LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Jim Decesare, Dalal Alkady, Stocker Lloyd, Ryan Nance

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with economic development leaders and data strategists driving regional growth across the Southeast. First, Jim DeCesare, Executive Director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority and Founder of The DeCesare Group, recaps a historic run of capital investment and job creation in Simpson County, Kentucky. Jim shares frontline perspectives on project wins like the Kroger Distribution Center and Shinwon, navigating public perception around major data center developments, and his upcoming transition to launch a new economic development authority in Grayson County.Next, Dalal Alkhaldi and Stocker Lloyd from Lightcast examine the critical need for defensible, transparent workforce data in local economic development. Stalker breaks down why shift-share analysis often offers a more dynamic window into emerging growth than traditional location quotients, while Dalal highlights ongoing client training, AI workforce studies, and the dangers of unvetted data hallucinations in board presentations. Closing out the episode, Ryan Nance, Director of Economic Development for North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, discusses the grassroots role of electric co-ops in building resilient communities, balancing technical skills with courageous local communication, and preparing for the operational shift toward agentic AI workflows.The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.