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 131 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

The Southern Economic Development Council hosts The SEDC Podcast, a business show with 131 episodes published.

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  Episode #20

  Season 3 Episode 20 | Howard Franklin

  Sep 22, 202653 minS3

  In this episode of the SEDC Podcast, SEDC President Matt Tackett hosts a special conversation with Howard Franklin, President and CEO of government relations and public affairs firm Ohio River South. Reflecting on an advocacy career that began alongside iconic figures like former Atlanta Mayors Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin, Howard shares pivotal lessons on mentorship, volunteerism, and the critical importance of simply showing up. The discussion dives deep into the firm’s milestone work—including helping secure $300 million to complete the Atlanta BeltLine—and examines why professional advocacy plays an essential role in navigating complex, fast-paced legislative sessions across the South. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #19

  LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Ford Graham and Joe Hines

  Sep 17, 202623 minS3

  Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin wraps up Tuesday afternoon with two influential leaders navigating project strategy and regional advocacy across the American South. First, Ford Graham, Senior Vice President at McGuireWoods Consulting and Partner at McGuireWoods LLP, shares essential perspectives on the changing dynamics of project recruitment. Ford breaks down the rise of local pushback around large capital investments, emphasizing why economic developers must proactively educate their communities, maintain flexibility in incentive structures, and stay prepared to capture domestic and foreign direct investment as global market conditions stabilize. Next, Ray sits down with Joe Hines, Director of Economic Development and Site Selection at Timmons Group, to celebrate his new role as the incoming Chair of SEDC. Joe discusses the critical junction facing the profession, outlining plans to establish a federal public policy platform that champions interstate priorities like energy infrastructure, supply chain corridors, and workforce development. Together, these conversations highlight the necessity of preparation, regional collaboration, and unified leadership to keep the South competitive on the national and global stage. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #17

  LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Jim Decesare, Dalal Alkady, Stocker Lloyd, Ryan Nance

  Sep 13, 202641 minS3

  Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with economic development leaders and data strategists driving regional growth across the Southeast. First, Jim DeCesare, Executive Director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority and Founder of The DeCesare Group, recaps a historic run of capital investment and job creation in Simpson County, Kentucky. Jim shares frontline perspectives on project wins like the Kroger Distribution Center and Shinwon, navigating public perception around major data center developments, and his upcoming transition to launch a new economic development authority in Grayson County. Next, Dalal Alkhaldi and Stocker Lloyd from Lightcast examine the critical need for defensible, transparent workforce data in local economic development. Stalker breaks down why shift-share analysis often offers a more dynamic window into emerging growth than traditional location quotients, while Dalal highlights ongoing client training, AI workforce studies, and the dangers of unvetted data hallucinations in board presentations. Closing out the episode, Ryan Nance, Director of Economic Development for North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, discusses the grassroots role of electric co-ops in building resilient communities, balancing technical skills with courageous local communication, and preparing for the operational shift toward agentic AI workflows. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #17

  LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Tim Gibbs & Jason El Koubi

  Sep 10, 202633 minS3

  Live from the final day of the 2026 Southern Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with two leaders examining economic development through the lenses of scholarly research and statewide execution. First, Ray talks with Tim Gibbs, CEO of Four Corners Economic Development. Tim discusses his newly completed doctorate and dissertation, which examine workforce participation rates in northeastern Kentucky. Drawing on human capital theory, social capital theory, and economic self-sufficiency, Tim breaks down what happens when legacy industrial, rail, and corporate headquarters leave a region, the structural barriers that keep working-age citizens on the sidelines, and how his Workforce Participation Framework helps practitioners align local policy with human reality. Next, Ray welcomes Jason El Koubi, President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). Recognized nationally as a top-three state for business by CNBC, Virginia has built an enduring economic development model centered on nonpartisan governance, cross-regional collaboration, and deep local partnerships. Jason highlights the Commonwealth's surging sectors, including aerospace, defense, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the underlying energy and digital infrastructure driving the next generation of regional growth. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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  Episode #16

  LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Pam Armstrong & Ted Abernathy

  Sep 8, 202619 minS3

  Live from the 2026 Southern Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin speaks with two economic development leaders, addressing regional growth, site preparation, and the shifting competitive landscape. First, Ray is joined by Pam Armstrong, Director of Economic Development for the Bedford County, Virginia Office of Economic Development. Located between Roanoke and Lynchburg, Bedford County leverages a regional labor shed of over 500,000 workers. Pam discusses the community’s leadership as America's conveyor manufacturing hub, major wins including a 100% American-made solar manufacturer, the development of shovel-ready Tier 4 and Tier 5 industrial sites, and targeted workforce programs designed to credential students for high-demand technical careers. Next, Ray sits down with Ted Abernathy, Managing Partner at Economic Leadership LLC. Drawing on four decades in economic policy, Ted previews his conference keynote focusing on why the historic advantages that fueled Southern growth over the past 50 years- lower costs and rapid processes- are no longer enough on their own. Ted breaks down how emerging technology, research commercialization, national defense assets, and policy changes across competitor states require economic developers to lead with proactive foresight, not complacency. The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.

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