Donald T. Iannone

Donald T. Iannone is Director of Regional Development at Transcontinental University, where he also serves on the faculty of the MBA and PhD in Business programs. He is the managing partner of Donald T. Iannone & Associates, based in Cleveland, Ohio, providing consulting services in business strategy, economic development, healthcare, and public policy.

Over a 40-year career, Don has led consulting and policy research engagements in 33 states and nine countries. He is the architect of multiple state and local economic development strategies, including initiatives developed for four Ohio governors. His work for the U.S. government includes public policy and economic studies for the Departments of Commerce, Labor, Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency. He has also provided economic development and healthcare consulting to several Native American tribes, including the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and has recently served as a strategy consultant to Allegheny Health Network and the Cleveland Clinic.

Don directed economic development and environmental centers at Cleveland State University for nearly 15 years and served for 12 years on the faculty of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. Earlier in his career, he conducted industrial policy research in East Asia, focusing on the rise of automotive and transportation manufacturing. He is the author of numerous articles, book chapters, and monographs on economic development, business, environmental quality, and public policy. His recent books include America’s Dream at a Crossroads (2024), and Stories from an Hourglass: A Personal Memoir (2023).

He serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and advises emerging entrepreneurs through Business Advisors of Cleveland. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Doctor of Divinity degree, and a Master’s degree in Philosophy. He is also a published poet and photographer.