The Economic Pulse: Insights for Success

For our final weekly episode before the Economic Pulse transforms to a monthly podcast, producer Joel Natalie interviewed host and Erie County Redevelopment Authority CEO Tina Mengine about the current $100 million investments and projects across our home county. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

On this episode, your hosts and producer Joel Natalie discussed a broad range of economic development topics from talent, to metros that are advancing, to access to capital. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts welcome Brianna Mosier, Executive Director of Flint & Genesee Education & Talent. Brianna shares her experience in overseeing programs designed to develop, retain, and attract talent to Flint & Genesee County, MI. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts focused on the Alabama Community College System and its unique approach to workforce development. Melody Whitten, Chief Economic Development Officer was our guest. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

On this episode Laith was joined by producer Joel Natalie to welcome Altair Real Estate's managing partner Chuck Peters to discuss current national policy news and its impact on the advancement of local economic development goals, including the new Federal Reserve Chair, AI and the workforce, and where the housing sector sits in the current context.

Laith was joined by producer Joel Natalie as they welcomed local manufacturing leader Jim Rutkowski, Jr., General Manager at Industrial Sales and Manufacturing Inc., to discuss talent attraction and proclaiming the case for manufacturing in our current economic context. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts welcomed back Dean Pepicello, Harborcreek Township Supervisor, Erie County, PA, to talk about a personal medical emergency, and how transparency and effective communication can bring all relevant constituencies along during project development. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts welcomed back economic development legend Jeff Finkle to the Economic Pulse, with a focus on training and developing ED leaders in a new era. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

In this episode, our hosts welcomed Corey Cook, COO of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation. Corey is a multi-talented leader in Erie, PA who is making a difference in Erie's economic turnaround, while promoting the elevation of people of color, and writing a new book for young people about making successful choices.

Our hosts were interviewed by producer Joel Natalie to discuss Erie, their home market, and its gathering of assets to compete for economic development at a higher level, and what it takes to overcome legacy hurdles and grow toward the community's preferred future. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

This week our hosts welcomed Sara Hanks, the President and CEO of the Northwest Industrial Resource Center in Erie, PA. NWIRC is a not-for-profit organization that serves small and mid-sized manufacturers throughout 13 counties of northwest and north central Pennsylvania. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts were joined by producer Joel Natalie in a wide-ranging conversation about bringing your community along as you project economic development priorities. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts welcomed architect David Brennan to the program to discuss the benefits and challenges of saving old buildings for new uses. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

This episode is part two of our hosts conversation with Robert Spector, customer service expert and author of The Nordstrom Way series of books. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts welcomed economic development veteran Dean Barber to the show, live from Mexico, to discuss elements that communities need to be attractive to companies looking to expand. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

On this episode, our hosts were joined by economic development veteran Erik Collins, and his son Sam Collins, who is an Ohio ex-pat living and working in China. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

This week, our hosts welcomed economic development veteran Jon Brandow. Jon wrote a novel, Goliath at Sunset , influenced by his time as a welder and an elected union officer in 1970's Boston. The conversation focused on the impact of globalization on the workforce, then and now. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategie...

This episode, Laith and guest co-host Jake Rouch interview Monica Hershberger, Chief Strategy Officer of RoleCall in Cleveland, OH. The conversation centered around business retention and expansion, and maintaining strong relationships with the businesses in your community. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts welcomed Austin Finch, Economic Development Director for Erwin Utilities, Erwin, TN. He told the story of recovery after the aftermath of historic flooding of their service area. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Laith was joined by special co-host Jake Rouch in a conversation with economic development practioner Jonathan Lindsley from Stafford County, Virginia. Much of the focus of the conversation was on Jon's extensive humanitarian work in Gaza and Syria. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

This week, the Erie County Redevelopment Authority announced that under the umbrella of Nine Ships Company, Modular Engineering, Corporate Glass, and M-E Construction will construct a new 60,000 sq. ft. facility at the westernmost part of the former International Paper site in Erie. Principals Fred Teitman, Shaun Seifert, and Ryan Martorella joined our hosts. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie Coun...

This week our hosts and producer Joel Natalie began a two-part series with business journalist and author Robert Spector, who is world-renowned for his books revolving around The Nordstrom Way, including his latest, The Century-old Startup. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our guest hails from the Lawton/Fort Sill, OK area. Dr. Krista Ratliff, who serves as the President & CEO of FISTA Innovation Park, told her remarkable story of converting a declining shopping center into a defense industry magnet. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Your hosts discussed the upcoming year both in guests making their way to The Economic Pulse, along with projected announcements for the Erie, PA region, growing our economy. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies

Our hosts were joined by producer Joel Natalie to discuss the movement of economic development in the Erie, PA region in 2025, and what to look forward to in the new year. Hosts: Tina Mengine - CEO of Erie County Redevelopment Authority Laith Wardi - Founder of Gem City Growth Strategies