The SEDC Podcast

On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews highlighting localized strategies for business attraction, regional marketing, and infrastructure development. The opening interview features Chris Webb, Business Attraction Manager at Plano Economic Development, who discusses how to navigate corporate relocations in highly ...

On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews evaluating rural development strategies and community-level economic alignment. The opening interview features Susan Sankey, Executive Director of the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation, who outlines the unique landscape of industrial recruitment in West Texas. Sank...

On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews exploring regional economic shifts, logistical advantages, and infrastructure strategies. The opening interview features Paul Hoben, Director of Business Development for the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway, who discusses the critical integration of short-line rail in...

On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews examining the regional mechanics of site readiness, consulting, and corporate attraction. The opening interview features Cathleen Flournoy, Senior Industrial Development Manager for Norfolk Southern Corporation, who explores the critical integration of rail infrastructure in...

On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews highlighting specialized approaches to community growth and leadership. The opening segment features Bethany Shockney, President and CEO of the Limestone County Economic Development Association in Alabama, who discusses navigating rapid industrial growth and the strategic de...

On location at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for a series of one-on-one interviews examining the mechanics of site readiness and municipal development. The first interview features Russ Meyer, Executive Director of the Jessamine County Joint Economic Development Authority, who shares strategies for competitive positioning in the Bluegrass region. Meyer dis...

Live from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for individual interviews with regional leaders to discuss localized strategies for industrial and commercial growth. The first segment features Mark Lawson, President of Cary Economic Development, who shares insights on managing rapid community expansion and high-tech sector recruitment. Lawson emphasizes how workfo...

Recorded live at the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down for individual interviews with industry experts to discuss the mechanics of regional growth. The first segment features Chuck Sexton, Principal and CEO of Strategic Location Advisors, who provides a detailed look into the modern site selection process. Sexton analyzes the specific criteria that consultants use...

Recorded live from the Loews Arlington Hotel during the 2026 American South Site Selection Summit, host Ray Methvin of Insyteful sits down with regional leaders to discuss the evolving requirements of industrial recruitment. The first interview features Patrick Ford, Vice President of the West Virginia Polymer Alliance Zone, who discusses his expertise in brownfield redevelopment and the strategic repurposing of large-scale industr...

Host Matt Tackett sits down with Mike Goman, Principal at Goman + York Property Advisors, to explore his extensive career in commercial real estate development. Mike discusses his professional journey from managing large-scale projects in Canada to leading major operations in the United States. The conversation focuses on bridging the gap between municipal planning and the financial requirements of private investors to drive meanin...

This episode of the SEDC podcast features Chris Schwinden, a partner at Site Selection Group, discussing the evolving economic landscape of the American South. Schwinden and Matthew Darius explore his career transition from finance to site selection, emphasizing the critical role of site-readiness programs such as the Kentucky Product Development Initiative. The conversation highlights the region's shift from low-cost manufacturing...

Matt Tackett and Spencer Hogg explore Georgia's top-tier business environment and the Rome Floyd Development Authority’s recent success. The conversation traces Spencer’s career shift from congressional policy to regional economic development through intentional ecosystem-building and diverse industrial strategies. They highlight Northwest Georgia’s competitive advantages in workforce development and strategic inf...

In this episode of the SEDC podcast, sponsored by Insyteful, Matt joins Troy Wayman of One Acadiana to discuss Louisiana’s historic economic momentum. Troy details how the state secured a record $61 billion in capital investment in 2025 through an aggressive new strategy and high-profile projects like the Meta data center and solar manufacturing expansions.

The conversation highlights the success of the Fast Sites program and ...

Join SEDC President Matt Tackett for a memorable holiday episode as he sits down with the world’s oldest CEO to discuss his latest high-tech expansion. From fueling the workshop with renewable resources to modernizing the "Naughty or Nice" archives, the North Pole Enterprise is proving that even a legendary operation needs a digital edge.

This episode dives into the workshop’s bold new financial ventures and the AI-drive...

SEDC President Matt Tackett sits down with Jason El Koubi to discuss the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's recent success in securing major investments. El Koubi explains how the Commonwealth has positioned itself as a leader in the biopharmaceutical sector through a strategy centered on speed and talent development.

The conversation highlights the importance of a holistic approach that ensures economic growth benefits eve...