web01.fireside.fm Fri, 22 May 2026 09:44:44 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Leading Ladies of Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Public Private Partnerships” https://www.llofed.com/tags/public-private%20partnerships Fri, 06 Mar 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 Building a “Smart Place”: Systems Thinking, Workforce Insights, and Quality of Life in Huntsville │ Lucia Cape https://www.llofed.com/season3-episode3-lucia-cape 85c595ae-076c-470c-8dd7-1133213883ac Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500 Kaycee Bunch full 3 Kaycee Bunch 27:02 no <p>Lucia Cape, Senior Vice President of Economic Development and Workforce for the Huntsville Madison County Chamber, joins host Kaycee Bunch to discuss her nearly 20-year journey from workforce leadership into overseeing business recruitment and retention across Huntsville and Madison County. In this episode, Lucia shares how Huntsville’s “Smart Place” talent campaign, data-driven third-party analysis, and systems mapping approach have supported rapid growth and diversification across industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, and pharmaceutical manufacturing—including the recent announcement of an Eli Lilly facility. She explains how Huntsville connects workforce development from early childhood through retiree engagement, why emotional intelligence and adaptability are increasingly critical alongside STEM skills, and how quality-of-life investments—like outdoor recreation, arts, downtown livability, dog parks, and food trucks—help attract and retain talent. Lucia also emphasizes community partnership, continuous improvement, measuring the broader impact of economic development wins, and leadership lessons focused on building a community that future generations want to return to. </p> <p><strong>In this episode, we explore:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The “Smart Place” strategy and how Huntsville uses data and third-party analysis to support growth and talent attraction.</li> <li>Why systems thinking and workforce mapping help prioritize long-term education and talent pipeline investments.</li> <li>How quality-of-life and cultural vibrancy have become essential tools for recruiting and retaining talent.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Quotable:</strong> <br> &gt; “   If everyone in the community approaches it as, ‘we're all in this together’, economic development is not an individual sport.”&gt; </p> <p><strong>Resources and Links</strong><br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciacape/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Connect with Lucia Cape</a><br> <a href="https://asmartplace.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Home Page - ASmartPlace</a><br> <a href="https://hsvchamber.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Welcome - Huntsville/Madison County Chamber</a><br> <a href="https://www.acce.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ACCE | Home</a><br> Special Guest: Lucia Cape.</p> Huntsville Alabama, Huntsville economic development, Madison County Alabama, Smart Place campaign, workforce development strategy, talent attraction and retention, systems thinking, workforce systems mapping, data-driven economic development, business recruitment and retention, Huntsville Madison County Chamber, regional economic growth, aerospace industry Huntsville, advanced manufacturing workforce, pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion, Eli Lilly Huntsville, STEM workforce, emotional intelligence in the workplace, talent pipeline development, public-private partnerships, community collaboration, quality of life and economic development, downtown revitalization, outdoor recreation economy, arts and culture economy, leadership in economic development, future of work, economic diversification, building thriving communities Lucia Cape, Senior Vice President of Economic Development and Workforce for the Huntsville Madison County Chamber, joins host Kaycee Bunch to discuss her nearly 20-year journey from workforce leadership into overseeing business recruitment and retention across Huntsville and Madison County. In this episode, Lucia shares how Huntsville’s “Smart Place” talent campaign, data-driven third-party analysis, and systems mapping approach have supported rapid growth and diversification across industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, and pharmaceutical manufacturing—including the recent announcement of an Eli Lilly facility. She explains how Huntsville connects workforce development from early childhood through retiree engagement, why emotional intelligence and adaptability are increasingly critical alongside STEM skills, and how quality-of-life investments—like outdoor recreation, arts, downtown livability, dog parks, and food trucks—help attract and retain talent. Lucia also emphasizes community partnership, continuous improvement, measuring the broader impact of economic development wins, and leadership lessons focused on building a community that future generations want to return to.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The “Smart Place” strategy and how Huntsville uses data and third-party analysis to support growth and talent attraction.
  • Why systems thinking and workforce mapping help prioritize long-term education and talent pipeline investments.
  • How quality-of-life and cultural vibrancy have become essential tools for recruiting and retaining talent.

Quotable:

“   If everyone in the community approaches it as, ‘we're all in this together’, economic development is not an individual sport.”>

Resources and Links
Connect with Lucia Cape
Home Page - ASmartPlace
Welcome - Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
ACCE | Home

Special Guest: Lucia Cape.

]]> Lucia Cape, Senior Vice President of Economic Development and Workforce for the Huntsville Madison County Chamber, joins host Kaycee Bunch to discuss her nearly 20-year journey from workforce leadership into overseeing business recruitment and retention across Huntsville and Madison County. In this episode, Lucia shares how Huntsville’s “Smart Place” talent campaign, data-driven third-party analysis, and systems mapping approach have supported rapid growth and diversification across industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, and pharmaceutical manufacturing—including the recent announcement of an Eli Lilly facility. She explains how Huntsville connects workforce development from early childhood through retiree engagement, why emotional intelligence and adaptability are increasingly critical alongside STEM skills, and how quality-of-life investments—like outdoor recreation, arts, downtown livability, dog parks, and food trucks—help attract and retain talent. Lucia also emphasizes community partnership, continuous improvement, measuring the broader impact of economic development wins, and leadership lessons focused on building a community that future generations want to return to.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The “Smart Place” strategy and how Huntsville uses data and third-party analysis to support growth and talent attraction.
  • Why systems thinking and workforce mapping help prioritize long-term education and talent pipeline investments.
  • How quality-of-life and cultural vibrancy have become essential tools for recruiting and retaining talent.

Quotable:

“   If everyone in the community approaches it as, ‘we're all in this together’, economic development is not an individual sport.”>

Resources and Links
Connect with Lucia Cape
Home Page - ASmartPlace
Welcome - Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
ACCE | Home

Special Guest: Lucia Cape.

]]> How Planning, Structure, and Collaboration Shape Economic Development Outcomes │Amalia Cunningham, AICP https://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.

]]>