Networking & Associations for Economic Developers: Jeremy Sowders on the Way of Hoosier Energy

In this installment of our "Stories from the Road" mini-series, Devin packs up the mic and heads to Bloomington, Indiana, to sit down in person with Jeremy Sowders, Economic Development Leader at Hoosier Energy and recent Board Chair of the Indiana Economic Development Association (IEDA).

In a candid, laugh-out-loud conversation, Devin and Jeremy cut through the corporate jargon to discuss what networking actually looks like when you refuse to be fake. They explore the stark differences between working for a community EDO versus a utility company, how to keep industry associations from becoming echo chambers, and why "trophy hunting" for massive projects can sometimes put your organization at risk. Plus, Jeremy shares his deeply relatable struggles with ADHD in a networking-heavy profession, leading to the infamous "Folder of Shame."

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Accidental Economic Developer: How a college student studying to be the next Crocodile Hunter stumbled into a 20+ year career in economic development.
• Utility vs. Local EDO: Why the risk profiles of a power cooperative and a local community don't always align, and the importance of checking your ego before chasing the next mega-project.
• The True Value of Associations: Why advocacy and securing a "seat at the table" are the most critical functions of groups like the IEDA right now, and how to stay focused on essential issues.
• The "Folder of Shame" & CRM Traps: How to manage networking follow-ups when you have a bad memory, why over-engineering your Salesforce CRM is a trap, and how introverted extroverts can build genuine, authentic connections.
• The Hoosier Energy Advantage: Moving beyond standard pitches about taxes and logistics to what site selectors actually crave: brutal honesty, fast answers, and the unique regulatory flexibility of a co-op.

#EconomicDevelopment #SiteSelection #Networking #AuthenticLeadership #UtilityEconDev #HoosierEnergy #EconDev #CareerJourney #SiteSelectors

 

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