Economic Pulse Podcast

Insights for Success

Join local economic development professionals Tina Mengine and Laith Wardi as they demystify the concept of economic development during this weekly podcast.

Through engaging discussions with guests, Tina and Laith highlight economic development best practices from around the world. They also celebrate local and regional best practices from projects that demonstrate the transformational growth and opportunities available in and around Erie.

Tina Mengine

CEO, Erie County Redevelopment Authority

Tina has dedicated her career in the public sector to creating a more vibrant community in Erie and the surrounding region. As ECRDA CEO, she uses her vast experience at all levels of government and in economic development to guide the authority into a progressive and innovative organization that is not just meeting the needs of businesses and the community, but creating a vibrancy within the organization and the region. Under Tina’s leadership and vision, the ECRDA is leading the renaissance of northwestern Pennsylvania as an exemplary agency that boasts plenty of best practices — from a model revolving loan program to a brownfields industrial blight program.

Laith Wardi

President and Founder, ExecutivePulse, Inc.

Known as the guru of business retention and expansion, Laith is one of 1,200 economic developers across the globe to be certified by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) — the industry’s largest sanctioning and membership organization. He also teaches for the industry’s other main governing body, Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute, and routinely conducts state-level certification training throughout the country. Laith regularly speaks and provides training on economic development throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as limited engagements in Europe and Mexico.