Richard Hall, General Manager of the New Castle County Department of Land Use, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the County's ongoing comprehensive plan update, planning implications resulting from real estate trends, and the future of land development and transportation in New Castle County. During this February 25, 2021 interview, Rich discusses how trends in the real estate sector are impacting the County's approach to planning and what it might mean for the future of the County's built environment. 

To learn more about the Department of Land Use in New Castle County, visit https://www.nccde.org/2135/Land-Use. For more information on the County's comprehensive plan update, including upcoming events and public participation opportunities, visit https://ncc2050-nccde.hub.arcgis.com/. Those interested in learning more about the importance and process of planning in New Castle County can access a Planning 101 course developed by IPA and NCCLU at https://canvas.instructure.com/enroll/999BFE.

This episode is presented as part of the "Emerging Development Trends in Delaware" series, featuring interviews with planning and real estate professionals working across Delaware. These conversations consider how the pandemic has directly impacted real estate development and land use in the region and how these trends may play out in the future. Listen to episodes in the series at soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/sets/emerging-development-trends.

Learn more about IPA at ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Comprehensive Planning in New Castle County, Delaware

Ilana Preuss, Founder and CEO of Recast City, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about her latest book, "Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing." Released by Island Press in June 2021, the book explains how local leaders can revitalize their downtowns by supporting small-scale manufacturing. It is available for purchase at Amazon and other major booksellers, and you can use the promo code RECAST to save 20% at https://islandpress.org/books/recast-your-city.

Topics covered in this June 2, 2021 interview include the value of small-scale manufacturing for economies of all sizes, the five-step method Ilana prescribes for community revitalization, and her thoughts on economic recovery opportunities for small towns and cities nationwide.

Ilana nurtured a passion for great places through her experiences working with big and small cities all over the country when she led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Through her firm Recast City (https://www.recastcity.com/), Ilana works with local leaders to create great places that build energy, increase the number of good-paying jobs, fill storefronts, and make people proud of where they’re from.

First State Insights is a podcast presented by IPA. Learn more about IPA at ipa.udel.edu. 

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License

Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing

Erin Norris, Natural Hazards Planner with the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the value of community partnerships for disaster response and recovery and opportunities to diversify the field of emergency management moving forward.

At DEMA, Erin is the State Public Assistance Officer and the lead coordinator for Individual Assistance programs, and she also acts as the State Voluntary Agency Liaison. Visit https://dema.delaware.gov/ to learn more about DEMA's work to coordinate emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery, and mitigation services in Delaware. To learn more about Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), visit https://www.devoad.org/.

IPA presents this November 2, 2021 interview as part of its First State Insights podcast and the Visions of Recovery series. This series seeks to shed light on opportunities for community, economic, and social recovery from the pandemic by engaging experts and advocates in conversations on five important questions:
1) What's one thing you think will be changed for good after the pandemic? 
2) What's one thing you hope will change?
3) What needs to happen for this change to occur?
4) What are you doing to make it happen?
5) How can folks get involved?

For the latest in the Visions of Recovery series, consult IPA's news feed (www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/about/news) or visit the series playlist on SoundCloud (soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/sets/visions-of-recovery). To learn more about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License

Visions of Recovery: Advancing Emergency Management

Dr. Rick Cotton, Associate Professor of Talent Management and Sustainable Innovation at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about employees and employers navigating the disruption of the pandemic and finding their way toward models of work that breed successful careers and productive organizations. This episode was recorded on December 10, 2021 and continues the Future of Remote Work series presented through IPA's First State Insights podcast. This series of articles and interviews seeks to shed light on remote work trends; explore implications for businesses, communities, and policymakers; and spur conversations to make this emerging reality work well for Delaware. 

Dr. Cotton’s primary research interests include career success, developmental networks, talent management, cross-cultural management, and leadership. He earned a BS in Management Information Systems and Marketing from Syracuse University and MS and PhD in Organization Studies from Boston College. He is a principal co-investigator on the GLOBE 2020 project (https://www.globeproject.com/) and a Cross-Cultural Collaboration on Contemporary Careers (5C) (https://5c.careers/) researcher. Rick has worked internationally in the United Kingdom and Japan, been a change management consultant and HR SVP, and consults regularly. To learn more and track his work, review his faculty profile at https://www.uvic.ca/gustavson/faculty/faculty/faculty/current/cottonr.php.

For the latest in the Future of Remote Work series, search for remote work articles on IPA's news feed (www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/about/news) and visit the Future of Remote Work playlist on SoundCloud (soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/sets/future-of-remote-work). To learn more about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License

Navigating the Job Reckoning

Ellory Monks, co-founder of The Atlas, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about major opportunities and challenges the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) presents for state and local governments. Topics covered in this March 10, 2022 interview include how Ellory and her team at The Atlas aim to spur transformative policy change and infrastructure investments; what is known about IIJA funding, timelines, and priorities; and how state and local governments can best organize to maximize the impact of infrastructure funds in their communities.  

The Atlas is a free online community for state and local government leaders to browse case studies, follow trending topics, and crowdsource ideas. Before founding The Atlas, Ellory was a consultant funded by philanthropies like the Rockefeller Foundation. She gained extensive experience working directly with local government officials to identify and implement strategies that solve complex infrastructure problems. Ellory also served in the Obama Administration, where she provided analytical and technical support to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on a wide range of infrastructure, energy, and environmental issues. She frequently contributes to the ongoing conversation about cities, infrastructure, and innovation in outlets like The Brookings Institution and The New York Times. For more information on The Atlas, visit https://the-atlas.com/.

To learn more about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Mapping the Infrastructure Investment Landscape

Lisa St. Clair, the President and CEO of Tail Bangers, and Michelle Harris, the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Delaware Office, speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, as part of National Small Business Week. This May 2, 2022 conversation focused on the growth of Tail Bangers and the personal characteristics, business practices, and public-private partnerships that can help make business success a reality.

Lisa St. Clair founded Tail Bangers in 2003, and she was named the 2022 Delaware Small Business Person of the Year. Tail Bangers is a dog treat bakery based in Millsboro, Delaware, that produces fresh, healthy dog treats made exclusively from US-sourced ingredients. 

Michelle Harris is the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Delaware Office, a role she assumed in February 2022. Earlier in her career, she was Regional Assistance Division Manager for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, an SBA Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, and Executive Director for the State of Delaware's Office of Supplier Diversity.

To learn more about Tail Bangers, visit tailbangers.com. To connect with Delaware's SBA office, browse to www.sba.gov/offices/district/de/wilmington. 

This episode is presented as part of the Delaware Founders' Stories series—a collection of conversations with underrepresented and underestimated entrepreneurs focused on documenting entrepreneurial journeys, recounting successes and failures, and reflecting on lessons learned for moving beyond the obstacles along the way. Listen to all episodes in the series at https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/sets/delaware-founders-stories.

For more information about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Tales of Small Business Success

Sal Mercogliano, host of the Youtube show "What’s Going On With Shipping?”, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the state of maritime shipping as we navigate our way out of both the pandemic and a supply chain crisis. Topics covered in this April 21, 2022 interview include major takeaways from the recent groundings of the container ships Ever Given and Ever Forward and the need to raise the visibility of the maritime industry in the United States. 

Sal Mercogliano is an Associate Professor at Campbell University and the Chairperson of the Department of History, Criminal Justice and Political Science. He’s a graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College and a former merchant marine.  He also earned an MA in Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology from East Carolina University and a Ph.D. in Military and Naval History at the University of Alabama.  In addition to his Youtube show, he is a frequent contributor to the industry news sites gCaptain and Freightwaves. To track Sal’s work, follow him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/mercoglianos) or check out his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/WhatisGoingonWithShippingwSalMercogliano).

This episode is a special #FreightFriday edition of First State Insights made possible by the Delmarva Freight Working Group—an ongoing transportation planning and economic development partnership coordinated by IPA, the Delaware Department of Transportation, and Delaware's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations: the Dover/Kent County MPO, the Salisbury/Wicomico MPO, and WILMAPCO.

To learn more about the Delmarva Freight Working Group, visit wilmapco.org/Delmarva. Visit ipa.udel.edu for details on IPA.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License

Making Sense of Maritime Shipping

Professors Allison Karpyn and Elizabeth Orsega-Smith speak with Julia O'Hanlon, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the interdisciplinary partnerships supporting older Delawareans. This April 29, 2022 interview addresses the role of intergenerational programming and the need for interdisciplinary expertise in designing and evaluating programs focused on aging adults.

Dr. Karpyn (https://www.cehd.udel.edu/faculty-bio/allison-karpyn/) is Co-Director of the University of Delaware at the Center for Research in Education and Social Policy (CRESP) and Associate Professor in the Department of the Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware. She has published widely on program evaluation methods; topics related to hunger, obesity, school food, supermarket access, food insecurity, healthy corner stores; and, strategies to develop and maintain farmer's markets in low-income areas. Dr. Karpyn also has hands-on experience working with community-based agencies and institutions, including non-profit organizations and retailers, to implement and study-specific approaches to increase access to high-quality food in low-income communities.

Dr. Orsega-Smith (https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/bhan/faculty/elizabeth-orsega-smith/) is an associate professor in the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition at the University of Delaware. Her research program focuses on the psychosocial determinants of health, with a specific interest in physical activity in older adults. Additionally, her service has involved intergenerational programming to connect grandchildren with their grandparents to improve both fitness and health and the relationship between the two generations. 

As a Policy Scientist at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), Julia O'Hanlon leads research and public service programs focused on health policy, including an ongoing focus on senior center programming and aging in place (https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/serving-delaware/health). For more information about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Interdisciplinary Partnerships for Older Delawareans

Maggie Ratnayake, Executive Director of Lori’s Hands, speaks with Julia O'Hanlon, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about service-learning models to support older adults and promote mutually beneficial experiences. This May 6, 2022 interview addresses the history and mission of Lori’s Hands, the value and impacts of intergenerational service-learning programs, and approaches to evaluating program impacts.

Established in Newark, Delaware in 2009, Lori’s Hands builds mutually beneficial partnerships between community members with chronic illness and college students, fostering empathy, connection, and resilience. To learn more about the work at Lori’s Hands, visit https://lorishands.org/.

As a Policy Scientist at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), Julia O'Hanlon leads research and public service programs focused on health policy, including an ongoing focus on senior center programming and aging in place (https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/serving-delaware/health). For more information about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Intergenerational Service Learning

Gabby Leri, Elise Hance, and Ruth Crump speak with Julia O'Hanlon, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about their shared experiences through Lori's Hands. This May 24, 2022 interview addresses students' career interests and what they've learned by volunteering with Lori's Hands; intergenerational learning and relationship-building opportunities; and the importance of social connections while dealing with chronic illness.

Established in Newark, Delaware in 2009, Lori's Hands builds mutually beneficial partnerships between community members with chronic illness and college students, fostering empathy, connection, and resilience. To learn more about the work at Lori's Hands, visit https://lorishands.org/.

As a Policy Scientist at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), Julia O'Hanlon leads research and public service programs focused on health policy, including an ongoing focus on senior center programming and aging in place (https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/serving-delaware/health). For more information about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

A Service Learning Snapshot

Sierra RyanWallick, a serial social entrepreneur, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about her passion for catalyzing positive change. Topics covered in this April 11, 2022 interview include Sierra's reflections on her past, present, and future as a social entrepreneur; the origins and growth of her startup UP Cycle Design (https://www.upcycledesign.org/); and the value of personal branding. 

Sierra RyanWallick is the Founder of AutumnLeaf Fundraisers, a nonprofit she started at ten years old that has raised over $100,000 for charity, and the Co-Founder and CEO of UP Cycle Design. This sustainable fashion startup diverts textiles and plastic bags from landfills while raising money and awareness for community causes. She serves on the advisory board of the nonprofit Girls for Business (https://girlsforbusiness.org/). Sierra also produces a vlog channel on YouTube, where she releases two vlogs a week about her journey as a college social entrepreneur with health challenges. To track Sierra's latest projects, visit https://linktr.ee/up.cycle.design.

This episode is part of the Delaware Founders' Stories series—a collection of conversations with underrepresented and underestimated entrepreneurs focused on documenting entrepreneurial journeys, recounting successes and failures, and reflecting on lessons learned for moving beyond the obstacles along the way. Listen to all episodes in the series at https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/sets/delaware-founders-stories.

For more information about the Institute for Public Administration, visit ipa.udel.edu.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Entrepreneurship for Social Impact

Tim Gibbs and Dr. Omar Khan of the Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association (https://delamed.org/) speak about connections among health, housing, and place with Julia O’Hanlon and Sean O’Neill, Policy Scientists at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration. Topics covered in this August 22, 2022 conversation include the function of housing and place as social determinants of health, the importance of collaboration among housing, medical, and planning professionals, and the focus and value of resources provided through the Delaware Journal of Public Health (https://delamed.org/initiatives/delaware-journal-of-public-health/).

Mr. Gibbs is the executive director of the Delaware Academy of Medicine / Delaware Public Health Association and publisher of the Delaware Journal of Public Health. A native Delawarean, he attended Wilmington Friends School, then Earlham College.  He later became certified in nonprofit management from the University of Delaware and earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from Arcadia University.

Dr. Khan is co-chair of the Delaware Public Health Association Advisory Council and serves as President & CEO of the Delaware Health Sciences Alliance (DHSA), a consortium of Christiana Care Health System, Thomas Jefferson University, Nemours, and the University of Delaware.  He is also a practicing physician interested in general primary care, medical education, outcomes research infrastructure, and global health.

The Institute for Public Administration is a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware. For more information, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Housing, Place, and Health Outcomes

Dan Shortridge, the author of DIY Public Relations, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about how communications professionals and organizations should tell their stories and generate publicity for their work. 

Dan Shortridge is a communications and marketing consultant and author with more than 20 years of experience in local public relations and daily journalism. He's led communications for state and local government agencies and helped support small businesses and nonprofits. Before moving into public service, he worked for 11 years as a reporter, editor, and designer at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio. In addition to authoring DIY Public Relations, he's the co-author of three local-interest books about Delaware and Delmarva. To learn more about Dan and his work, visit http://danshortridge.com/. 

This episode was recorded on October 6, 2022 for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

DIY Public Relations

Tim Shaffer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Chair of Civil Discourse at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, speaks with Troy Mix, associate director at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, about the history, dimensions, and future of engaged universities in the United States. Topics covered in this interview include the development of the land-grant university system in the United States; the need for universities to foster democratic citizenship; and the efforts Tim and colleagues at the Biden School are leading to make students engaged and effective citizens.

In March 2022, Dr. Shaffer was named the inaugural SNF Chair of Civil Discourse for the SNF Ithaca Initiative at the University of Delaware’s Biden School. In leading the Biden School’s SNF Ithaca Initiative (https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/research-public-service/stavros-niarchos-foundation-ithaca-initiative), Shaffer guides the delivery of the SNF Ithaca Initiative’s academic curricula and experiential learning programs. Established in the fall of 2021 with a generous grant from SNF, the Biden School’s SNF Ithaca Initiative seeks to increase the quality and quantity of civil discourse and civic engagement by instilling core democratic values on UD’s campus and beyond. Shaffer is also director of Civic Engagement and Deliberative Democracy with the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona. As an interdisciplinary scholar and practitioner of civil discourse, deliberative democracy, and civic engagement, Shaffer focuses on the role of civic professionals in institutional settings such as government, higher education, and non-governmental organizations ((https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/people/tshaffer).    

This episode was recorded on January 25, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for “First State Insights” wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Universities for Democratic Citizenship

Allison Taylor Levine, president and founder of the Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware and vice president for marketing and communications at the Delaware Community Foundation, speaks with Troy Mix, associate director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the importance of local news and information for our communities and efforts Allison is orchestrating to reinvigorate local journalism in Delaware. This interview covers the state of local journalism in Delaware, the types of local news and information that Delawareans need, and current programs and plans for the Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware.

Allison is passionate about democracy, journalism, and community – especially in Delaware. After starting her career as a reporter at several newspapers, including The News Journal, Allison has spent the past 20 years in various communications and community leadership roles in Delaware. In 2021, Allison founded the Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware (https://ljidelaware.org/). LJI currently operates an internship program to deepen the pipeline of local reporters from historically underrepresented communities; leads the Delaware Journalism Collaborative; and is working to launch Spotlight Delaware, a new collaborative nonprofit newsroom to empower Delawareans with information about the impact of public policy issues and strengthen our overall news and information ecosystem.

This episode was recorded on March 20, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.
Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Spotlighting Local Journalism

Andy Molanes, founder and CEO of Argentek, LLC,  speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about his journey as an entrepreneur, including the challenges and rewards of operating an export business, the small business support services Argentek has benefited from, and the positive impacts Andy and Argentek have made and hope to make in Delaware.

Founded in 2010, Argentek is a consumer electronics wholesaler that exports from its base in Wilmington, Delaware, to over 70 countries worldwide. In May 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Argentek as Delaware’s Exporter of the Year. To learn more about Andy and Argentek, visit https://argentek.org/. 

This episode was recorded on May 26, 2023, as a special #FreightFriday edition of First State Insights made possible by the Delmarva Freight Working Group—an ongoing transportation planning and economic development partnership coordinated by IPA, the Delaware Department of Transportation, and Delaware's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations: the Dover/Kent County MPO, the Salisbury/Wicomico MPO, and WILMAPCO. To learn more about the Delmarva Freight Working Group, visit http://www.wilmapco.org/goodsmovement/. 

For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.
IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Building an Export Business

Archie Campbell, Mayor of the City of Milford, Delaware, speaks with Julia O’Hanlon, policy scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the challenges and opportunities that led to his Delaware residency, a public service calling, and plans to retire in Milford. This interview covers Mayor Campbell’s personal and professional background and his perspectives on Milford’s changing population. 

This episode was recorded on May 12, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

From Wall Street to Main Street: Mayor Archie Campbell’s Journey

Jonathan Knopf, Executive Director for Programs at Housing Forward Virginia, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about developing and leading affordable housing efforts in Virginia. This conversation covers the motivation for and history behind the founding of Housing Forward Virginia and the steps the organization has taken to address the challenge of promoting and developing affordable housing in Virginia.

To learn more about Housing Forward Virginia visit https://housingforwardva.org/. Housing Forward Virginia’s 2022 housing study is available for review at https://housingforwardva.org/focused-initiatives/hb854-statewide-housing-study/. To review the FrameWorks Institute’s work on framing conversations about affordable housing, visit https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/issues/housing/.

This episode was recorded on March 29, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). 
For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Housing Forward Virginia

Ed O'Donnell, Senior Fellow at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), joins his IPA colleague Julia O'Hanlon to share insights on changes to Delaware's landscapes and demographics observed over a decades-long career focused on land use and infrastructure issues. As a retired, part-time staff member with IPA, Ed offers his perspectives on what makes Delaware an attractive place to live, work, play, and age. This interview covers Ed's professional background and his reflections on Delaware's demographic and development trends, with a focus on the connections between land use planning and aging in place.
 
This episode was recorded on June 5, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.
IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Lessons Learned in Land Use and Aging in Place

Scott Schuster, Delaware's Farm to School Coordinator, speaks with Julia O’Hanlon, policy scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about his role in supporting community access to local foods and Delaware's agricultural providers. Topics covered during this interview include Delaware's Farm to School program and the Farm to Community pilot program, the role of the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, and the health, quality of life, and economic benefits associated with local food procurement partnerships.

This episode was recorded on September 12, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Delaware's Farm to School Program

Doug Motley, Managing Principal at Jack Lingo Asset Management and current Vice Chair of the State of Delaware's Council on Housing, speaks with Sean O'Neill, Policy Scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about developing housing in Delaware. Topics covered during this interview include Doug's background, the development work he has been involved with over the past two decades, and some of the recent changes he has observed in the housing industry.

Visit https://www.jlamre.com/ for more about Jack Lingo Asset Management. To learn more about the Council on Housing, visit http://www.destatehousing.com/DirectorsOffice/council.php.

This episode was recorded on September 19, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/ or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Housing Development in Sussex County

James Pethokoukis, senior fellow and DeWitt Wallace Chair at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), speaks with Troy Mix, associate director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about his 2023 book, The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised (https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/the-conservative-futurist/). In this book, Mr. Pethokoukis advocates for embracing an “upwing” mindset to public policy that spurs innovation while ensuring economic security and broad quality of life improvements. This interview explores the importance of technological progress, the perils of downwing thinking, and the possibilities for public policy reform to chart a more upwing future.

As a Senior Fellow at AEI (https://www.aei.org/), Mr. Pethokoukis analyzes US economic policy, writes and edits the AEIdeas blog (https://www.aei.org/aeideas/), and hosts AEI’s Political Economy podcast (https://www.aei.org/tag/political-economy-podcast/). He is also a contributor to CNBC and writes the Faster, Please! ( https://fasterplease.substack.com/) newsletter on Substack.

This episode was recorded on November 6, 2023, for First State Insights, a podcast presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Toward an Upwing Future

Alison Cusack, Founder and Principal Lawyer of Cusack & Co, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about everything from maritime law and how she started in the industry to her new book, A Short History of Maritime, and her firm's digital comic book series, Container Jack, which mixes a dose of entertainment with education about the shipping industry.

Alison Cusack is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Cusack & Co Pty Ltd (https://www.cusackandco.com.au/), an innovative and forward-thinking maritime law firm based in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to her career as a maritime lawyer, Alison is the immediate past President of the Australian chapter of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association. She was recently ranked #58 on AllAboutShipping's Top 100 Women in Shipping List for 2023. She's a former Lecturer at Victoria University and the mastermind behind Propel Forward, a shipping 101 course she runs through Cusack & Co Academy. 

In 2023, Alison authored A Short History of Maritime: A cheat's guide for landlubbers and the landlocked, which is available for purchase on Amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Maritime-landlubbers-landlocked-ebook/dp/B0CK4NWY2M). Connect with Alison and Cusack & Co via LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-cusack/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cusack_and_co/), and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@theshippinglawyer). 

This episode was recorded on November 7, 2023, as a special #FreightFriday edition of First State Insights made possible by the Delmarva Freight Working Group—an ongoing transportation planning and economic development partnership coordinated by IPA, the Delaware Department of Transportation, and Delaware's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations: the Dover/Kent County MPO, the Salisbury/Wicomico MPO, and WILMAPCO. To learn more about the Delmarva Freight Working Group, visit http://www.wilmapco.org/goodsmovement/. 

For more First State Insights episodes, visit https://soundcloud.com/first-state-insights or search for "First State Insights" wherever you listen to podcasts.

IPA is a research and public service center within the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. For more on IPA, visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Maritime History and Comic Books with The Shipping Lawyer

Connie Holland, AICP, Director of the Office of State Planning Coordination (OSPC), and David Edgell, AICP, Principal Planner, OSPC, talk with Sean O'Neill, AICP, Policy Scientist, at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration, about the history and mission of the OSPC in Delaware and their recent update to the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending.

This interview was recorded on April 27, 2020. For the most up-to-date information on the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending please visit strategies.stateplanning.delaware.gov.

For more information about the Institute for Public administration visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa

Delaware's Strategies for State Policies and Spending

Lindsay Naylor, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences within the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and co-owner and co-founder of Musings Fermentation Underground, talks with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about the state of craft beverage production, challenges faced by small producers, and opportunities for industry growth in Delaware.

This episode was recorded on April 18, 2020. For more information on Musings Fermentation Underground, which is an aspiring craft brewery focused on wood-aged wild beers and kombucha, follow them on Instagram and Facebook at musingsfermentation or stop by Midnight Oil Brewing Company (www.midnightoilbrewing.com) to try their kombucha on draft. To stay up to date on Delaware's craft brewing and distilling industry, visit the Delaware Brewers Guild on Facebook.

For more information about the Institute for Public administration visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa

Craft Beverage Production in Delaware

Frank Ingraham, an experienced mediator for the Delaware Center for Justice and The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), talks with Danielle Metcalfe, a staff member in the Conflict Resolution Program at the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, about the benefits of using mediation to resolve conflicts in our communities.

The episode was recorded on May 4, 2020.

For more information about the Institute for Public administration visit https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/serving-delaware/crp/mediation.

Why Mediation Matters

Leann Moore, a staff member at the Conflict Resolution Program (CRP), speaks with Dabney Brice, a new alumna of the Biden School's Master of Public Administration program and IPA graduate public administration fellow, about how to have conversations with difficult people. View CRP's "Nine Difficult Personalities" handout for additional tips for communicating with each type: https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/content-sub-site/Documents/Difficult-People-CRP-2020.pdf

This interview was recorded on May 28, 2020. CRP, a part of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), is a unique resource dedicated to building statewide capacity for collaborative approaches to the resolution of conflict. To learn more about CRP, visit  https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/serving-delaware/crp.

For more information about the Institute for Public Administration visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Having Difficult Conversations

Joseph Kane,  Senior Research Associate and Associate Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, speaks with  Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about his research on the nation's infrastructure workforce and IPA's ongoing study of workforce development needs and opportunities associated with infrastructure in Delaware. 

For more information on the Brookings Institution, visit brookings.edu. Mr. Kane's research related to infrastructure and workforce development needs can be reviewed here: https://www.brookings.edu/author/joseph-kane/?type=research.

This episode was recorded on June  4, 2020. For more information about the Institute for Public administration visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Workforce Development for Infrastructure

Dot Foods' Marc Snyder, Director of Transportation, and Brian Sylvester, Transportation Manager, speak with Troy Mix, Associate Director at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about Dot Foods' new Delaware facility, including the current status of operations and short- and long-term plans for growth. 

This episode is a special #FreightFriday edition of First State Insights, made possible through a partnership of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) and the Delmarva Freight Working Group. 

To learn more about Dot Foods, visit dotfoods.com. For more information on the Delmarva Freight Working Group and its programming, visit wilmapco.org/delmarva.

This episode was recorded on June  11, 2020. For more about IPA, visit www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa.

Dot Foods in Delaware

Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics, speaks with Troy Mix, Associate Director of the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA), about her team’s ongoing adjustment to the remote work environment.

Topics covered in this November 12, 2020 interview include strategies Sarah and her team have used to maintain a workplace culture, efforts to enhance internal and external communication, and key lessons learned from managing through the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic.

Headquartered in Seaford, Delaware with seven regional service center locations throughout the country, Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company that offers people-centric freight solutions. As President, Sarah leads all aspects of Trinity Logistics. A big believer in servant leadership, Sarah coaches and mentors other leaders to assist in their growth and success. She was awarded the 2015 Delaware Business Times Best 40 under 40 award for being one of the region’s “best & brightest young professionals” and nominated as a top 5 finalist for the 2019 “Distinguished Woman in Logistics” award. Under Sarah’s leadership, Trinity Logistics is recognized as a top 20 freight brokerage on Transport Topics’ Top 100 Freight Brokerage List, a top third-party logistics (3PL) and cold storage provider by Food Logistics, and a Certified Great Place to Work®. 

This episode is the first in a Future of Remote Work series presented through IPA’s First State Insights podcast. This series of articles and interviews seeks to shed light on remote work trends; explore implications for businesses, communities, and policymakers; and spur conversations aimed at making this emerging reality work well for Delaware.

Visit trinitylogistics.com for more information on Sarah and the Trinity team. For the latest in IPA's Future of Remote Work series, search for remote work articles on IPA's news feed (www.bidenschool.udel.edu/ipa/about/news) and visit the Future of Remote Work playlist on SoundCloud (soundcloud.com/first-state-insights/sets/future-of-remote-work).

Opening and closing music: "I Dunno" by Grapes, used under Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Managing Remote Work

Information, perspectives, and analysis for public policy, management, and community and economic development in Delaware.

Presented by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), a research and public service center in the University of Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration.

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