The Ribbon Cut

Rich Werner, President and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development, joins Susan Donkers and Charles Houser on the Ribbon Cut Podcast to talk about what is fueling growth in Weld and Larimer counties, the region one hour north of Denver, Colorado covering 35+ communities across an area roughly the size of Connecticut. Rich shares how Upstate Colorado has supported economic development in the r...

Most economic development wins look like overnight successes. They're not. The real work starts 2–3 years before any public announcement and most people never see it. Susan and Charles sit down with Tiffany Coleman, Economic Development Project Manager at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, to pull back the curtain on how regions attract businesses, retain employers, and build long-term prosperity...

The way site selectors search has evolved, and communities have more opportunity than ever to participate early in the process. In this episode, Susan and Charles examine how discovery in corporate location strategy is increasingly shaped by structured visibility. Drawing on lessons from Rich Barton's experiences building Expedia and Zillow, they explore how aggregation reorganizes search by givin...

When markets feel uncertain, site selection doesn’t stop. It becomes more selective, more compressed, and more dependent on clear, reliable site information. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles sit down with Lindsey Cannon of Quest Site Solutions to talk about what actually happens when projects move from early interest to real evaluation, and why many sites fall out once timeline...

Public economic data systems are being stretched thinner at the same time local decision-making depends on them more than ever. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles are joined by Ken Poole to explain what’s happening behind the scenes at federal data agencies, and why staffing cuts, privacy constraints, and rising demand for localized detail are changing how workforce and economic...

Rural economic development is less about landing one big win and more about making disciplined, data-backed decisions over time. Carolyn Chrisman of Chrisman Consulting joins Susan and Charles to discuss how data-driven strategy helps rural communities move past assumptions and build realistic paths forward. Drawing from decades of methodology rooted in the Ady Advantage legacy, Carolyn explains h...

Site selection has changed dramatically over the last two decades, but many communities are still operating as if it hasn’t. In this episode, Larry Gigerich of Ginovus joins Susan and Charles to share what he’s learned from more than 25 years advising companies across North America. From manufacturing and life sciences to logistics and data centers, Larry breaks down how decisions really get made,...

LOIS has been around for more than two decades, but many teams still ask what makes it different from other property marketing tools. In this FAQ edition, Susan and Charles take you inside the origins of LOIS, why a utility originally built it, and how it grew into one of the most widely adopted mapping platforms in economic development. In this episode: How LOIS helps communities create a clear,...

Everyone has questions about how to manage RFIs better, and Lasso sits at the center of that conversation. In this episode, Susan and Charles walk through the most common questions they hear from both site selectors and economic development teams about how the platform actually works in practice. The result is a clear, grounded look at what makes collaboration faster, cleaner, and more secure when...

Design-build is just the beginning. In this episode, we talk with Oliver Muenz-Winkler of Clayco, one of the nation’s largest integrated construction firms, to learn how they embed themselves in the full lifecycle of economic development. And, why that model is reshaping how big projects get built.   We cover how Clayco’s approach goes far beyond concrete: --> Why they invest heavily in cultivatin...

Forget flashy incentives. South Dakota is winning advanced manufacturing and foreign direct investment by doing the fundamentals better than most. In this episode of the Ribbon Cut podcast, we sit down with Adam Molseed from the Governor's Office of Economic Development to explore how South Dakota is carving out a competitive edge by being fast, friendly, and financially lean.   We explore what ma...

Richard Blackwell has lived every phase of economic development on projects across 23 states. From spec buildings to industrial parks with built-in career centers.   In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, we cover: --> How to build real public-private partnerships in smaller markets. --> What economic developers can learn from supply chain modeling. --> The site criteria Agracel uses to pick its next...

Workforce data is about more than just filling jobs. It’s actually a strategic asset in the fight to win site selection deals. In this episode, Josh Wright of Lightcast joins Susan and Charles to unpack how labor market intelligence helps economic developers, site selectors, and corporate leaders make smarter location decisions. From real-time analytics to national demographic shifts, this convers...

Before a site goes live, the engineering has to work. So does the partnership. Brett Lauritsen from Olsson joins Susan and Charles to talk about what actually moves the needle on project readiness. With two decades of experience at one of the country’s largest engineering firms, Brett shares how teams can prevent delays, reduce rework, and stay competitive—especially when deals move faster than ev...

Rail-served sites aren’t just about transportation—they’re about strategy. Adam Hess of CSX joins Susan Donkers to unpack what companies need to know when evaluating rail access as part of a location decision. With decades of experience and billions in capital investment supported through the CSX Select Site program, Adam shares what separates the contenders from the pretenders. In this episode: -...

If you're helping a manufacturing company land their next U.S. facility, this episode is packed with practical insight.   Brian Devlin of ARCO Design/Build joins Susan Donkers to explain how an integrated design-build approach removes risk from site selection—especially when speed, complexity, or growth are at stake. From cleanrooms to packaging facilities, from site plans to regulatory approvals,...

Mike Grella (ex-Amazon, now Active Infrastructure) joins Strata to reveal what most communities get wrong about data centers. We go deep on power access, permitting pitfalls, and what it really takes to be ready for billion-dollar infrastructure projects. From Welcome Wagons to nuclear power, this is a must-listen for any region trying to win the next hyperscaler investment. Learn more about Strat...

Ever wonder who’s really behind the labor market data shaping corporate investment decisions? This episode takes you inside two pivotal conferences—C2ER and SelectUSA—through the eyes of Strata's team. We unpack how economic researchers drive decisions behind the scenes, how FDI flows through U.S. communities, and why data storytelling matters more than ever. Learn more about Strata Platforms .

Kim Gerlt of Missouri Partnership shares how Missouri is positioning itself as a strategic landing zone for major business investments.  We discuss her work overseeing business recruitment and building capacity while promoting the state’s strengths in infrastructure, water access, workforce training, and collaboration. The conversation dives into the state's recent wins: an $800 million meat proce...

In the inaugural episode of The Ribbon Cut , co-hosts Susan Donkers and Charles Houser sit down to explore the long, often invisible process behind site selection and economic development. They share the behind the scenes on global investment decisions and infrastructure strategy, revealing how “ribbon cut” moments often come after years of unseen effort. Charles talks about his path from long-dis...

Welcome to The Ribbon Cut, the podcast pulling back the curtain on the complex, competitive, and often misunderstood world of site selection and economic development. Whether you're an economic developer, a corporate self-performer, or a seasoned site selector, this show is your insider pass to the decisions shaping the future of business growth and community development. Each episode features can...