During the past five years, Economic Leadership has lead the development of State Economic Development and Economic Competitiveness Strategies for the state chambers of commerce in Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas and for both the state Chamber and the Department of Commerce in North Carolina. For these efforts, Economic Leadership assessed and presented extensive competitiveness and trends research; designed and facilitated strategic engagement processes; designed, conducted and analyzed stakeholder surveys; created metrics for measuring future success and made presentations to large state gatherings.

Economic Leadership has also completed multi-stakeholder economic development strategic plans for many communities, including complex regions such as North Carolina’s Research Triangle and Piedmont Triad, Northwest Arkansas, Virginia’s Dan River Region, and the Southern Carolina Alliance (SC). In each case, stakeholder engagement and developing actionable and measurable strategies was important.

One of the most pressing economic issues facing many communities today is the workforce. Economic Leadership has assessed local workforce conditions for the Springdale, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, the Durham, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky State Chamber, and the Occupational Industrialization Centers of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. For these contracts, we conducted interviews and created engagement processes with local businesses and local workforce professionals, making specific recommendations to move the communities toward a more demand-driven workforce focus. Recently we completed an assessment of the industry and occupational trends to help support the development of a strategic plan for GoVirginia’s Region 3, a deep dive into the supply and demand for Diesel Technicians in Arkansas.

Over the past five years, we have directed broad citizen engagement programs for the Kettering Foundation on community economic vitality and the future role of higher education. The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) engaged Economic Leadership to manage the development of its new five-year strategic plan. Our role was to develop and complete a citizen and stakeholder survey, facilitate listening sessions across the 8-state region, and assist the Governor’s offices in each of the states to develop a strategic plan to align with the DRA’s new plan. Economic Leadership develops and conducts stakeholder surveys, interviews, and focus groups for many of our clients and for other consultants.

Our clients have taught us that leadership is the key to strategic action. Ted is also a partner in a company, Business SMARTS Suite, which has developed four online assessment tools, including Group LEAD. Group LEAD helps organizations improve their group decision processes by focusing on (1) strategic perspectives, (2) innovation mindset, (3) getting things done, and (4) working together. These tools help our clients better implement the actions to achieve their strategic goals.

Economic Leadership maintains an extensive database of competitive factors for states and cities. Using multi-factor, client-informed, data analysis, we can identify competitive strengths and weaknesses for our clients. They can quickly assess their competitors and tailor their marketing to promote their strengths.

What is the impact of shifting demographics, technological advancements, and urbanization? Will the changes in workforce skill requirements make us more or less, competitive? What will be the impact of changing office demands, retail consolidations, or immigration policy? Economic Leadership has developed a trend analysis capability that can be customized for clients trying to anticipate what the new normal will be.

Ted speaks to groups across the country and internationally on many topics including the economy, the future of work, seeing the future through trends analysis and improving leadership. In North Carolina, Ted delivered State of the Region presentations for the Research Triangle Region, The Piedmont Triad, and the Eastern Region. In the past year, he keynoted conferences for the International Economic Development Council, The Southern Economic Development Council, The Southern Regional Education Board, The National Association of Workforce Professionals, The International Eisenhower Fellowships, Leadership Arkansas, Leadership Triangle, the Society of Industrial Realtors, The North Carolina Association of CPAs, The Alabama Arts Council, The Seattle Eastside Futures Conference, numerous corporate board and staff leadership events and many more.