What does it take to lead through a crisis, earn trust in new communities, and stay passionate after 25 years in economic development?

In this episode, Kelly Robertson-Slagle discusses the importance of letting people operate in their “zone of awesomeness,” why having a passion project matters at every stage, and the key lessons she’s carrying with her to her new role in Georgetown County, South Carolina, after a 25-year tenure in Maryland.

Key Takeaways:

• Why mentorship isn’t just for beginners and how learning from others can shape your entire career
• How regional partnerships strengthen crisis response
• What it takes to start over and build trust in a new, unfamiliar community

Resources Mentioned:

• Georgetown County Economic Development

About the Guest:

Kelly Robertson-Slagle is the Director of Economic Development for Georgetown County, South Carolina. You can connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelly-robertson-slagle-medp-1186b3148

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.

Is your team drowning in spreadsheets and struggling to sort through all the data? Discover how implementing the right CRM strategy can turn scattered information into actionable insights without overwhelming your staff.

In this episode, Lisa DeNoia and Brittany Browning from Port and Starboard share expert insights on implementing Salesforce and other CRM solutions specifically for economic development organizations. Learn how to track business retention efforts, manage prospect pipelines, and generate the reports your stakeholders need.

Key Takeaways:

• How to establish your CRM as the "source of truth" that enables data-driven decision making throughout your organization
• Strategies for determining whether to customize your CRM or adapt your processes when implementing new technology
• Game-changing tips for your implementation process (hint: don’t give everyone access, and how to make data entry manageable when you’re on the go)

Resources Mentioned

• Port and Starboard
• Salesforce

About the Guests:

Lisa DeNoia is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder, and Brittany Browning is the Project Manager of Port and Starboard. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisadenoia & linkedin.com/in/brittanybvt

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.

As economic uncertainty grows, how is the leading organization in economic development positioning its members for success? In this episode, Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of IEDC, is sharing how they're tackling today's most pressing challenges while simultaneously preparing members for tomorrow's opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

• How the economic development field is evolving from community competition to regional collaboration, and what this means for your EDO
• Ways IEDC is breaking down barriers through revised membership structures and expanded virtual learning options
• What "thinking globally" really means for local economic developers in today's interconnected economy
• What you can do to prepare for the coming wave of retirements in the profession and position yourself for leadership opportunities

Resources Mentioned:

• IEDC Membership Information

About the Guest:

Nathan Ohle is the President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers, with more than 5,000 members globally. You can connect with Nathan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nathan-ohle-066b782

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.