1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 This month on The Found Podcast, we're doing something a little different. We're bringing the boys in for a few episodes (don't worry, we'll be back to our women founders soon), and first up is somebody I've admired for a long time: my friend Ed Raber. Ed is the Director of Planning and Development for Dubuque County here in Eastern Iowa, but honestly, that title barely scratches the surface. Ed is a connector. A mover. The guy with an $8 Staples name badge who has spent thirty years showing up to Rotary, to library meetings, to coffee shops, to whatever room needed one more person willing to raise their hand. We talk about what it actually means to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem in a place like Dubuque County (spoiler: it starts with &quot;no wrong door&quot;), why farm ground and residential zoning matter more than you'd think, and the advice from a pastor that has shaped Ed's entire career: if you want to make a difference, you've got to stick with it. What You'll Hear Ed's path from urban planner to nonprofit economic developer to Dubuque County's Planning and Development Director Why he still wears a name badge everywhere he goes (and why you should too) What makes Dubuque County's rural population unlike almost anywhere else in Iowa The &quot;no wrong door&quot; philosophy behind a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem How 1 Million Cups came to Dubuque and why it works The Farley library project that started with one meeting Ed called himself Ed's answer to The Found Podcast's closing question, and the pastor's advice that changed how he shows up in the world Resources &amp;amp; Links Mentioned 1 Million Cups Dubuque Rotary International HACAP (Hawkeye Area Community Action Program) Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Iowa Rural Development Council Dubuque County Library system (Farley, Epworth, Peosta, Holy Cross) Community Vitality Center, Iowa State University Small Business Development Center, Dubuque The Innovation Lab, Jones Street, Dubuque Connect with Ed Find Ed on LinkedIn Listen and Subscribe Spotify Apple Podcasts Share This Episode If this episode reminded you to go order your own name badge, or hyped you up to finally show up to that thing you've been putting off... send it to a friend who needs the nudge. And tag us. We love seeing who's listening. &amp;nbsp; The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth http://www.mollyknuthmedia.com/podcast <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42365680/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/205003845