Economic developers want actionable, proven playbooks. Growth Spurts is the voice of real-world development execution and success stories told by the people who made them happen. Using Henderson, KY, as a case study of rural and regional development, we reinforce the narrative of a strong local support system and of doing what it takes to prepare for the future, offering insights and strategies for similar communities.
Episode 9 of Growth Spurts welcomes Clay Gillham, the Executive Director of the Henderson KY Chamber of Commerce. In this episode, the duo discusses topics such as staying authentic when marketing your community, using what makes your community unique, upcoming chamber events, and much more!
27 Aug 2026
School Is In Session (feat. Dr. Bob Lawson)
On this month's episode of Growth Spurts, we welcome Dr. Bob Lawson, Superintendent of Henderson County Schools!
Together, our hosts tackle a range of questions and topics, from industrial partnerships in the classroom, being a united community, facts about Henderson County Schools, and a whole lot more!
This is an episode you won't want to miss.
30 Jul 2026
Keeping the Lights On (feat. Brad Bickett)
On this month's episode of Growth Spurts, we're joined by Brad Bickett, General Manager at Henderson Municipal Power & Light. Together, he and Missy cover a range of topics, including data centers and their impact, selling power back to the market, Henderson's infrastructure, and more!
You won't want to miss this!
25 Jun 2026
The Home Field Advantage (feat. Wade Gaynor)
From the baseball field to the boardroom, Wade Gaynor, Henderson County Market President at Independence Bank, joins us to talk about Henderson’s natural advantages, what it means to stay competitive and driven on and off the job, and shares some great advice for the next generation of leaders and decision-makers.
28 May 2026
Building Authentic Relationships (feat. Ben Johnston)
What does growth look like from the perspective of one of Henderson, KY's oldest existing industries? This question and more are answered on this month's episode of Growth Spurts!
Growth Spurts Ep. 5: Building Authentic Relationships features Ben Johnston, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Technical Officer of Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group. Together, Ben and Missy discuss building a culture in the workplace, team huddles, Ben's roles within HED, and more! Be ready to tune in this Thursday, May 28, to hear the full conversation!
30 Apr 2026
Henderson's Retail Playbook
On this episode of Growth Spurts, Executive Director Missy Vanderpool is joined by guest host Brad Staton, HED Board Member and Mayor of the City of Henderson, KY, for an update on retail development.
They'll cover retail recruitment, campaign season, collaboration with local partners, and much more!
26 Mar 2026
The Women Driving Development: Women's History Month
On this month's episode, the team celebrates Women's History Month with guest host, Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED) President and CEO, Terri Bradshaw!
Missy, Whitney, and Terri take a deep dive into women in leadership, economic development trends, share advice that's great for everyone, and more!
27 Feb 2026
Challenge Accepted!
Be sure to tune in to this month's episode featuring guest host, Henderson Economic Development board chair and President of Faupel Automotive, Kate Faupel Grealish! Missy and Kate have great discussions on collaboration, growing a community, accepting the challenge, and more!
27 Jan 2026
The Road Starts Here
In the inaugural episode of Growth Spurts, host Missy Vanderpool sits down with Henderson County Judge/Executive Brad Schneider to lay the foundation for how economic development works at the local level.
From the fundamentals of economic development to the critical role of collaboration, infrastructure, and long-term planning, Judge Schneider shares how leadership, partnerships, and patience shape a community’s growth. The conversations explore the impact of I-69, why infrastructure investments matter long before results are visible, and how Henderson positions itself for sustainable, future-ready growth.
This episode sets the stage for the series, offering practical insight into what it takes to build momentum, align stakeholders, and create opportunities that last.
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5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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