Dt #608 Crystal Ball 2026: Mark Perna on the Future of Workforce, Youth & Leadership
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Release Date: 01/07/2026
DT #622 Purpose, Control & Courage: Why the Next Generation Is Choosing Entrepreneurship Mark C. Perna
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this forward-looking episode of Develop This!, sits down with acclaimed speaker, author, and CEO to unpack one of the most important shifts facing economic and community development professionals today: the rise of the entrepreneurial generation. With 84% of Gen Z expressing interest in entrepreneurship, communities must rethink how they build talent pipelines, support startups, and cultivate opportunity. Mark shares insights from his 27+ years of building impactful businesses and explains why today’s youth view risk, safety, and control differently than previous generations. For them,...
info_outline
DT #624 Beyond the Terminal: Reframing Community Airports as Economic Engines
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with , Chief Financial Officer and founding member of , to explore the powerful — and often overlooked — role of community airports in economic development. Drawing from his professional expertise and personal passion for aviation, Ron makes a compelling case for why community airports must be viewed not as line-item expenses, but as anchor institutions that drive investment, healthcare access, business recruitment, and long-term growth. From general aviation to essential air service, airport marketing to emerging aviation technology, this...
info_outline
DT #620 The Power of Place: What U.S. Communities Can Learn from Australia’s Country University Centers
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Show Notes In this episode of Develop This!, sits down with from Brisbane to explore one of the most innovative and community-driven education and workforce models in the world: Country University Centers (CUCs). Designed to expand access to tertiary education in regional and rural Australia, CUCs are community-led, community-run facilities that allow students to pursue university degrees without leaving their hometowns. The result? Stronger local economies, reduced brain drain, and a new generation of homegrown talent fueling regional prosperity. Paul shares how this model emerged, why it...
info_outline
DT #621 Beyond the RFP: How Communities Win in Today’s Site Selection Landscape
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Show Notes In this episode of Develop This!, welcomes , Vice President at , for a wide-ranging conversation on how the role of economic developers is rapidly expanding—and what that means for communities trying to compete for investment and jobs. As a proud partner of the , Develop This! continues its mission of connecting economic developers with the site selection profession. This episode reflects that shared commitment: helping communities better understand how projects are evaluated and what it truly takes to deliver results. Andrew explains how the pandemic accelerated a shift away...
info_outline
DT #614 Raising the Bar on Site Readiness: Standards, Speed, and Site Selection
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with , Project Principal at , to unpack one of the most critical challenges facing communities today: . With more than 30 years of global consulting experience and nearly 400 site selection engagements across manufacturing, headquarters, R&D, technology, and shared services, Phil brings a site selector’s unfiltered perspective on how the site selection landscape has fundamentally changed—and why many communities are struggling to keep up. The conversation explores how manufacturing site selection projects now move at hyper speed, why...
info_outline
DT #619 How to Make Any Community Idea Friendly with Becky McCray
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with rural innovation expert , co-founder of and author of the bestselling books and . Becky brings a rare perspective to economic development—she doesn’t just study rural communities, she lives in one (population: 30). From running a small-town liquor store to serving as a city administrator and nonprofit executive, Becky has spent her career helping rural places adapt, innovate, and thrive. Together, Dennis and Becky explore why traditional economic development models often fail rural communities—and what works instead. They discuss...
info_outline
DT #612 Building Where It’s Needed Most: A Developer’s Take on Workforce Housing
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Housing has become one of the most urgent—and complex—challenges facing economic developers today. In this episode of , host sits down with , Owner and President of , , , and a housing developer. Speaking candidly from a developer’s perspective, Michael shares what it really takes to make housing projects work in small and mid-sized communities—and why so many well-intentioned plans never move from concept to construction. Drawing on his diverse portfolio across construction, real estate, energy, and community-focused development, Michael explains how housing challenges are deeply...
info_outline
DT #617 What’s Next for Communities and Leadership with Will Baggett
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this special Develop This! Crystal Ball Series episode, host welcomes speaker and author for a wide-ranging conversation about what the future holds for leadership, communities, and economic development in 2026. Dennis and Will explore how AI, shifting cultural values, and new economic forces are reshaping communities. They discuss why human connection may become a competitive advantage, how third spaces and phone-free environments are emerging as a correction to digital overload, and why adaptability is the most valuable leadership skill of the next decade. The conversation also dives...
info_outline
DT #618 The Site Selectors Guild Explained: Standards, Strategy, and the Future of Site Selection
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with , Managing Director of the . This episode continues the relationship between the Develop This! Podcast and the Site Selectors Guild, offering listeners direct insight into how site selectors think, lead, and shape economic development outcomes. Samantha shares her unique career journey and how early leadership experiences helped shape her holistic approach to site selection. The conversation explores why community understanding is just as important as data, how the Guild promotes integrity and objectivity in the profession, and why member...
info_outline
DT #611 From First Impression to Final Decision: The Art and Science of the Site Visit
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Site visits can make—or break—an economic development project. In this episode of , host is joined by , Executive Managing Director of and one of the nation’s most respected voices in site selection and economic development. With more than 30 years of experience across local and state government, nonprofit leadership, and the private sector, Larry has worked on nearly 600 projects, generating $12 billion in capital investment, creating 100,000+ jobs, and retaining more than 200,000 existing jobs. A former Chair of the . Larry brings unmatched insight into what site consultants and...
info_outlineAs Develop This! kicks off 2026, host Dennis Fraise continues the Crystal Ball series with a timely and thought-provoking conversation with Mark Perna—generational expert, author of Answering Why, speaker, and Forbes contributor.
Together, Dennis and Mark explore how the workforce and education landscape has (and hasn’t) changed since Answering Why was published in 2018. They examine generational shifts, the widening skills and readiness gap, and the urgent need for visionary leadership across economic development, education, and workforce systems.
Mark shares powerful insights on what young people are really asking for today, why inspiration and purpose matter more than ever, and how economic developers can better engage emerging talent. The conversation also dives into the accelerating impact of AI, the pace of change confronting communities, and the traits future-ready leaders and workers must develop to thrive.
This episode challenges listeners to rethink traditional workforce strategies, elevate collaboration, and lead with optimism—because, as Mark reminds us, young people are extraordinary and capable of shaping a stronger economic future.
Key Takeaways
- The workforce education landscape has seen surprisingly little substantive change since 2018
- Workplace readiness, professionalism, and etiquette are growing challenges
- Young people are eager for inspiration, meaning, and honest conversations
- Visionary leadership is essential to drive collaboration and economic growth
- The accelerating pace of change demands adaptability and proactive leadership
- Workforce readiness remains low, highlighting a persistent skills gap
- Students face new challenges balancing hope and opportunity in a shifting job market
- AI will significantly reshape workforce dynamics and skill requirements
- Diversity, adaptability, and resilience will define future workforce success
- Young people are not the problem—they are the solution