Hosts Tina Emerson and Chris Kouri sit down with Marvin Price, Executive Vice President of Economic Development at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and a Board Member of the NC Economic Development Association (NCEDA). With the Triad region reaching new heights in economic development, Marvin shares how growth has been fueled by manufacturing, aerospace, battery supply chains, and life sciences. He also discusses NCEDA’s efforts to strengthen the profession through mentorship and advocacy, and what’s next for North Carolina as it tackles workforce, infrastructure, and competitiveness challenges. Tune in for an energetic conversation on how North Carolina is positioning itself for long-term success!

This episode, hosts Tina and Tushar sit down with Cristina Paredes, Executive Director of SC Nexus, South Carolina’s federally designated TechHub for advanced, resilient energy. Cristina shares how SC Nexus is transforming the state into a national leader in grid modernization, energy storage, and cybersecurity. We also dive into the bipartisan collaboration that helped secure $45 million in federal funding and how the initiative is already generating billions in investment and thousands of jobs. Tune in to learn how South Carolina is powering the future of energy and what it means for economic development across the region.

In this episode of Project Catalyst, hosts Tina and Tom welcome Leigh Davis, Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions and Business Development at Alabama Power Company. Leigh shares how the utility company is playing a pivotal role in shaping Alabama’s economic future, supporting everything from hyperscale data centers and EV manufacturing to rural site development and workforce innovation. We discuss Alabama Power’s strategic approach to balancing rising energy demands with infrastructure investment, the company’s involvement in landmark projects like Meta’s Montgomery data center, and much more. Tune in for a firsthand look into the forces driving growth across the Southeast!

In this episode, hosts Tina Emerson and Tom Brinkley sit down with John Driscoll, Director and CEO of the Alabama Port Authority, to explore the Port’s pivotal role in driving economic growth across the state. From competing with major ports to implementing a five-year vision for expansion, John shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Alabama is positioning itself as a logistics powerhouse in the Southeast. Tune in to hear industry veteran John Driscoll discuss the challenges and opportunities impacting Alabama’s economy, and how the state’s ports are increasingly becoming a gateway for global trade and a cornerstone for the region’s growth.

Hosts Tina Emerson, Chris Kouri, and David Spratley welcome North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley to the podcast. Recently appointed by Governor Josh Stein, Secretary Lilley shares how his rural North Carolina roots and extensive career in state government, including leading the state’s economic and pandemic recovery, have shaped his approach to economic development. He outlines his vision for the Department of Commerce and discusses priorities ranging from infrastructure investments to long-term statewide growth. Tune in now for an insightful conversation on the future of North Carolina’s economy.

This week, Tina and Tom welcome veteran economic developers Valerie Gray and Lori Huguley who help drive Alabama’s growth as owners of VaLor Strategies. Valerie and Lori share stories from their decades of experience as economic developers. We also dive into their insights on the unique challenges of economic development in rural communities in Alabama, the industries making the most impact, and the future of the state’s growth. Listen to the latest episode now!

Tina and David welcome Andrew Tate, the Economic Development Director at Duke Energy in North Carolina, to discuss one of the most pressing issues in economic development: the availability of power. We explore the growing energy demands of AI data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and EV battery facilities, and dive into how Duke Energy is addressing both high demand and clean energy requests. Tune in now!

For the first episode of 2025, Tina and Tom welcome Mike Oatridge, Executive Director of the Alabama Mobility and Power Center (AMP). The group covers the work of AMP as a research and workforce development center as well as the future of electric vehicles, including the market, workforce, EV ecosystem, and potential impacts of the new administration. Listen now!