Ahead of the Curve

Latest Episodes:

Episode 18: Ben Kolendar Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

This episode covers Salt Lake City’s strategic approach to supporting inclusive growth, building human capital, fostering healthcare innovation, and planning beyond vaccines for a holistic post COVID-19 economy.

About Ben Kolendar:
Benjamin is the Director for Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development. Prior to his position with the City, Benjamin served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of SelectUSA, the government-wide initiative to attract and retain foreign business investment in the United States. As a presidentially appointed official, Benjamin provided guidance to the Executive Director to create jobs, spur economic growth, and promote American competitiveness.

Before joining SelectUSA, he was dedicated to the development of Afghanistan’s economy as an official in the U.S. Department of Defense. Benjamin’s projects focused on stabilizing the war-torn country through economic development initiatives in the cashmere sector. He spent time on the ground in Afghanistan advising the Afghan Government, local Afghan businesses, and the U.S. government on policies that would help generate economic growth in the sector. Benjamin’s work was instrumental to the sector’s more than double growth from 2012 – 2015, and was recognized from both the Afghanistan and U.S. Governments for his contributions to the sector.
Benjamin has a MBA with an emphasis in globalization and international trade from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor’s in Philosophy from Utah State University.

Episode 17: Dr. Adesoji Adelaja Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

This episode covers the history and goals of the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute, place-based economic development strategy and policy, the history of placemaking in Michigan, and the opportunities that lie ahead for changing and reinvesting in America’s urban and rural places.

About Dr. Adesoji Adelaja:
Dr. Adelaja is a professor in land policy at Michigan State University and respected public policy expert who has served as advisor to several key local, state, and national policy makers.

Dr. Adelaja is the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy. Until April 2011, he served as director of the Land Policy Institute, which he founded in 2006. In that capacity, he also served as the director of a W. K. Kellogg Foundation grant which funded the Michigan Higher Education Land Policy Consortium (MiHELP) and the People and Land Initiative (PAL).
Prior to coming to MSU in 2004, Dr. Adelaja was at Rutgers University for 18 years, during which period he served as Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dean of Cook College, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Professor and Chair of Agricultural Food and Resource Economics, Director of the Food Policy Institute, Director of the Food Innovation Center, and Director of the Eco-Policy Center.

Dr. Adelaja has received numerous awards for excellence in research, outreach and policy leadership.

Episode 16: Congressman Dan Kildee Oct 21, 2020

Show notes

This episode coverscurrent economic stimulus legislation focused on short-term housing and small business relief as well as long-term financial vehicles to grow and reposition America’s cities for success, the purpose and history of the land banking movement, and the critical role of geographic and time-series metrics in building, executing, and evaluating the impact of policy.
About Congressman Dan Kildee:
Born and raised in Flint, Congressman Dan Kildee is a lifelong Michigander. In Congress, he has proven he can bring people together and get real results for his constituents and Michigan.
Congressman Dan Kildee holds various leadership positions in Congress. As Chief Deputy Whip—part of the Democratic leadership team in the 116th Congress—he acts as an important liaison among Members of Congress and the leadership to build support for Democratic priorities and legislation.
Congressman Kildee serves on the prestigious Ways and Means Committee, the oldest and one of the most powerful committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the committee, Congressman Kildee works to lower the costs of health care premiums and prescription drugs, protect Social Security and Medicare, negotiate fair trade deals, and create a tax system that benefits working families, not just the richest corporations. The committee also has vast jurisdiction over important programs including Unemployment Insurance, enforcement of child support laws, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and foster care and adoption programs.
Before being elected to Congress, Congressman Kildee co-founded and served as the president of the Center for Community Progress, a national non-profit organization focused on urban land reform and revitalization. He also founded Michigan’s first land bank – the Genesee County Land Bank – which is responsible for tens of millions of dollars in redevelopment in Flint. The Genesee County Land Bank later served as a model for over 100 other land banks across the nation.
Previously, Congressman Dan Kildee served as the Genesee County Treasurer, on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, and on the Flint Board of Education. Additionally, he worked for eight years at the Whaley Children’s Center, a residential treatment facility in Flint for children who have experienced trauma and abuse.
Congressman Kildee resides in Flint Township with his wife, Jennifer. They have two children, Kenneth and Katy. Dan’s oldest son, Ryan, and his wife Ginger are the parents of their first two grandchildren, Caitlin and Colin.

Episode 15: Arcadio Ramirez Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers the role of the Michigan Small Business Development Center in supporting small businesses and local economic development, how state and federal funds are delivered to local businesses, and how Michigan has worked to diversify its economy over the past decade.
About Arcadio Ramirez:
Arcadio is a Business Technology Consultant at Michigan Small Business Development Center . His love of early stage businesses began during his prior life as an attorney at Wilson Sonsini. He quickly realized that the competitive, fast moving and multidimensional environment of business better suited his character and he moved on to “doing deals” rather than papering them.

Arcadio’s passion with early stage technology and its potential to change the world has expressed itself throughout his career. It shaped him professionally by providing deep experiences across multiple functional areas: strategy, marketing & sales, operations and finance. Above all it instilled a sense of self-reliance and a focus on simply “getting things done.”

Arcadio’s specialities include: Private Equity Finance, New Business Formation and Development, Business Strategy, Marketing & Sales Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Finance

Episode 14: Mac Sims Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers the history and economy of Greensboro, the role of community development corporations in delivering workforce, community, and economic development resources to underserved communities, and why collaboration with other nonprofits and partners is key to best serving the community.
About Mac Sims:
Mac Sims is the President of East Greensboro NOW. President since inception in 1997, Sims has experience working as a consultant/developer for community development corporations in Wilmington, NC and Washington, NC, regarding single-family housing development and construction, as well as tax credit experience for multi-family housing developments.
Prior to EGN, Sims worked for Weaver Cooke Construction Company, LLC, serving in a variety of roles that included: commercial and residential real estate development, commercial and multi-family real estate management, business development manager and marketing manager for construction.
He serves on a number of local advisory boards and boards of directors including Salvation Army, the YMCA, and Wellspring Retirement Community. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University.

Episode 13: Doug Matthews Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers the intersection and evolution of innovation and technology in local government, the mechanics of local government and software provider partnerships, and how the City of Grand Rapids is using technology to address the financial and economic implications of COVID and social equity movements.
About Doug Matthews:
Doug is the Assistant City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. There here oversees internal operational functions to include human resources, IT, performance management, communications, equity and engagement.
During his career he has helped build open data, community engagement and performance management programs for several cities, including Grand Rapids and Austin, Texas. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Innovation and was recognized by the Obama Administration as one of 11 “Champions for Change” in local government innovation.

Episode 12: Rob Linn Aug 19, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers how the Detroit Land Bank Authority tackles its large inventory, the impact of vacancy and abandonment on neighborhood health, how COVID and social justice movements are impacting land bank policy, and the role of community land trusts.
About Rob Linn:
Rob is a seventh generation Detroiter and the Inventory Director at the Detroit Land Bank Authority, where he manages an inventory of 86,000 parcels and oversees research, strategy, field operations, and land use policy development for the organization. At the DLBA, Rob’s work is focused on housing strategy, vacant land planning, demographic and real estate analysis, and leveraging data to create more granular and proactive responses to the city’s vacant properties.
In addition to his work at the land bank, Robert serves as an adjunct professor of GIS and statistics at Lawrence Technological University, and is on the board of the Michigan Association of Land Banks.
He holds a BA in Economics and an MUP in Housing and Economic Development from the University of Michigan and is an author of several books, including Mapping Detroit: Land, Community, and Shaping a City (2015), and Belle Isle to 8 Mile: An Insider’s Guide to Detroit (2018).

Episode 11: Krista Trout-Edwards Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers land bank legislation and land bank history in Michigan and Ohio, the role of land banks in dealing with foreclosed properties, and how incremental development builds wealth in communities.
About Krista Trout-Edwards:
Krista joined the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) in 2011 as part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program team and was appointed as Executive Director in 2013. She also serves as the Michigan Association of Land Banks (MALB) Board of Directors Chair.
Prior to her work at the CCLBA, she spent several years as a County Planner in Indiana before relocating to Michigan and delving into the effects of foreclosure, vacancy and abandonment on municipalities.

At the CCLBA, Krista helped develop its mission and created the framework for its efforts in community stabilization and revitalization. She works to promote and further the goals of the Land Bank by collaborating with local partners on innovative strategies and funding streams. Krista leads a creative team of dedicated individuals focused on building capacity around, and positioning its properties for, reuse and/or redevelopment. Krista has twenty years of experience and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in Urban and Regional Planning. After serving for two years as the Vice Chair of MALB, she now serves as its Chair.

Episode 10: Shawntera Hardy Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers national, state, and local policies for addressing systemic racism, the importance of strong leadership for implementing those policies, and how software companies can help address inequality and COVID.
About Shawntera Hardy:
Shawntera M. Hardy is an award winning policy professional and serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience leading work in the areas of government affairs, healthcare access, economic and workforce development, environmental sustainability, city planning, and international affairs. Shawntera’s current leadership includes her roles as the founder of PolicyGrounds Consulting, a strategic management firm working at the intersection of public policy, organizational effectiveness, and placemaking; the cofounder and chief strategy officer for Civic Eagle, a tech company building policy intelligence software that automates state and federal legislative tracking; and as the cofounder of Fearless Commerce, a publication and platform focused on elevating Black women business owners.

Prior to going full-time in her business ventures, Shawntera was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) where she led a team of 1300 public servants and an annual budget of over $600 million. While at DEED, she played a critical role in shaping the lives of everyday Minnesotans by spearheading the state’s investment in inclusive economic growth and operational excellence. Additional past leadership roles for Shawntera include: deputy chief of staff for Governor Mark Dayton; policy director for FreshEnergy; government relations manager for HealthPartners; and city planner for the City of Saint Paul.
Shawntera has a strong commitment to serving in the community. She is currently a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis community advisory committee; Minnesota Public Radio board of trustee; Great North Labs advisor; and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, a global sorority grounded in servant-leadership. To ensure access to educational opportunities, Hardy co-founded and co-directs the Fatima Kinshasa Memorial Fund and the Pioneer Scholars Award, both at The Ohio State University.
Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Shawntera holds a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Affairs from The Ohio State University, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. Shawntera lives in Saint Paul, MN with her husband Aasim.

Episode 9: Jim Rokakis Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

This episode covers the history of the foreclosure crisis in Greater Cleveland and operationalizing state and national policy initiatives.
About Jim Rokakis:
Jim is Vice President of Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Director of its Thriving Communities Institute. He is involved in a number of activities, including the establishment of almost 60 County Land Banks throughout Ohio and working in Columbus and Washington, D.C. to raise funds for Ohio communities to deal with distressed properties.
Rokakis served for 19 years on the Cleveland City Council – the last seven as chairman of the finance committee. In 1997, Rokakis took office as Cuyahoga County Treasurer. Faced with Cuyahoga County’s mortgage foreclosure crisis, Rokakis helped to write and pass House Bill 294, which streamlined the foreclosure process for abandoned properties. Additionally, Rokakis was the driving force behind a bill that allowed for the creation of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, also known as the Cuyahoga Land Bank.
Former Attorney General, and current Governor Mike DeWine recently stated that Rokakis was the reason behind his decision to allocate 75 million dollars of Ohio’s 93 million dollars from the “Robo-signing” settlement for demolition. Rokakis helped to put the Ohio program and its rules into place. He played an integral role in the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to allocate a portion of the Hardest Hit Fund for demolition and in Cuyahoga County’s commitment of $50 million dollars for demolition. Working with the Ohio Congressional delegation he led the effort to reallocate an additional 2 billion dollars to the Hardest Hit Funds last December—with 192 million of those dollars coming to Ohio. To date, Rokakis has raised almost 450 million for the demolition of over 40,000 blighted structures in Ohio.
He is the recipient of numerous local, state and national awards, including being named “County Leader of the Year” by American City and County Magazine in 2007, and the recipient of the Cleveland Foundation’s Wadsworth Award in 2016. In December 2011, Rokakis was featured on the CBS program “60 Minutes”, discussing the need to fund demolition in distressed urban areas. He has written for numerous publications including the Washington Post where he wrote the cover story for the Outlook section about the foreclosure crisis and Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood.
Rokakis earned his undergraduate degree at Oberlin College and his Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall School of Law.

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