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Donald T. Iannone

Director of Regional Development & Faculty Member

Don

Background

Donald T. Iannone is the Director of Regional Development at Transcontinental University (TU), and he serves on the faculty of TU’s MBA and PhD in Business programs. Don is also the managing partner of Kosmos Consulting and Research in Cleveland, Ohio, which works in the economic development, healthcare, and public policy areas. He has worked on consulting and policy research assignments in 32 states and 8 countries during his 40-year career. He is the architect of several state and local economic development strategies, including economic strategies for four Ohio Governors (Celeste, Voinovich, Taft, and Strickland). Don has conducted several public policy and economic studies for the U.S. Government, including the Departments of Commerce, EPA, Labor, and Interior. He provided economic development and healthcare consulting services to several American Indian tribes, including the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Recently, he has served as a consultant to Allegheny Health Network (Pittsburgh, PA) and the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio). He directed economic development and environmental centers at Cleveland State University for almost 15 years. In the early 1980s, Don worked for a year in East Asia assessing the rise of industrial policies in the automotive and transportation equipment industry. Don is the author of several articles, book chapters, and monographs about economic development, environmental quality, and public policy. He authored two new books in the field of contemporary spirituality in the past 6 months. He has extensive experience in economic development policy and strategy, industry analysis and industrial policy. He ran local and regional economic development organizations for 10 years. His educational background includes Doctor and Master of Divinity degrees, and a Master’s degree in Philosophy. Finally, Don is a published poet and photographer.

Areas of Expertise

  • Business and economic strategy
  • Business and industry intelligence
  • Public policy and business
  • Philosophical foundations of business and organizations
  • Spirituality and business
  • Foreign direct investment and international trade
  • Experience working in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Mexico, and Hungary
  • Healthcare strategy
  • Business and creative writing

Education

  • Doctor of Divinity, University of Metaphysical Sciences, California, USA
  • Master of Divinity, University of Metaphysical Sciences, California, USA
  • Master of Arts, Philosophy, University of Philosophical Research, California, USA
  • Professional Diploma, Economic Development Policy and Practice, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, USA
  • Graduate coursework, Organizational Behavior, Case Western Reserve University, USA

Key Publications & Presentations

  • Digital Spirituality, Its Rise and What It Means for Spiritual Identity, Belief, and Practice, (book) 2020
  • In Sacred Relationship, A Spiritual Compass for Today’s Turbulent Times Inspired by Lakota Wisdom, (book), 2020
  • COVID-19: New Fiscal Realities for State and Local Governments, (article), 2020
  • Responses to Global Value Chain Shifts in a Rapidly Polarizing World through Supply Chain Regionalization, Reshoring, and Foreign Direct Investment (article) 2020
  • We Must Reopen the U.S. Economy, but We Must Be Prepared to Successfully Manage the COVID-19 Virus Spread (article), 2020

Global Engagements

  • Research on the implications of global value chain restructuring on industry supply chains and firms (2020)
  • Research on reshoring and foreign direct investment trends (2020)
  • Economic development strategy consulting experience in North America, the European Union, and East Asia (1980s-2000s)
  • Regional economic strategy advisor in Hungary following the collapse of the Soviet Bloc (1993)
  • Economic development leadership training for Czech Republic elected officials (1994)
  • Trade and investment promotion missions in Western Europe, East Asia, and Canada (1980s and early 1990s)
  • Japanese automotive transplant strategies in the U.S. in 1980s-1990s

Donald T. Iannone: Honors & Awards

  • Board of Directors (Public Policy Chair), National Council for Economic Development (1992-1996)
  • Board of Directors, (Education and Certification Chair), American Economic Development Council (1992-1996)
  • Board of Directors, Mid-America Economic Development Council (1990-1992)
  • Board of Directors (President) Ohio Economic Development Association (1987-1991)
  • Board Member, Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit Authority (1992-1994)
  • Inducted into the Ohio Economic Development Hall of Honor (1995)