"Don Holbrook's presentation to our recent event was thought provoking
and informative. It helped our association understand the shifting
economic times that we are living in and provided useful suggestion on
how to plan in these uncertain times."
- Neil Shelly
Executive Director
Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association
"Don, was spot on with regard to the economy and the pain that we are feeling globally, as our keynote speaker our audience of constituents found his presentation both insightful and inspiring. How we handle difficult situations will surely be the key to our success. Don's poignant manner in how he reminds us to stop and think, his message that the Great Recovery starts with our actions locally and with a mindset of just get it done, left a powerful message with our attendees."
- Kim Wood, Director of Planning & Development
Cumberland County, NJ
"Don brought valuable information to ASMI’s Green Marketing and Sustainability Conference. He provided attendees with key takeaways they can implement within their own organizations."
- Amanda Ward
Program Director
American Strategic Management Institute
Washington, DC 20005
"Don Holbrook was recently invited as a key-note speaker at our annual Economic Development Conference in Vancouver, BC. His audience found his talk on 'Globalization 101 - The Approaching Tipping Point' to be engaging and informative, and they received key information helpful in creating business development, both locally and globally. Don also led a workshop, "The Art of the Deal", which discussed the balanced risk between public and private sectors in deal development. Don's easy, friendly nature was welcoming, and left our economic development professionals with new and inspiring ideas for the future of our communities. Thank you, Mr. Holbrook for sharing your expertise and visions with our colleagues."
- Dale Wheeldon, Executive Director
Economic Development Association of British Columbia
"The I-70/75 Development Association strives to provide exemplary local and regional education and networking opportunities at our Annual Economic Development Summit. Having Don Holbrook as our Keynote for the 2009 Summit exceeded our Board's expectations. Don's insight into the current negative trends in the local and national economy as well as his defined path for how the national economy should 'retool' provided for both an extended discussion amongst the attendees and direction for our region's future focal points. It was also a pleasure to welcome Don home."
- Michael W. Davis, Summit Chair I-70/75 Development Association
Economic Development Director
City of Moraine
"Don Holbrook's book is the blueprint for a new kind of economic development. Read it if you care about readying your community for the 21st century."
- Richard Florida, Author of "The Creative Class", "Flight of the Creative Class" and his latest book, "Who's your City?"
"These are challenging times, a fact that too many Americans and their leader's still fail to understand. Holbrook argues persuasively that our corporate and community leaders must work much harder to remain competitive in the 21st century."
- Richard Judy, Author of "Workforce 2020"
Listen to a testimonial for, "The Little Black Book," by Jeff Finkle, CEcD, President/CEO, The International Economic Development Council, IEDC (2 mins. 30 secs.):
Don Holbrook stands tall at the forefront of economic development worldwide. Don combines creativity, commitment and deal-closing savvy in unprecedented ways. My development projects went from hazy visions to billion-dollar realities under Don's innovative genius. Like a chess grandmaster, Don sees the endgame long before others, and has developed unique strategies to close the largest and most challenging of development deals."
- Don Lessem, Founder, The EarthQuest Institute
"Don is one of the most creative people I have known in the economic development field. I have worked with Don at the national level (IEDC) and at the community level. He has the ability to analyze complex problems, identify realistic solutions and implement the results."
- Bob Ady
"Don has been an integral part of our expansion into Arizona, representing the state on our Board of Directors and serving on our Arizona Loan Committee. His commitment and expertise has led to our success in the Arizona market resulting in more small businesses successfully expanding and creating jobs in their Arizona communities."
- Kurt Chilcott, President & CEO, CDC Small Business Finance
"Don Holbrook has demonstrated an acute ability to visualize future economic development trends. He is an excellent task manager which resolves issues expeditiously and also takes projects beyond the original scope resulting in exponential job growth impact and community benefit. He is a fellow peer in the economic development arena in which I have the utmost respect and confidence.
- Frank F. McCrady, President/CEO, East Montgomery County Improvement District
"If 'Little Black Book' means the-best-thinking-from-a-wide-range-of-economic-developers-all-in-one-place, then you need to read this book."
- Rebecca Ryan, Next Generation Consulting, Author of Live First Work Second
"Don Holbrook, as the keynote speaker for two of our events, provided the connection for DuPage County business and government leaders to recognize the opportunities for business development as part of the formation of Choose DuPage -- a new economic development organization covering DuPage County in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois. The advent of technology and the international nature of business requires the identification of assets -- from human capital to the recognition of global connectivity of travel and telecommunications that is necessary for business and economic success. DuPage County leaders have the opportunity to build a strong and diverse economy with the recognition of the resources that Choose DuPage brings to the region. Don Holbrook's speech and workshop presentation were instrumental in those two events."
- Roger Hopkins, President & CEO Choose DuPage
"Don recently spoke at our one-day economic development summit held at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. Don was the keynote speaker and also presented two breakout sessions, each on a different topic. The keynote address was excellently presented and very well received, as the evaluations of the keynote address indicated. He provides a no holds barred viewpoint into the challenges faced by a community, whether rural, urban, or inner city. If you have not had the opportunity to hear Don, I would strongly encourage you to at least read his books, The Little Black Book of Economic Development and Who Moved My Smoke Stack?
- David Simonsen, Executive Director, Wayne Area Economic Development, Inc.
"Don Holbrook's solution-oriented Little Black Book of Economic Development is an antidote to the idea that globalization is merely a threat that must be slowed or even reversed. He promotes self-reliance tempered with the understanding that it is in communities' and nations' best interest to invest in all members of society. His forward-looking approach to economic development is refreshing and urgently needed at a time when the airwaves are dominated by those who would have Americans put our heads in the sand."
- Michele Wucker, author of Lockout: Why America Keeps Getting Immigration Wrong When Our Prosperity Depends on Getting It Right
"Don and I are kindred spirits in our mission to wake up the sleeping giant of economic development in this country. Don't push the snooze button again; buy this book and breathe it in."
- Rebecca Ryan, Next Generation Consulting, Author of Live First Work Second
