Velocity in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and Meghan Hubbs, Velocity's Small Business Program Manager, for a candid conversation about what it looks like to build,...

In honor of National Small Business Week and Economic Development Week 2026, David Ponraj sits down with Tarsha Hearns of Economic Growth Strategies for a candid, practical conversation about what it really means to put entrepreneurs at the center of economic development strategy. Tarsha brings over two decades of ecosystem-building experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond, and she does...

In this episode of Breaking Down Barriers , host David Ponraj sits down with Erik Reader of Reader Area Development to celebrate National Small Business Week, Economic Development Week, and the 100th anniversary of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Erik brings 15+ years of on-the-ground experience in community and economic development— from running a chamber/tourism hybrid org...

What if the real problem with small business lending isn't the banks, but that nobody's actually built the system around the business owner? In this conversation, David sits down with Charles Kollo, Head of Innovation at BBIF, a Florida-based CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution), for a candid conversation about why the $200 billion community lending ecosystem is ripe for disruption,...

What does it actually take to build a pitch competition that changes lives and keeps founders in their hometown? In this episode, Molly King, VP of Clients at Economic Impact Catalyst, sits down with Cenzo Caronna and Shivang Thakor of STartUP Northshore to pull back the curtain on the Inspire Startup Slam, one of the Gulf South's largest pitch competitions, running out of a 100-year-old theater i...

In our season seven opener, host David Ponraj, CEO of Economic Impact Catalyst, sits down with Sharon Nichols (State Director) and Derek Stephens (Assistant State Director) of the Mississippi SBDC Network to explore how one of the country's most forward-thinking SBDC networks is embracing AI and technology to deepen their impact on small business owners. The conversation covers the evolution of th...

I this episode, we're bringing you recent panel discussion on how Miami-Dade County is building a more inclusive '305 economy.' Our guests, Anthony Bonamy and Manny Cid share practical strategies for connecting entrepreneurs to the right resources, eliminating blind spots in support systems, and creating responsive programs through initiatives like Strive305Hub that truly serve local businesses an...

What happens when you create a comprehensive support network that serves nearly 4.3 million small businesses across an entire state? In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj interviews Dr. Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, about the remarkable impact of California's SCALE network—a groundbreaking mesh network approach...

David Ponraj speaks with Victor Hwang, founder of Right to Start, about how our policy framework for entrepreneurship is stuck in the 20th century. They discuss the barriers entrepreneurs face, the effects on a society's wealth creation through entrepreneurship, and how the new “America the Entrepreneurial” campaign is mobilizing communities nationwide ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Lear...

In this episode of Breaking Down Barriers , EIC CEO David Ponraj is joined by Charles Kollo, fintech leader and Head of Innovation at BBF Capital, to explore the urgent need for innovation in the financial system. From immigrant entrepreneurship to the role of AI in capital deployment, they dig into why traditional banking fails many small businesses—and how community-first, tech-enabled solutions...

In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj sits down with Michael Bevis , the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the City of Denver, and founder and CEO of Cool Skins. They delve into Denver's unique and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, which David and Michael recognize as the "entrepreneurship capital of the United States." The discussion highlights...

In this special 7-year anniversary edition of the Breaking Down Barriers podcast, the senior leadership team at Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC) reflects on its journey from a single founder’s vision to a growing, mission-driven organization. Founder David Ponraj, alongside Chief Operating Officer McKenzie Dial-Fritscher and VP of Client Experience Molly King, revisits the early days of EIC, the les...

Join host David Ponraj as he dives deep into California's groundbreaking initiatives for small business development with Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). In this eye-opening episode, we explore the state's innovative technical assistance program and its mission to democratize access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs. From success st...

Join Kim Vogel, Chief Strategy Officer at Economic Impact Catalyst, as she hosts an enlightening episode of Breaking Down Barriers with Melvin Coleman, President & CEO of the Atlanta Black Chambers. In this engaging conversation, Melvin discusses the innovative initiatives driving economic growth and support for Black-owned businesses in Atlanta. Discover how the Atlanta Black Chambers is maki...

This episode of the Economic Impact Catalyst podcast delves into the Wisconsin Economic Development Network (WiDEN). Host David Ponraj is joined by Marjorie Rucker, Executive Director of The Business Council, Inc., and Chair of the Ethnic and Diverse Business Coalition, along with Dr. Bri Robins, Director of Community Development at Economic Impact Catalyst. Together, they explore WiDEN's statewid...

This is a special edition of the Breaking Down Barriers Podcast. We've flipped the script and are interviewing our Founder and CEO, David Ponraj as we celebrate Economic Impact Catalyst's 6th Anniversary.

Join Kim Vogel from Economic Impact Catalyst as she interviews Jessica Eilerman, the founder of Forward Communities Consulting Group (FCCG), in this insightful episode on public-private partnerships (PPPs). Jessica Eilerman brings a wealth of experience to the discussion, with 18 years in public service, non-profit, and association management. Following her recent move to the Greater St. Louis are...

In this episode of Breaking Down Barriers, we welcome Gisele Hamm, MA program director for the MAPPING the Future of Your Community strategic visioning and planning program at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University and Chris Merrett Dean for Innovation and Economic Development and the Director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois U...

As part of the American Rescue Plan, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 is providing billions to support small businesses and drive innovation across the country. In this interactive panel discussion, Host David Ponraj is joined by economic development leaders from California, Iowa and Mississippi as they share how they are designing inclusive, statewide Technical Assistance pr...