Dane Carlson
Speaking on Economic Development, Place, Storytelling, and the Future of Site Selection
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Dane Carlson helps economic development professionals think more clearly about their work, tell better stories about their communities, and build systems that make their organizations more useful.
He is the founder of Sitehunt, a property intelligence and RFI response platform for economic development teams, and the host of the Econ Dev Show, a widely followed podcast and newsletter in the economic development industry.
Before starting Sitehunt, Dane served as Director of Economic Development for Galveston County, Texas, where he worked on major industrial, infrastructure, and community development projects across the Houston-Galveston region. He has also led chamber and economic development organizations, built and sold a business, and spent more than two decades working at the intersection of local economies, technology, storytelling, and public service.
Dane's talks are practical, funny, and built for people doing the actual work. He speaks to economic developers, chambers, utilities, elected officials, board members, and community leaders about what is changing in economic development and what local organizations can do about it.
Speaking Topics
The Work Behind the Win: What 500+ Economic Developers Have Taught Me
Economic development is often judged by the announcement, the ribbon cutting, or the headline. But the real work happens long before a win is public. Dane Carlson shares lessons learned from conversations with more than 500 economic developers across the country, drawing on his work as host of the Econ Dev Show, founder and CEO of Sitehunt, and his own experience in local economic development. He explores what he is seeing in communities of all sizes: the pressure to move faster, tell clearer stories, build stronger partnerships, make better use of data and technology, and stay focused on the human work at the heart of economic development.
Economic Development Is Not Boring. It Just Needs Better PR.
Economic development is one of the most important professions in local government and community life, but the work is often misunderstood, under-explained, or hidden behind acronyms. Dane shows how economic developers can explain their work in ways that are clearer, more human, and more useful to boards, elected officials, local businesses, and the public.
Your Property Map Probably Can't Answer an RFI
Most communities have a property list or map. Fewer have a system for quickly answering the question that matters most: "Which sites fit, and what can we send today?" This talk explores how economic development teams can move beyond static property marketing and build a more useful site readiness and response process.
Podcast-Powered Economic Development
Dane built the Econ Dev Show into a trusted industry media platform by talking to strangers, asking useful questions, and showing up consistently. In this talk, he explains how economic development organizations can use content, interviews, newsletters, and local storytelling to build trust, educate stakeholders, and create long-term opportunity.
The Economic Developer as Chief Remover of Obstacles
Strategy matters, but much of local economic development comes down to finding and removing the obstacles that keep good things from happening. This talk reframes the profession around practical problem-solving, local knowledge, and the quiet work of helping communities move forward.
AI, Automation, and the Future of Economic Development Work
AI will not replace economic developers, but it will change what the job rewards. Dane explains where automation can help, where human judgment still matters most, and how small teams can use new tools without losing the relationship-driven heart of the profession.
Ideal Audiences
Dane speaks to:
- Economic development organizations
- Chambers of commerce
- Utility economic development teams
- State and regional associations
- Local government conferences
- Board and elected official retreats
- Community leadership programs
- Site selection and business attraction audiences
Formats
Dane is available for:
- Keynotes
- Breakout sessions
- Moderated conversations
- Workshops
- Board retreats
- Podcast-style live interviews
- Virtual presentations
Sample Bio
Dane Carlson is the founder and CEO of Sitehunt and the host of the Econ Dev Show, a podcast and newsletter for economic development professionals.
Previously, Dane was recruited to Texas from Mariposa, California, to serve as Director of Economic Development for Galveston County, where he led business attraction, retention, regional partnerships, and major project recruitment efforts, including work on the largest economic development project in Texas in 2019.
Today, Dane works at the intersection of economic development, technology, storytelling, and site selection, helping economic developers use better tools and clearer communication so they can focus on the work only humans can do: building trust, understanding communities, and moving good projects forward.
He lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife and their three sons.
Contact
Interested in having Dane speak at your event?