On this inaugural episode we’ll be giving you an inside look on the Missouri Department of Economic Development, talking about who we are and what we do. Sitting down with us to give insight on the topic is Maggie Kost, Acting Director for the department.

Episode 1 - Intro to the Missouri Department of Economic Development

In this episode, we sat down with Stephen Foutes, Director of DED’s Division of Tourism. We talk all things Missouri tourism, including how the Division promotes the industry, its importance to our economy, and why our state is a great place to visit. We also discuss the award-winning That’s My Mo campaign and more!

Episode 2 - Division of Tourism

On this episode Shad Burner, Director of Federal Initiatives for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, gives us insight on the work happening within his department, as well as all things ARPA.

Episode 3 - Federal Initiatives & All Things ARPA

On this episode we sit down with BJ Tanksley, Director of the Missouri Office of Broadband Development, to discuss the numerous broadband initiatives that are #ConnectingAllMissourians

Episode 4 - Broadband Development in Missouri

On this episode we sit down with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Manager, Brandon Jenson. He tells us how CDBG programs are designed to support a community's wellbeing and greater capacity for growth. These grants are available in a variety of categories and can be utilized for a variety of community development initiatives.

Episode 8 - Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

On this episode of the Inside EcoDevo Podcast, we speak with Christina Carver, Director of the Division of Business and Community Solutions (BCS). Christina discusses BCS's role within DED, the variety of programs it administers - including the Missouri Works Program and Historic Preservation Tax Credit (HTC) Program - and more. 

00:00 Start
00:29 Guest intro and background
02:50 Business and Community Solutions Division (BCS)
03:40 Programs that BCS administers
06:01 BCS Team
07:51 How BCS’ categories fall under economic development
10:47 Missouri Works program
16:37 Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program (HTC)
20:35 Who are the BCS programs designed for?
22:25 Partnership with the Regional Engagement Division
25:14 HTC Improvement Initiative
29:22 How BCS helps Missourian’s prosper
30:00 Show wrap up and plugs

Visit our website: https://ded.mo.gov

Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissouriDepartmentofEconomicDevelopment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoEcoDevo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3591586/

Episode 15 - Business & Community Solutions Division

This episode features Jack Scatizzi, Executive Director of Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC). Jack discusses MTC's mission, how it helps tech startups, the economic impact of supporting new Missouri businesses, and more.

Episode 19 - Missouri Technology Corporation

On this episode of the Inside EcoDevo Podcast, we speak with Harry Roberts, the Missouri Military Advocate. Harry discusses the Office of the Missouri Military Advocate's support for Missouri military installations and missions, ensuring our state is military-friendly, and the economic impact of defense spending.

Episode 20 - Office of the Missouri Military Advocate

On this episode we speak with Division Director of Regional Engagement, Lori Becklenberg and International Trade and Investment Office (ITI) Managing Director, Natascha Lord. They speak about overseas ITI trade shows, trade missions, and how the work of the ITI office helps bring Missouri businesses and products to a global market.

Episode 23 - International Trade & Investment Office

Almost a year ago, we spoke with the Federal Initiatives (FI) team about the new ARPA programs. We catch-up with the new FI Director Kim Froemsdorf, and the Director of New Programs, Bradley Clark. Within a year, the FI Team launched nine new grant programs, conducted an extensive ARPA tour, and are currently working on additional grant programs. All this and more, in this episode.

Episode 24 - Catching-up with Federal Initiatives

A lot of work going on, but a lot of work still to do. Office of Broadband (OBD) Director, BJ Tanksley and Community Development Specialist, Adam Thorp speak about the continued efforts to expand broadband coverage to unserved and underserved locations across the state of Missouri.

Episode 27 - Expanding Broadband Access in Missouri

Director of Economic Research, Jeff Pinkerton, provides an update on Missouri's economy. Hear about how the economy is beginning to moderate, current inflation numbers, industry growth, and much more.

Episode 26 - Missouri's Economic Forecast with Jeff Pinkerton

Julia Campbell, IDEA Fund Manager for the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), provides an overview of the program. The IDEA Fund supports innovation and job creation through investments in Missouri technology startups.

Episode 32 - MTC IDEA Fund

St. Louis Regional Manager, Taylor Mazdra, talks about promoting economic growth in Missouri's St. Louis region.

Episode 28 - Promoting Economic Growth in St. Louis

We’re looking back at 2023 and highlighting the work of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Team DED’s work included business expansions, community development initiatives, addressing broadband availability, and deploying ARPA funds across the state, just to name a few. We look forward to what lies in store for 2024!

Episode 30 - 2023 End of Year Wrap-up

We sit down with Lesley Rone, Southeast Regional Manager for the Regional Engagement Division, to discuss the latest developments in our state's southeast region. Lesley provides an overview of the area's economic strengths, including its rich farmland, ideal transportation infrastructure, dedicated workforce, and more.

Episode 31 - Missouri's Southeast Region

Brittany Stiffler-Crabtree, Executive Director of the Missouri Community Service Commission (MCSC), discusses the annual Show Me Service Awards. As Brittany explains, the Show Me Service Awards recognize outstanding Missouri volunteers who are making a difference in their communities through the power of service.

Episode 33 - Show Me Service Awards

Mitch Rademan, Central Regional Manager for the Regional Engagement Division, discusses the latest developments in our state's central region. Mitch provides an overview of the area's economic strengths, ideal transportation infrastructure, dedicated workforce, and more.

Episode 35 - Missouri's Central Region

Shawna Searcy, Deputy Director of the Regional Engagement Division, discusses the latest developments in the Kansas City region. Shawna provides an overview of the area's economic strengths, explains how DED's programs have supported recent business expansions, and more.

Episode 38 - Missouri's Kansas City Region

Director Stephen Foutes and Public Relations Specialist Katie Blake, with the Division of Tourism, discuss summer tourism hotspots around the state of Missouri.

Episode 39 - Summer Tourism in Missouri

We sit down with Paul Eisenstein, Senior Director of Operations, and Danielle Briot, Deputy Director for the Division of Strategy and Performance, to discuss Missouri's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Paul and Danielle introduce CEDS, discuss its purpose, and explain how it will strengthen Missouri's economy.

Episode 41 - Mapping Missouri’s Economic Strategy

We sit down with Jeff Pinkerton, Director of Economic Research, and Stefan Herron, Strategy and Policy Analyst for the Division of Strategy and Performance, to discuss Missouri's industry clusters. Jeff and Stefan define industry clusters, explain their importance to our economy, and how they relate to Missouri's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Episode 42 - Exploring Missouri’s Industry Clusters

We sit down with Lori Becklenberg, Director of Regional Engagement, and Kim Froemsdorf, Director of Federal Initiatives, to discuss the Business Development and Community Infrastructure working teams for Missouri's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Lori and Kim shed light on the roles of their working teams and how they're contributing to the development of CEDS.

Episode 43 - Empowering Businesses & Enriching Communities

We sit down with Kristie Davis, Director of Missouri One Start, and Rachel Anderson, Executive Director of efactory, to discuss the Talent and Innovation working teams for Missouri's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Kristie and Rachel shed light on the roles of their working teams and how they're contributing to the development of CEDS.

Episode 44 - Growing Talent & Inspiring Innovation

We sit down with Marcie Lawson, President and CEO of Sikeston Chamber, Economic Development, and Tourism. Marcie shares the latest on her team's efforts to promote a prosperous southeast region in addition to how DED's partnership with the Chamber is helping Missourians prosper.

Episode 45 - Growing Sikeston's Future

We sit down with Doug Hermes, Statewide Planning Coordinator for the Missouri Association of Councils of Government (MACOG). Doug describes MACOG's work, his role, and how both are contributing to economic development statewide in addition to Missouri's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Episode 46 - Missouri Association of Councils of Government (MACOG)

In this five-part series, we begin covering the National Security Crossroads (NSC) workshop, that took place in early March, 2025. This workshop is the culmination of work to recognize the crossroads region of Missouri and Kansas as a cornerstone of our national defense ecosystem. In this episode, you'll be hearing the General Session of the workshop, which covered the National Security Crossroads project findings. This discussion features co-administers of the project, Harry Roberts, The Missouri Military Advocate, Perry Wiggins, Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council for the State of Kansas, and is moderated by the contract project manager, Michael Gund, with the Matrix Design Group.

Episode 47 - Growing the National Security Crossroads (NSC) Defense Ecosystem

In part two of our five-part series on the recent National Security Crossroads event, we cover how academia plays a critical role in the defense ecosystem. The defense industry depends on connections and partnerships with high-performing academic institutions to produce their desired workforce. It’s these partnerships that lay the groundwork for additional business attraction and economic growth. To discuss this further are Dr. Anthony Caruso with the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Mike Denning with the University of Kansas, Courtney Swoboda with the University of Central Missouri, Pierre Harter with Wichita State University. This panel is moderated by Sal Nodjomian with the Matrix Design Group.

Episode 48 - Academia’s Role in the NSC

In part three of our five-part series on the recent National Security Crossroads event, we cover economic and workforce development as core goals to any defense ecosystem. These concepts help bridge gaps between federal and private industry sectors, as well as introduce skilled works to high-paying jobs. The panelists you’ll hear from include Alan Cobb, President and CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Jill McCarthy with the Kansas City Area Development Council, David Skrzypiec, Vice President of Business Attraction at Greater St. Louis Inc., and Kent Glasscock, with the Flint Hills Regional Council. The moderator for this discussion is Charlie Perham, with the Matrix Design Group.

Episode 49 - NSC: Attracting Workforce Talent and Fueling Defense Private Sector Growth

In part four of our five-part series on the recent National Security Crossroads event, we cover Military Installations and Defense Communities. Military installations are the cornerstone of a defense ecosystem, and the communities that support those installations are just as important. How do you ensure that both achieve their highest economic potential? Well, that is what this episode will cover and the panelist you’ll hear from on this topic include Colonel Gerald Nunziato, who is the Fort Riley garrison commander, Dorsey Newcomb, Executive Director at the Fort Leonard Wood Institute and the Sustainable Ozarks Partnership, and Dr. Jerrod Wheeler, Superintendent of Knob Noster Public Schools. This panel is moderated by Brad Johnson with the Matrix Design Group.

Episode 50 - NSC: Military Installations, Resilient Communities, and the Warfighter

We conclude our coverage of the recent National Security Crossroads event. In this episode we hear insight into the current and future trends of the regional and national defense economy. Panelists include Eric Wollerman, President of Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies, Randell Gelzer Jr., Senior Director of State & Local Government Operations for the Central/Southwest Region for the Boeing Company, and Randy Moore, with AEsir Technologies. The moderator for this discussion is Sal Nodjomian with the Matrix Design Group.

Episode 51 - NSC: Defense Industry, Forging Collaborative Partnerships

The Inside EcoDevo Podcast gives you an inside look into the Missouri Department of Economic Development. You'll hear directly from our team members working on exciting initiatives that are helping Missourians prosper.

Inside EcoDevo

Popular tracks