EPISODE · Sep 24, 2025 · 23 MIN
The Power of Showing Up in Communities with Jamie Beasley (Re-upload... take 2)
from Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development · host Dane Carlson
(Due to technical issues, this episode has been reuploaded. My apologies to Jamie and to all our listeners. –Dane) In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson welcomes back Jamie Beasley, who shares her path from chamber leadership to her current role as a Regional Development Specialist in north central Oklahoma. Jamie discusses the joys and challenges of working with small towns, the importance of building authentic community connections, and the value of bringing fresh ideas from other places. She also introduces her new initiative, Econ Dev Ops, a virtual assistant service tailored to chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, designed to help overburdened leaders focus on strategy and growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Spend time in the field. Nothing replaces face-to-face conversations. Look at how other communities solve problems; good ideas travel well. Small towns often lack staff capacity; find ways to connect them to resources. Collaboration across counties and regions can amplify limited resources. Celebrate small wins to keep communities motivated for long-term goals. Don't underestimate the importance of simply listening to local leaders. Recognize that chamber directors and small-town EDs often juggle multiple roles. Consider outsourcing administrative tasks (like social media, invoicing, and newsletters) to free up strategic capacity. Include small towns in summits and regional events--they often feel overlooked. Focus on relationships and encouragement--sometimes validation is as valuable as funding. Special Guest: Jamie Beasley.
What this episode covers
(Due to technical issues, this episode has been reuploaded. My apologies to Jamie and to all our listeners. –Dane) In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson welcomes back Jamie Beasley, who shares her path from chamber leadership to her current role as a Regional Development Specialist in north central Oklahoma. Jamie discusses the joys and challenges of working with small towns, the importance of building authentic community connections, and the value of bringing fresh ideas from other places. She also introduces her new initiative, Econ Dev Ops, a virtual assistant service tailored to chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, designed to help overburdened leaders focus on strategy and growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Spend time in the field. Nothing replaces face-to-face conversations. Look at how other communities solve problems; good ideas travel well. Small towns often lack staff capacity; find ways to connect them to resources. Collaboration across counties and regions can amplify limited resources. Celebrate small wins to keep communities motivated for long-term goals. Don't underestimate the importance of simply listening to local leaders. Recognize that chamber directors and small-town EDs often juggle multiple roles. Consider outsourcing administrative tasks (like social media, invoicing, and newsletters) to free up strategic capacity. Include small towns in summits and regional events--they often feel overlooked. Focus on relationships and encouragement--sometimes validation is as valuable as funding. Special Guest: Jamie Beasley.Sponsored By:Sitehunt: Sitehunt helps economic developers understand their sites, match them to projects, and respond with confidence in minutes instead of scrambling for days. Links:Jamie Beasley | LinkedIn Chamber Burnout with Jamie Beasley - A Podcast for Chamber Professionals Econ Dev Ops LLC Sitehunt Crowdfund Better SmartStart Business Development SaveYour.Town – Practical steps to shape a better future for your community, small town, rural or local neighborhood Oklahoma Department of Commerce | Building business in OK Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development 106: The First Month in the ED Director's Chair with Jamie Beasley
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The Power of Showing Up in Communities with Jamie Beasley (Re-upload... take 2)
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