The SEDC Podcast

The official Podcast of the Southern Economic Development Council. Tune in for fun, informative, and sometimes off-the-wall conversations with #AmericanSouth leaders.

The SEDC Podcast is a business podcast hosted by The Southern Economic Development Council, with 118 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.

The Southern Economic Development Council hosts The SEDC Podcast, a business show with 118 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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  Episode #8

  Season 3 Episode 8 | Ron Bertasi

  Aug 10, 202648 minS3

  In this episode, Matt Tackett welcomes Ron Bertasi, co-founder and CEO of GIS WebTech. Bertasi shares insights from his career path, the growth of GIS WebTech over the past decade, and how technology has shifted from following location trends to actively driving site selection. The discussion explores the competitive advantages of the American South, the impact of AI on the profession, and a preview of the upcoming Technology Summit for Economic Developers in Atlanta.The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #7

  Season 3 Episode 7 | Dr. Joann Massey

  Jul 21, 202650 minS3

  In this episode, host Matt Tackett sits down with Dr. Joann Massey, President and CEO of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) of Memphis and Shelby County. Dr. Massey shares her deeply personal connection to her hometown and discusses how EDGE is leveraging Memphis’s unmatched global logistics assets—including the Mississippi River, five Class 1 railroads, and the primary FedEx hub—to drive advanced manufacturing, supply chain efficiency, and major technology investments, such as the xAI data center. Tune in to hear how Memphis is transforming global advantages into localized prosperity through its motto: "Powering progress through partnerships." The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #16

  LIVE from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit - Hunter Boyd & Chris Rankin

  Jun 10, 202618 minS3

  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 regional product development, infrastructure alignment, and competitive business attraction. The opening interview features Hunter Boyd, Executive Director of the Northeast Kentucky Economic Development Authority, who discusses the strategic development of shovel-ready sites and multi-modal logistics hubs. Boyd shares insights on how regional partnerships and utility preparation are transforming acreage to attract major new industrial and commercial investment. The focus then shifts to the High Plains region of Texas. Chris Rankin of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance details localized strategies for workforce development, industrial expansion, and corporate recruitment. Rankin outlines how a strong regional talent pipeline and proactive community marketing allow a mid-sized market to successfully secure high-impact projects. Together, these conversations demonstrate the targeted, infrastructure-first approaches used throughout the Southern Economic Development Council network to foster resilient economies and win capital investments. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #15

  LIVE from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit - Chris Webb, Max Stewart, Todd Tucker

  Jun 7, 202626 minS3

  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 competitive suburban markets. Webb shares insights on leveraging a community's tech talent pipeline and existing corporate base to win headquarters and high-impact regional operations projects. The focus then shifts to distinct organizational models and regional retention practices across the South. Todd Tucker, Economic Development Director for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, details how a unified partnership between a county economic development corporation and a local chamber of commerce streamlines industrial recruitment in North Carolina. Finally, Max Stewart, CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corp, breaks down the advanced manufacturing landscape in South Carolina, outlining tactical approaches to site constraints, automated space efficiency, and long-term utility planning. Together, these conversations demonstrate the targeted strategies deployed throughout the Southern Economic Development Council's footprint to secure major capital investments. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #15

  LIVE from the 2026 #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit - Susan Sankey, Amy Fesser, Ryan Egly

  Jun 3, 202633 minS3

  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. Sankey shares tactical insights on how smaller municipalities can leverage local assets and coordinate land preparation to remain highly competitive for emerging industrial projects. The focus then shifts to the regional workforce and diversification strategies being deployed across other sectors of the South. Amy Fesser, Executive Director of Borger Inc., details how specialized community marketing and targeting industrial expansions can stimulate growth in competitive manufacturing corridors. Finally, Ryan Egly, President and CEO of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, breaks down the fundamentals of rural economic stability and regional infrastructure partnerships. Together, these conversations demonstrate the targeted, collaborative approaches used throughout the Southern Economic Development Council network to secure new capital investments. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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