DT #690 How Relationships Drive Economic Development: Lessons From Kirk Elmquist
Develop This: Economic and Community Development

DT #690 How Relationships Drive Economic Development: Lessons From Kirk Elmquist

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 7, 202635 min
  • Interview
  • Business & money

What can a career spanning sports, hospitality, tourism, and business development teach us about economic development? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Kirk Elmquist to explore his unconventional career journey and the leadership lessons he's learned along the way. Kirk shares why relationships are often more valuable than technical skills and how listening, trust, mentorship, and community involvement have shaped his approach to business and economic development. The conversation also explores the transformation of Branson and the Ozarks into a major tourism and golf destination, including the influence...

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It's Dennis, another great guest to him today, and that is Kirk Albenquest.

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So Kirk, that's quite a title.

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0:00

Welcome to Develop This, the number one podcast for economic and community development professionals with your host, Dennis Frazee. Welcome back to another edition of the Develop This podcast. It's Dennis, another great guest to him today, and that is Kirk Albenquest.

0:26

Kirk is the executive director, Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District. So Kirk, that's quite a title. Yeah, I don't have business cards. I just, it's too long.

0:36

I can't put it on there. It's called the TCED here, you know, local colloquialisms and jargon, but it really encompasses the marketing tax collection dollars to help tell the Branson story throughout the globe. Perfect.

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