Hosted by Strata Platforms, Charles Houser, Susan Donkers Franklin · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 21 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Welcome to The Ribbon Cut, the podcast pulling back the curtain on the complex, competitive, and often misunderstood world of site selection and economic development. Whether you're an economic developer, a corporate self-performer, or a seasoned site selector, this show is your insider pass to the decisions shaping the future of business growth and community development.Each episode features candid conversations with the people who actually make it happen—from groundbreakers to data geeks, deal-makers to ribbon cutters. We talk wins and failures, trends and tech, and the unexpected human stories behind site decisions that move millions.Think of us as your field guide to navigating RFPs, RFIs, incentives, timelines, and the real-world trade-offs that turn potential into projects. Whether you're building a new facility, managing the search process in-house, or just curious about how the deals get done, The Ribbon Cut delivers insights with soul and strategies that scale.
Strata Platforms, Charles Houser, Susan Donkers Franklin hosts The Ribbon Cut, a business show with 21 episodes published.
Rich Werner, President and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development, joins Susan Donkers and Charles Houser on the Ribbon Cut Podcast to talk about what is fueling growth in Weld and Larimer counties, the region one
Most economic development wins look like overnight successes. They're not. The real work starts 2–3 years before any public announcement and most people never see it. Susan and Charles sit down with Tiffany Coleman, Econ
The way site selectors search has evolved, and communities have more opportunity than ever to participate early in the process. In this episode, Susan and Charles examine how discovery in corporate location strategy is i
When markets feel uncertain, site selection doesn’t stop. It becomes more selective, more compressed, and more dependent on clear, reliable site information. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles sit down
Public economic data systems are being stretched thinner at the same time local decision-making depends on them more than ever. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles are joined by Ken Poole to explain what
Rural economic development is less about landing one big win and more about making disciplined, data-backed decisions over time. Carolyn Chrisman of Chrisman Consulting joins Susan and Charles to discuss how data-driven
Site selection has changed dramatically over the last two decades, but many communities are still operating as if it hasn’t. In this episode, Larry Gigerich of Ginovus joins Susan and Charles to share what he’s learned f
LOIS has been around for more than two decades, but many teams still ask what makes it different from other property marketing tools. In this FAQ edition, Susan and Charles take you inside the origins of LOIS, why a util
Everyone has questions about how to manage RFIs better, and Lasso sits at the center of that conversation. In this episode, Susan and Charles walk through the most common questions they hear from both site selectors and
Design-build is just the beginning. In this episode, we talk with Oliver Muenz-Winkler of Clayco, one of the nation’s largest integrated construction firms, to learn how they embed themselves in the full lifecycle of eco
Forget flashy incentives. South Dakota is winning advanced manufacturing and foreign direct investment by doing the fundamentals better than most. In this episode of the Ribbon Cut podcast, we sit down with Adam Molseed
Richard Blackwell has lived every phase of economic development on projects across 23 states. From spec buildings to industrial parks with built-in career centers. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, we cover: --> How to
Workforce data is about more than just filling jobs. It’s actually a strategic asset in the fight to win site selection deals. In this episode, Josh Wright of Lightcast joins Susan and Charles to unpack how labor market
Before a site goes live, the engineering has to work. So does the partnership. Brett Lauritsen from Olsson joins Susan and Charles to talk about what actually moves the needle on project readiness. With two decades of ex
Rail-served sites aren’t just about transportation—they’re about strategy. Adam Hess of CSX joins Susan Donkers to unpack what companies need to know when evaluating rail access as part of a location decision. With decad
If you're helping a manufacturing company land their next U.S. facility, this episode is packed with practical insight. Brian Devlin of ARCO Design/Build joins Susan Donkers to explain how an integrated design-build appr
Mike Grella (ex-Amazon, now Active Infrastructure) joins Strata to reveal what most communities get wrong about data centers. We go deep on power access, permitting pitfalls, and what it really takes to be ready for bill
Ever wonder who’s really behind the labor market data shaping corporate investment decisions? This episode takes you inside two pivotal conferences—C2ER and SelectUSA—through the eyes of Strata's team. We unpack how econ
Kim Gerlt of Missouri Partnership shares how Missouri is positioning itself as a strategic landing zone for major business investments. We discuss her work overseeing business recruitment and building capacity while prom
In the inaugural episode of The Ribbon Cut, co-hosts Susan Donkers and Charles Houser sit down to explore the long, often invisible process behind site selection and economic development. They share the behind the scenes
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The Ribbon Cut is hosted by Strata Platforms, Charles Houser, Susan Donkers Franklin. The show is categorised under business (government) and has published 21 episodes.
The Ribbon Cut has published 21 episodes.
The Ribbon Cut regularly covers business, government, education. It sits in the business category, with a government focus.
The Ribbon Cut is accessible for guests with genuine business expertise. A personalised, episode-aware pitch will still outperform a generic one every time.
The Ribbon Cut hasn't explicitly signalled guest openness in recent episodes. That doesn't rule out pitching. your hook just needs to be especially compelling and relevant to their recent content.
Episodes of The Ribbon Cut average 34 minutes. a focused format where a clear narrative arc and tight preparation matter most.
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