This survey of 197 economic development professionals provides insights into the challenges they face and priorities for their organizations. The top challenges cited were balancing job demands with changing priorities (21.5%) and dealing with political realities (13.1%). Maintaining new business outreach/attraction (21.5%) and existing business outreach/retention (17.3%) were seen as most important weekly tasks. When asked what advice they would offer others, 25% said to continue professional development and obtain certification. The survey highlights both the demanding nature of the work and the commitment of economic developers.

1. Survey Says:
INSIDE THE MINDS OF
SENIOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPERS
Andrew Levine, President/Chief Creative Officer
Development Counsellors International (DCI)
(December 5, 2013)

2. Methodology
• Online survey with 17 questions
conducted between November
13 – 21, 2013
• Sent to 1,224 economic
development executives in North
America (“CEO,” “President,”
“VP,” “Executive Director” titles)
• 197 responses received for
response rate of 16.1%

3. Respondent Profile – Demographics
AGE
60+
years, 2
7.7%
50 - 59
years, 3
2.8%
Under
40
years, 1
3.3%
40 - 49
years, 2
6.2%
GENDER
Female,
30.3%
Male, 6
9.7%

4. Organization Budget
Over
$5M, 16.9%
Less than
$500,000, 2
5.1%
$2.5M $4.99M, 12.
3%
$1M $2.49M, 27.
2%
$500,000$999,999, 1
8.5%

5. What do you see as the biggest
challenges facing the profession?
46.7%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
43.2%
40.1%
27.9%
26.9%
19.8%

6. Biggest Challenges Facing Profession
(continued)
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
19.3%
20.00%
13.7%
12.7%
10.2%
10.00%
8.6%
2.5%
0.00%
Communities No perceived Decline in
cannot
value of
private sector
maintain
economic
funding
basic services development
Other
Increased
Lack of nonscrutiny from
financial
funding
resources
providers

7. Biggest Challenges Facing Profession:
Sampling of “Other” Responses
“Leadership, Leadership, Leadership.”
“Duplication of economic development
services.”
“Too much pursuit of short-term.”
“Project bidding wars.”
“Economic development is not only
about jobs.”

8. Biggest Challenges Facing Profession
Differing Opinion by Age
Under 50 years
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
50 years and over

9. What are the biggest challenges facing
you as an economic development leader?
80.0%
60.4%
52.8%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
23.9%
20.8%
20.3%
11.2%

10. Biggest Challenges You Face as an ED Leader
(continued)
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
11.2%
9.6%
9.6%
9.1%
8.1%
4.1%
0.0%
Stress on home Lack of support
life
from Board of
Directors
Other
Lack of modern Finding relevant Lack of support
leadership skills
educational from peer group
opportunities

11. Biggest Challenges Facing You as an ED Leader:
Sampling of “Other” Responses
“Time spent on securing resources.”
“Lack of leading edge continuing
education.”
“System resistance to collaboration
tools.”
“Managing a shrinking marketing
budget.”
“Demands for a ‘quick fix.’"

12. Biggest Challenges Facing You as an ED Leader
Differing Opinion by Gender
Female
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
Male

13. Biggest Challenges Facing You as an ED Leader
Differing Opinion by Gender
Female
Male
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
Stress on
home life
Lack of
support from
Board of
Directors
Other
Lack of
modern
leadership
skills
Finding
Lack of
relevant
support from
educational
peer group
opportunities

14. The Greatest Survey Question Ever…
Would You
Encourage Your
Child To Become
An Economic
Developer?
Thanks, Ron!!!

15. Would you encourage your child to
become an economic developer?
Not
Sure, 28.
1%
No, 15.3
%
Yes, 56.6
%

16. Encourage Your Child To Become An Economic Developer?
Differing Opinion by Age
Under 50 years
50 years and over
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Yes
No
Not Sure

17. What do you wish you had been told before
you became an economic developer?
1. More political than expected (24.9%)
2. Diversity of skills is required to succeed
in the industry (9.0%)
3. How fun/rewarding it can be (6.2%)
4. That the field existed (5.6%)
5. To move up, you need to move (4.0%)
6. Demands on time/personal sacrifice
(4.0%)

18. What Do You Wish You Had Been Told?
Some Interesting Responses
“Every board member, investor, stakeholder and citizen
believes he/she is your boss and could do your job.”
“You must be fearless, ‘safe’ does not create real change.”
“The struggle to remain relevant and effective never ends.
It's a little like rock climbing. You can never relax and let go…
the fall might kill you.”
“You need to have a bottomless cup of energy and
enthusiasm.”

19. What is the most important thing you do
each week as an economic developer?
1. New business outreach/attraction (21.5%)
2. Existing business outreach/retention (17.3%)
3. Communication – internal and external (11.0%)
4. Staff development (8.4%)
5. Help community/stakeholders/staff stay focused
on strategic goals/mission (6.8%)

20. What is the hardest thing you do each
week as an economic developer?
1. Balance demands of job/
changing priorities (21.5%)
2. Dealing with political realities
(13.1%)
3. Dealing with stakeholders/
officials who don't understand
ED (10.5%)
4. Keep focused on mission
(8.4%)

21. Finish this sentence:
I know my leadership is successful if…
• Staff/community partners are
motivated and empowered
(29.4%)
• I have buy-in/support from the
community and we’re receiving
public acknowledgement (21.9%)
• Able to attract quality
investment/create jobs (16.0%)
• We're seeing results and meeting
our goals (8.6%)

22. “(My) team is
motivated, focused,
happy and
performing.”
“Residents lives are
improved by my
actions.”
“I can sleep without
Ambien.”
“I can get people to
understand the
long-term vision of
economic
development.”
“My work results in
investment and job
creation in my area.”
“Representatives of new
companies are making
statements such as, "We
could not have
accomplished our goals
without this (our)
organization."
“New jobs are
created without
giving away the
farm.”
“I put my team in a
position to be
successful
professionally and
personally.”
“My board and staff are
singing the same
tune…”
“Our organization is
perceived favorably by
local elected officials.”
“All stakeholders
know what the
organization stands
for.”

23. What is the one thing you would immediately
change about your leadership style?
1. Be more assertive/forceful
(13.4%)
2. Delegate more (9.7%)
3. Be more patient (9.1%)
4. Improve "coaching" or
management skills (8.6%)
5. Become a better
communicator (5.4%)

24. What economic development thoughtleaders do you regularly follow?
• Jeff Finkle/IEDC (12.0%)
• Richard Florida/Author (8.4%)
• Andy Levine/DCI (7.8%)
• Eric Canada/Blane Canada
(5.4%)
• Joel Kotkin/Author (4.2%)
• Ron Kitchens/Southwest
Michigan First (4.2%)

25. Who are the leadership gurus/experts
that you follow (not ED related)?
• Jim Collins (7.7%)
• Stephen Covey (7.1%)
• Warren Buffet (5.8%)
• Jack Welch (5.2%)
• Malcolm Gladwell (3.9%)
• John Maxwell (3.2%)

26. A Two-Part Question
Part 1:
Part 2:
How would you rate
the importance of
each of the following
factors to your
organization's
success?
How likely are you
to engage the
services of outside
professionals in
each area?

27. Part 1:
Importance to Organization’s Success
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
4.71
4.44
4.43
4.23
4.16
4.05
3.98
3.91
3.29

28. Part 2:
Likelihood of Engaging Outside Resources
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
3.76
3.06
2.95
2.94
2.74
2.74
2.71
2.17
1.99

29. What advice would you offer to a new member
of the economic development profession?
• Always continue professional
development/obtain CeCD (25.0%)
• Find a mentor (13.3%)
• Network, build relationships and
learn from others (10.6%)
• Get a broad base and diverse set of
experiences (8.0%)
• Be prepared/expect to move (7.4%)

30. “Join your state
economic
developers
association. Join
IEDC. Get active!”
“Relocate
when
everything is
going great.”
“Network and
maintain
relationships.
Provide others
superior service.”
“Find great mentors”
“Find a well
funded visionary
organization, find
a couple of good
older Mentors and
work hard and
learn everyday.”
“Work a variety of
ED jobs and at the
state, regional and
local levels.”
“Be willing to
move.”
“Engage your
community, be
transparent,
and always
keep your
board
updated.”
“Diversify your knowledge”
“Be politically aware,
but not politically
involved (if you work
for or are funded by a
governmental entity).”
“Continue education/get
certified.”
“Be open to new ideas and
opportunities. Take risks.
Resist conventional
wisdom.”

31. What organizations do you turn to for
professional development opportunities?
68.4%
13.4%
7.0%

32. How Do You Obtain News/Information? What is
the % for Print, Broadcast and Online Sources…
Print, 23.4
%
Online, 60
.4%
Broadcast,
16.2%

33. Please list your favorite news outlet(s).
PRINT
ONLINE
BROADCAST

34. How strongly have you embraced each of
the following social media networks?
5.00
3.82
3.28
4.00
2.53
3.00
2.51
2.00
1.00
0.00
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

35. One Consultant’s Point of View
Some Key Takeaways…
• “Politics” is the single greatest frustration among
senior economic developers.
• Many of the challenges cited by respondents have
more to do with “management” than “leadership.”
• Traditional functions – business
retention/expansion, investment attraction &
marketing – are at the center of an organization’s
perceived success.
• While the work is demanding, there is a general sense
of optimism and enthusiasm for the profession.

36. THANK YOU….
• Will email the presentation to everyone. Feel
free to share with staff and colleagues.
• Welcome your thoughts/comments and specific
any data requests. Call (212/725-0707) or email
me (andy.levine@aboutdci.com).
• If you are on LinkedIn, please join the 6,000+
members of “Economic Development 2.0”
• If you are on Twitter, please follow me at:
#DCI_Andy