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New Vision for KC Development

By Susan B. Wilson

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-983901.mp3

Kansas City, Mo. – Last month, John Crawford stepped into a new role as interim CEO of the Economic Development Corporation, after a shake-up that ended with the departure of longtime head Jeff Kazmerek. The EDC is a non-profit organization started by Kansas City, Mo., about 25 years ago. It was created to help groups like the TIF commission and the Port Authority coordinate their efforts and encourage developments like the Power and Light district. Crawford, now at the hub of where all these organizations meet, is an urban planner with 15 years of experience working in Kansas City and describes this new opportunity as a "dream job." Susan Wilson talked to Crawford about his vision for economic development in a very uncertain economy.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Susan admits that her “first love” was radio, being an avid listener since childhood. However, she spent much of her career in mental health, healthcare administration, and sports psychology (Susan holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Bloch School of Business at UMKC.) In the meantime, Wilson satisfied her journalistic cravings by doing public speaking, providing “expert” interviews for local television, and being a guest commentator/contributor to KPRS’s morning drive time show and the teen talk show “Generation Rap.”
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