web01.fireside.fm Fri, 01 May 2026 20:16:20 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Leading Ladies of Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Local Economic Development” https://www.llofed.com/tags/local%20economic%20development Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500 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 How Planning, Structure, and Collaboration Shape Economic Development Outcomes │Amalia Cunningham, AICP http://www.llofed.com/season3-episode2-amalia-cunningham 0fe769a7-7c88-4c33-92b6-8bce9e6dbc3a Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 26:39 no <p>In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee interviews Amalia Cunningham, AICP, owner and principal of Amalia Cunningham Consulting. They discuss Amalia's extensive experience in economic development, spanning over 20 years in local government before starting her own consulting practice. The conversation covers key topics, including the integration of planning and economic development, effective resource allocation, and the challenges and solutions for developers and local government staff in fostering community growth. Key insights include the importance of understanding local regulations, the impact of organizational structure on economic development outcomes, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The transition from public-sector leadership to private consulting. Amalia explains the key differences between working inside local government and advising from the outside, and how her background enables her to bridge gaps among policy, planning, and implementation.</li> <li>Practical guidance for developers and local stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of understanding municipal processes, zoning, and regulatory frameworks. </li> <li>Organizational structures (restructures) and their impact on effectiveness. Amalia explains when restructuring economic development departments makes sense, what local governments should consider during the process, and how structure can either enable or hinder results.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Quotable:</strong> “ No matter what side of the table you're sitting on, if you're an economic developer, if you're the private sector trying to do a project, I always try to approach my work and my practice assuming the best intentions from everyone else involved.”</p> <p><strong>Resources and Links</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amalia-cunningham/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Connect with Amalia Cunningham on LinkedIn</a><br> <a href="https://amaliacunninghamconsulting.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Amalia Cunningham Consulting</a><br> <a href="https://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/News_and_Views_Fall_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">News and Views American Planning Association, "Where Should Economic Development Live?"</a> Special Guest: Amalia Cunningham, AICP.</p> economic development, local economic development, community development, planning and economic development, municipal economic development, local government leadership, economic development consulting, public sector consulting, economic development strategy, community growth, city planning, urban planning, municipal planning, zoning and land use, development regulations, public-private partnerships, stakeholder collaboration, government operations, organizational structure in local government, restructuring economic development departments, outsourcing economic development, developer and local government collaboration, regulatory processes, resource allocation in local government, economic development best practices, Amalia Cunningham, Amalia Cunningham Consulting, Leading Ladies of Economic Development, women in economic development, women in local government In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee interviews Amalia Cunningham, AICP, owner and principal of Amalia Cunningham Consulting. They discuss Amalia's extensive experience in economic development, spanning over 20 years in local government before starting her own consulting practice. The conversation covers key topics, including the integration of planning and economic development, effective resource allocation, and the challenges and solutions for developers and local government staff in fostering community growth. Key insights include the importance of understanding local regulations, the impact of organizational structure on economic development outcomes, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The transition from public-sector leadership to private consulting. Amalia explains the key differences between working inside local government and advising from the outside, and how her background enables her to bridge gaps among policy, planning, and implementation.
  • Practical guidance for developers and local stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of understanding municipal processes, zoning, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Organizational structures (restructures) and their impact on effectiveness. Amalia explains when restructuring economic development departments makes sense, what local governments should consider during the process, and how structure can either enable or hinder results.

Quotable: “ No matter what side of the table you're sitting on, if you're an economic developer, if you're the private sector trying to do a project, I always try to approach my work and my practice assuming the best intentions from everyone else involved.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Amalia Cunningham on LinkedIn
Amalia Cunningham Consulting
News and Views American Planning Association, "Where Should Economic Development Live?"

Special Guest: Amalia Cunningham, AICP.

]]> In this episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Kaycee interviews Amalia Cunningham, AICP, owner and principal of Amalia Cunningham Consulting. They discuss Amalia's extensive experience in economic development, spanning over 20 years in local government before starting her own consulting practice. The conversation covers key topics, including the integration of planning and economic development, effective resource allocation, and the challenges and solutions for developers and local government staff in fostering community growth. Key insights include the importance of understanding local regulations, the impact of organizational structure on economic development outcomes, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The transition from public-sector leadership to private consulting. Amalia explains the key differences between working inside local government and advising from the outside, and how her background enables her to bridge gaps among policy, planning, and implementation.
  • Practical guidance for developers and local stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of understanding municipal processes, zoning, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Organizational structures (restructures) and their impact on effectiveness. Amalia explains when restructuring economic development departments makes sense, what local governments should consider during the process, and how structure can either enable or hinder results.

Quotable: “ No matter what side of the table you're sitting on, if you're an economic developer, if you're the private sector trying to do a project, I always try to approach my work and my practice assuming the best intentions from everyone else involved.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Amalia Cunningham on LinkedIn
Amalia Cunningham Consulting
News and Views American Planning Association, "Where Should Economic Development Live?"

Special Guest: Amalia Cunningham, AICP.

]]> Balancing Community Growth and Preservation │Janet Carlson http://www.llofed.com/season3-episode1-janet-carlson f4fbf08a-5bfe-4211-9239-cdc2bcf0a51b Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:30:00 -0500 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 36:48 no In this Season 3 kick-off episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Janet Carlson, CEO and Creative Director of the One Eleven Group. Janet discusses her career journey, the strategic move from New York to Cornwall, Connecticut, and her extensive community involvement in Cornwall. She sheds light on how the remote work revolution has impacted local economies and offers advice on maintaining a healthy work-life balance while leading a business. Janet also delves into the unique challenges and benefits of marketing a small town, and the importance of setting boundaries in public service roles. In this episode, we explore: * Community marketing and branding insights, focusing on campaign strategies and the results they achieved. * Why embracing flexibility in the workplace has become essential. * Insights on leadership and public service. Quotable: “  You can't control what people think about you. All you can control is your reaction. There are people who will love you. There are people who do not. Their business, not yours.” Resources and Links Connect with Janet Carlson on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetcarlson/) One Eleven Group | It starts with a plan. (https://111-group.com/) Town of Cornwall, Connecticut (https://cornwallct.org/) Special Guest: Janet Carlson. Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Economic development leadership, Community growth and preservation, Community marketing and branding, Place branding strategies, Small town economic development, Women leaders in economic development, Local economic development In this Season 3 kick-off episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Janet Carlson, CEO and Creative Director of the One Eleven Group. Janet discusses her career journey, the strategic move from New York to Cornwall, Connecticut, and her extensive community involvement in Cornwall. She sheds light on how the remote work revolution has impacted local economies and offers advice on maintaining a healthy work-life balance while leading a business. Janet also delves into the unique challenges and benefits of marketing a small town, and the importance of setting boundaries in public service roles.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Community marketing and branding insights, focusing on campaign strategies and the results they achieved.
  • Why embracing flexibility in the workplace has become essential.
  • Insights on leadership and public service.

Quotable: “  You can't control what people think about you. All you can control is your reaction. There are people who will love you. There are people who do not. Their business, not yours.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Janet Carlson on LinkedIn
One Eleven Group | It starts with a plan.
Town of Cornwall, Connecticut

Special Guest: Janet Carlson.

]]> In this Season 3 kick-off episode of the Leading Ladies of Economic Development podcast, Janet Carlson, CEO and Creative Director of the One Eleven Group. Janet discusses her career journey, the strategic move from New York to Cornwall, Connecticut, and her extensive community involvement in Cornwall. She sheds light on how the remote work revolution has impacted local economies and offers advice on maintaining a healthy work-life balance while leading a business. Janet also delves into the unique challenges and benefits of marketing a small town, and the importance of setting boundaries in public service roles.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Community marketing and branding insights, focusing on campaign strategies and the results they achieved.
  • Why embracing flexibility in the workplace has become essential.
  • Insights on leadership and public service.

Quotable: “  You can't control what people think about you. All you can control is your reaction. There are people who will love you. There are people who do not. Their business, not yours.”

Resources and Links
Connect with Janet Carlson on LinkedIn
One Eleven Group | It starts with a plan.
Town of Cornwall, Connecticut

Special Guest: Janet Carlson.

]]>