At PPR, we don’t just write about economic development; we live it, one client story, strategy, and design at a time. Every member of our team brings a different lens to this work, shaped by their own backgrounds, travels, and hometowns. So this year, instead of just telling you what Economic Development Week means, we asked our team to tell you themselves. Here’s how each of us is showing up for the communities we love this week:
Andrea: The New Hire with Fresh Eyes
As someone gaining a fresh perspective on economic development, Andrea, our fall intern, quickly learned how much of the work happens behind the scenes, from drafting communications to building outreach lists. Now when she walks her own downtown and sees new small businesses and infrastructure improvements, she sees the bridge between wanting change and actually making it happen.
Bob: The Game Changer
Bob ardently believes that sports propel economic development: they bring visitors to our communities, support local businesses, attract investment, and give people a shared reason to believe in a place. Helping create the Washington region’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games alongside leaders like Ted Leonsis, Russ Ramsey, Sheila Johnson, and Kevin Plank, he saw a bold vision rally people around an idea bigger than any one person, organization, or jurisdiction. The bid didn’t bring home the Games, but it left a legacy of stronger relationships and proof of what the region can accomplish. For Bob, this week is a chance to celebrate the big ideas that bring communities together.
Caleigh: The Story Hunter
Caleigh loves finding the stories hiding behind things that don’t seem exciting at first glance, whether it’s a financing program, a development project, or a conference. Dig in, and there are real people and real impact behind each one. For her, Economic Development Week is a reminder that the work with the biggest impact isn’t always the work everyone sees.
Gabby: The Big Picture Thinker
Gabby thinks of economic development as a liberal arts approach to business. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions, just communities and businesses shaped by people, relationships, and history. This week is her chance to step back and appreciate the partnerships that make it all possible.
Meg: The Advocate of Unsung Heroes
Meg thinks of economic development as the quiet work hiding in plain sight: the free workshop that gives an entrepreneur the courage to leap, the site prep that paves the way for what’s next. She’s spending the week supporting a new local coffee shop, enjoying a new public art installation, and thanking clients for the unseen efforts that make life better for the rest of us.
Mia: The Traveler
Fresh off her honeymoon in Italy, Mia couldn’t stop noticing economic development everywhere she looked, from Rome’s preserved landmarks, Florence’s leather and art, to the fishing villages winding along the coast. Travel taught her to look at her own hometown differently, with a sharper eye for the improvements that make it a place people want to live, work, and visit.
Olivia: The Designer Loving the Details
Olivia thinks of economic development as the “ghostwriter” behind the places we love, humbly shaping downtowns and Main Streets long before anyone notices. As a graphic designer, she gets to make that invisible work visible, helping people connect with what’s happening in their own communities.
Sandy: The Economic Development Veteran Embracing Change
Economic development looks very different than it did 30 years ago, and Sandy wouldn’t have it any other way. What keeps her energized is the people: helping them explore, keep learning, and discover how much they can accomplish once they know which questions to ask and aren’t afraid to try something new! This week, she’s celebrating everyone who embraces change for the good of their team and community.
Shelby: The Downtown Devotee
Shelby’s learned to see her favorite shops and restaurants differently, as the product of real people investing in their communities. She’s celebrating with a walk through downtown Frederick, some shopping, and a happy hour toast with local economic developers, the people behind the places she loves.
Sophie: The Community Builder
Sophie sees economic development as community-building at its core: creating the conditions for people to participate, contribute, belong, and build meaningful lives in a place. For her, the most important work of economic development is strengthening the fabric of communities so they can grow, adapt, and endure. This Economic Development Week, she’s celebrating the many people and partnerships that quietly make that possible every day.
Caitlin: The Small Business Champion
For Caitlin, economic development is summer concerts in the park, farmers markets, and small businesses doing big things. She’s spending the week supporting local business at the tail end of a long tourism season, because every “shop local” choice keeps her community’s pulse alive.
This week, we’re not just celebrating economic development; we’re celebrating the people who make it happen, in ways big and small, seen and unseen. How are you celebrating the week? We want to hear all about it. Happy Economic Development Week from all of us at PPR!
