The Leading Ladies of Economic Development

This podcast is a safe place for female economic development professionals to share stories, insights, and challenges of the economic development industry. We hear from women leaders across the country about their careers in ED and how you can apply their experiences to your own economic development career goals.

The Leading Ladies of Economic Development is a business podcast hosted by Kaycee Bunch, with 36 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Kaycee Bunch hosts The Leading Ladies of Economic Development, a business show with 36 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Leading Ladies of Economic Development

  From Lab to Launch: Democratizing Tech Transfer in Kentucky │Kayla Meisner

  Aug 7, 202652 minS3

  In this episode of Leading Ladies of Economic Development , Kaycee interviews Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP, executive director of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), a statewide technology transfer and commercialization initiative housed within the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). Meisner shares how an undergraduate internship at the University of Louisville’s tech transfer office shaped her career and explains how KCV was launched in 2020 as a public-private partnership to support technology transfer and research capacity at Kentucky’s non-R1 institutions and KCTCS. She discusses KCV’s role in advancing multi-institutional tech transfer models, including collaboration with Tennessee that helped inspire TTAC, and highlights successes such as startup formation (Bumped Up Labs and Eastern Scientific), SBIR/STTR wins, and an NSF EXLENT-funded KCV–NKU Invent program that provides virtual commercialization training and paid internships. Lastly, Meisner urges economic developers to build IP literacy, leverage regional assets, and collaborate rather than compete. In this episode, we explore: How Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) is expanding technology transfer and commercialization opportunities across Kentucky’s regional universities and KCTCS through a statewide, collaborative model. How tech transfer turns university research into real-world impact, why intellectual property (IP) matters for economic development, and the often-overlooked work behind bringing innovations to market. Success stories from Kentucky, including startup launches, SBIR/STTR funding wins, and the NSF-funded Invent Fellowship, which provides commercialization training and paid internships for students. How partnerships across institutions—and even across state lines—are helping democratize access to innovation resources and strengthen Kentucky’s talent pipeline. Practical advice for economic developers on building intellectual property literacy, leveraging regional strengths, and collaborating to accelerate innovation-driven growth. Quotable: “ Kentucky ideas will solve Kentucky problems, and Kentucky's problems are the world's problems.” Resources and Links Connect with Kayla Meisner on LinkedIn Home | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation | KSTC NSBE | National Society of Black Engineers AUTM | The Nonprofit Leader in Technology Transfer About NSF Engines - Regional Innovation Engines | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation GAME CHANGE – Advancing carbon centric circular economy technologies for advanced manufacturing solutions (KY, TN) Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) - LaunchTN Home - LaunchTN Keyhorse Capital FLC | Home Launch Tennessee leads new national study to unlock heartland innovation, backed by Kauffman Foundation grant - LaunchTN NCInnovation | Putting Innovation to Work for All of North Carolina Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR Jurisdiction Websites - Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation BumptUp – For a healthy pregnancy & postpartum journey. Innovator Spotlight: Dr. Jason Marion on Using Intellectual Property to Advance Water Quality Innovation Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region Innovation Fellowship | Kentucky Commercialization Ventures KCV Launches Startup Internship Program in Partnership with NKU Welcome | Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA) United States Patent and Trademark Office Special Guest: Kayla Meisner, MEng, CLP.

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  The Leading Ladies of Economic Development

  Building HUUB: Connecting Small Businesses to the Right Resources │ Jenny Poon & Chelsea Smith

  Jul 10, 202639 minS3

  In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development, Kaycee talks with leaders Jenny Poon & Chelsea Smith from HUUB, the digital platform that helps cities and economic development organizations centralize resources, funding, training, and community support to help small businesses start, grow, and thrive. Jenny and Chelsea share their paths from entrepreneurship to economic development and explain how their experiences navigating disconnected small-business resources led them to create HUUB, a digital platform launched during the pandemic to connect entrepreneurs with the right support. They discuss early challenges like relying on scattered online information and the importance of “one right person” in changing a business trajectory, shaping HUUB’s focus on vetted experts and tactical help. HUUB partners primarily with municipalities, often alongside chambers, nonprofits, and other ecosystem organizations, and offers one-on-one advising, an on-demand learning library, community board, aggregated funding and events, and ecosystem mapping—automating tasks that economic developers often do manually and providing continuity when staff turnover occurs. They emphasize equitable outreach through translation, UX design, demographic tracking, and representation among advisors, and note lessons from product development and from resisting traditional startup pressures, while urging greater technology investment and more thoughtful AI use. In this episode, we explore: How Jenny and Chelsea’s entrepreneurial journeys and frustration with fragmented small-business resources inspired them to create HUUB, a platform that connects entrepreneurs with trusted support, funding, and expertise. How HUUB partners with municipalities and ecosystem organizations to centralize advising, learning, funding opportunities, events, and resource mapping—reducing manual work, improving continuity, and making it easier for small businesses to find the help they need. How intentional design, multilingual access, diverse advisors, and thoughtful use of technology and AI can expand access to resources and create stronger, more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Quotable: “ And that's the key thing that I kept seeing over and over as an entrepreneur. It just takes one person, one right person, to completely change your trajectory as a business owner.” Resources and Links Connect with Jenny Poon on LinkedIn Connect with Chelsea Smith on LinkedIn HUUB - Economic Development Tools for Small Business Support Tools | HUUB - Economic Development Tools for Small Business Support Special Guests: Chelsea Smith and Jenny Poon.

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  The Leading Ladies of Economic Development

  Building Trust and Transformation in Greater Freeport, Illinois │Andrea Schultz Winter & Nicole Haas

  May 22, 202647 minS3

  In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development, Kaycee talks with leaders Andrea Schultz Winter & Nicole Haas from the Greater Freeport Partnership to explore how collaboration, communication, and community-driven strategy are reshaping regional economic development in northwest Illinois. Andrea Schultz and Nicole Haas share how their unexpected career paths led them into the field and ultimately back to the region, where they now help guide a merged organization that brings together economic development, tourism, Main Street, and chamber functions under one collaborative model. They reflect on the evolution of the organization since its formation in 2018, including the challenges of aligning four legacy entities, building trust with members, and establishing a unified vision during a period that included both organizational transition and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we explore: A deep dive into the merged organizational model combining economic development, tourism, Main Street, and chamber functions—and how trust and communication drive it. Strategies for talent attraction and retention, including “come home” campaigns, employer-driven workforce personas, and partnerships addressing childcare and housing. Downtown revitalization efforts like the Recast City cohort and Downtown Unlocked initiative focused on activating underused spaces and supporting small-scale manufacturing and housing. Quotable: “Change is built at the speed of trust.” Resources and Links Connect with Andrea Schultz Winter on LinkedIn Connect with Nicole Haas on LinkedIn Greater Freeport Partnership Website Come Home Campaign - Greater Freeport Partnership Freeport Selected to Participate in National Program for Downtown Revitalization and Economic Resilience - Greater Freeport Partnership Special Guests: Andrea Schultz Winter and Nicole Hass.

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  The Leading Ladies of Economic Development

  You Can’t Censor Experience: Leading Community Change from the Ground Up │Kathleen J. Guillaume-Delemar

  May 1, 202654 minS3

  In this powerful episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development Podcast, Kaycee sits down with Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Kat shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up in under-resourced communities in Brooklyn during the crack epidemic to leading a national organization focused on equitable property revitalization. She challenges conventional ideas about “blight,” economic development, and community engagement, emphasizing that lasting change must be community-led, policy-driven, and rooted in lived experience. Through candid storytelling and practical examples, Kat explains how communities can reclaim vacant and abandoned properties without displacement—and why listening to community “whispers” is the key to sustainable revitalization. In this episode, we explore: Lived experience should shape leadership and solutions. Kat emphasizes that real, lasting change comes from leaders who understand the systems firsthand, not just in theory. Communities must be true partners, not afterthoughts. Effective revitalization starts with residents, not after decisions are made. Listening early leads to sustainable outcomes. Fixing systems matters more than fixing properties. The Center for Community Progress focuses on policy, education, and tools that address the root causes of vacancy and disinvestment. Revitalization can happen without displacement. When done right, community-led strategies can increase stability, homeownership, and quality of life—without fueling gentrification. Quotable: “You can censor words—but you can’t censor lived experience.” Link to register for the 2026 reclaiming vacant properties conference: 2026 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference | Center for Community Progress Resources and Links Connect with Kat J. Guillaume-Delemar on on LinkedIn Center for Community Progress Resources for Community Development Leaders & Professionals | Center for Community Progress National Land Bank Network | Center for Community Progress Creating Homeownership Opportunities in Newark through Housing Choice Vouchers | Center for Community Progress From Harm to Home | Center for Community Progress Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority | Savannah, GA Benzie County, MI Detriot Land Bank Authority Detroit Landy Bank Authority Rehabbed & Ready Program County of Saginaw, MI - Land Bank Publications | Center for Community Progress Special Guest: Kathleen (Kat) J. Guillaume-Delemar.

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  The Leading Ladies of Economic Development

  Building Belonging: How Authentic Storytelling Drives Talent Attraction │Monica Hershberger

  Apr 17, 202627 minS3

  In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development Podcast, host Kaycee sits down with Monica Hershberger, Chief Strategy Officer at RoleCall, to explore how communities can attract talent by embracing what makes them truly unique. Monica shares her journey into community building and how her experiences shaped her passion for helping places foster a sense of belonging. She breaks down how Roll Call partners with cities and regions to uncover authentic stories, develop strategic messaging, and build meaningful connections with potential residents. From the importance of listening and community engagement to the challenges of aligning stakeholders, this conversation dives deep into what it truly takes to build a successful talent-attraction strategy. Monica also highlights real-world examples—from Buffalo to small-town Illinois—showing how communities of any size can make a big impact. This episode offers practical insights and a fresh perspective on attracting and retaining talent in today’s competitive landscape. In this episode, we explore: How communities can attract the right talent by embracing their authentic stories and unique culture. The step-by-step process RoleCall uses to listen, engage, and create meaningful connections between residents, employers, and newcomers. Challenges and best practices for aligning stakeholders, building networks, and creating a sense of belonging in communities of all sizes. Real-world examples from Buffalo, Freeport, and beyond showing how small and large communities alike can make a big impact. The role of honesty, aspiration, and local quirks in effective talent attraction and community marketing. Quotable: “ The more you invite people into creating your community’s vision, the more you’ll build relationships that actually bring the right people home. Talent attraction isn’t just strategy—it’s human.” Resources and Links Connect with Monica Hershberger on LinkedIn Connect with RoleCall on LinkedIn RoleCall Talent Attraction Summit Registration Link Handel’s Ice Cream Ecosystems aren’t the answer — Civic Collaboration Consultants, LLC From Comeback City to Talent Magnet: What Buffalo Can Teach Us About Talent Attraction Opening Doors: Inside Freeport’s Downtown Unlocked Vision Tour (and how you can host your own!) Special Guest: Monica Hershberger.

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