web01.fireside.fm Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:56:19 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Leading Ladies of Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “#Economicdevelopment” https://www.llofed.com/tags/%23economicdevelopment Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0400 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. en-us episodic These are the women leading economic development across the US. Kaycee Bunch 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. no economic development, econ dev, development, community development, women, leadership Kaycee Bunch kayceegbunch@gmail.com Building Belonging: How Authentic Storytelling Drives Talent Attraction │Monica Hershberger http://www.llofed.com/season3-episode5-monica-hershberger 96841d67-687b-42dd-8190-e593c8982bf8 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0400 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 27:24 no 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 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-small-hershberger/) Connect with RoleCall on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/rolecalldotpro/) RoleCall Talent Attraction Summit Registration Link (https://www.rolecall.pro/summit) Handel’s Ice Cream (https://handelsicecream.com/) Ecosystems aren’t the answer — Civic Collaboration Consultants, LLC (https://www.civiccollab.com/blog/ecosystems-arent-the-answer) From Comeback City to Talent Magnet: What Buffalo Can Teach Us About Talent Attraction (https://www.rolecall.pro/blog/nov-2025) Opening Doors: Inside Freeport’s Downtown Unlocked Vision Tour (and how you can host your own!) (https://www.rolecall.pro/blog/news/opening-doors-inside-freeports-downtown-unlocked-vision-tour-and-how-you-can-host-your-own) Special Guest: Monica Hershberger. #EconomicDevelopment, #TalentAttraction, #CommunityDevelopment, #PlaceMaking, #WorkforceDevelopment, #UrbanPlanning, #RegionalPlanning, #CommunityStrategy, #Leadership, #WomenInLeadership, #LocalBusiness, #CommunityEngagement, #WorkforceRetention, #EconomicGrowth, #Podcast, #Talent, #TalentAttraction, #RoleCall 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.

]]> 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.

]]>