The DeCesare Group Podcast

Hosted by Jim DeCesare

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Episodes

121

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Are you interested in South Central Kentucky's latest economic development and business activities? Then, you will not want to miss The DeCesare Group Podcast hosted by Jim DeCesare, a Kentucky Association of Economic Development Hall of Fame member. The DeCesare Group Podcast is a companion to the SOKY Economic Development and Business newsletter. In each episode, we'll talk to individuals who know about South Central Kentucky's latest economic development and business activities. You'll hear from industry leaders, business owners, and other experts in the field as they share their insights and perspectives on the economic and business landscape.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 12, 202645 min

Dan Harbison, Pinnacle Financial Partners

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Dan Harbison, Regional President of Pinnacle Financial Partners. Harbison brings more than 44 years of banking experience to Pinnacle, including more than three decades leading community banking organizations throughout the Bowling Green Community. He’s been involved in a lot of commercial development over the years and has had a front row seat to the growth of this community. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/

September 28, 202642 min

Jim Page, President/CEO, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

This week on The DeCesare Group podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Jim Page, new President and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. https://www.bgchamber.com/ Only a few months into the job, Jim Page is the inaugural guest on “The Green Room”, a Leadership Bowling Green Alumni exclusive event. The live podcast interview was followed by a meet and greet recently, and The DeCesare Group was thrilled to be a part of it. Jim brings 25 years of professional experience to the position, including 11 years serving as President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa. His experience also includes launching The EDGE, a business incubator and accelerator developed in collaboration with the University of Alabama and the City of Tuscaloosa, as well as helping create West Alabama Works, a nine-county workforce development initiative recognized for its industry-led, education-aligned model. I think you will enjoy this conversation getting to know him and what he sees for the future of Bowling Green! Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .

September 15, 202626 min

Wes Swietek, Author

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, Jim DeCesare sits down with Wes Swietek, Managing Editor of the Bowling Green Daily News and author of When the Bluegrass Ran Red . https://www.acclaimpress.com/authors/wes-swietek/ The book digs into one of Kentucky's most turbulent eras — the 1960s and early 1970s — when Bowling Green earned the nickname "Little Chicago," Newport was called "Sin City," and sensational murders, corruption, and vice were a regular part of life across the Commonwealth. Wes talks about the unsolved cases he encountered, the colorful and often chilling characters he uncovered, and what keeps drawing him back to local true crime history. It's his second book — his first, The Cemetery Road Murders , also explored an infamous homicide case right here in Bowling Green. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .

August 31, 202648 min

Congressman Brett Guthrie, United States Congress

This week on The DeCesare Group podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Congressman Brett Guthrie. https://guthrie.house.gov/ Guthrie was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 and represents the Second Congressional District. He currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the oldest standing legislative committee in the House with broad jurisdiction over our nation’s energy, the environment, health care, telecommunications, and consumer product safety policies. In this episode, he talks about his role as chairman, the Ratepayer Protection Act and how it could help address concerns about the impact of data centers on consumers, as well as the ongoing efforts to combat Medicaid fraud. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .

August 17, 202627 min

Rob Clayton, Warren County Public Schools

A brand new school year has just started, and our guest is Rob Clayton, Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools. https://www.warrencountyschools.org/ Clayton talks about the opening of the long awaited IMPACT Center and what it will mean to the students of Warren County. https://impactcenter.warrencountyschools.org/ He also shares what it’s like to lead the fourth largest – and arguably the most diverse – school district in Kentucky. He gets into how decisions are made regarding capital projects and how his team is carefully planning for even more growth as we get closer to 2050. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/

August 3, 202634 min

Jason Gumm, Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veteran’s Center

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, Jim DeCesare sits down with Jason Gumm, Administrator of the Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center. https://veterans.ky.gov/Veterans-Centers/Pages/Bowling-Green.aspx Gumm discusses the long-awaited opening of the state-of-the-art facility, which will provide around-the-clock skilled nursing care for 60 Kentucky veterans. Located on approximately 25 acres in the Bowling Green Intermodal Transpark, the 80,000-square-foot, single-story center represents a major investment in veteran care across the region. Drawing on nearly 30 years of nursing home management experience, Gumm shares what it means to lead the new veterans center, a role he describes as both an honor and a blessing. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/

July 20, 202632 min

Dylan Stanke, Easyr

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Dylan Stanke, founder of Easyr, http://easyrjobs.com a verified job discovery platform for Louisville, Bowling Green, Nashville, and Lexington. This episode focuses on entrepreneurship, solving real-world problems, and how Dylan turned personal frustration into a platform that’s helping thousands navigate the job market with confidence. He also talks about one thing most people misunderstand about today’s job market—and what job seekers should be doing differently right now. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .

July 6, 202633 min

Dr. Michelle Trawick, Chancellor SKYCTC

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Dr. Michelle Trawick, Chancellor of SKYCTC. https://southcentral.kctcs.edu/ This week’s guest just completed her first year as Chancellor of South Central Kentucky Community and Technical College. Dr. Michelle Trawick has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including nearly 20 years at WKU, her undergraduate alma mater. After earning awards for teaching, research, and student advising as a faculty member, Dr. Trawick moved into administration, serving at both WKU and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. A first-generation college student from Logan County, Dr. Trawick understands firsthand the life-changing impact higher education can have on individuals, families, and communities through both technical training and academic opportunities. She talks about the growth happening at SKYCTC, what people misunderstand about community and technical colleges in 2026, and how AI is impacting higher education. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group, visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ , and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .

June 22, 202631 min

Sam Terry, Kentucky Historian

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Historian Sam Terry. https://samterryskentucky.com/ As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Sam Terry shares his thoughts on what Kentuckians should better understand about this state’s role in shaping the nation, which historical figure from Kentucky he believes deserves far more national recognition, and what patterns from the past are repeating themselves in America today. Terry is a historian, author, speaker, and the creator of a popular blog sharing Kentucky history. While serving as managing editor of his local newspaper, his syndicated weekly column, “My Kentucky,” evolved into “Sam Terry’s Kentucky,” a daily blog featuring a mini lesson in Kentucky history for each date on the calendar. Now eight years later, the blog serves up a daily dose of history to over 46,000 subscribers. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .

June 8, 202630 min

Kelley Paul, Children's Author

This week on The DeCesare Group Podcast, join Jim DeCesare for his conversation with Kelley Paul, wife of U.S. Senator Rand Paul. As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Kelly has written two children’s books that tell the story of America’s founding and revolutionary history. Good Night Little American and Good Night Young American came out on June 2nd and tell the story of America’s founding and revolutionary history in an engaging child-friendly adventure. https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510788145/good-night-little-american/ From the shores of Plymouth Rock to the signing of the Constitution, children will explore the pivotal moments and heroes that define the American spirt. Kelley, who wrote True and Constant Friends in 2015, and co-authored The Case against Socialism with Rand in 2023, talks about the difference in writing a children’s book and how she was able to simplify America’s founding story. Catch The DeCesare Group Podcast on your favorite podcasting platform and every Sunday morning at 7 on 95.1-WGGC. If you enjoy The DeCesare Group Podcast, leave us a review, and to learn more about The DeCesare Group visit our website, https://www.thedecesaregroup.com/ and check us out on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@TheDeCesareGroup .