Donald T. Iannone
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Economic Development and Public Policy Expert
Don has worked in economic development and public policy for over four decades. He has consulted with over 100 public and private clients in 32 states and internationally. His clients have included the State of Ohio (on several occasions) and regional economic development organizations (EDOs) in Tucson, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Charlotte, Toledo, Youngstown, Northwest Pennsylvania, Toronto, as well as numerous city and county EDOs across multiple states. Two of his former healthcare clients are the Cleveland Clinic and the Allegheny Health Network. His federal policy clients include the US EPA and the Departments of Interior, Commerce, and Labor. He has testified before Congress and several state legislatures and has spoken widely on economic development and public policy issues. He is a former board member and officer of the International Economic Development Council (American Economic Development Council and the National Council of Urban Economic Development), Mid-America Economic Development Council, and the Ohio Economic Development Association. He serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
Seasoned Writer
He is the author of five nonfiction books, including a 2024 bestseller about public policy and the American Dream, one book of short story fiction, twelve books of poetry, and ten photography books. Finally, he has published several academic and professional articles in various national and international journals.
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Teacher
Since 2020, Don has taught graduate business courses and supervised doctoral dissertations at the EU-based Transcontinental University. Systems-based strategy is his area of specialization. He founded and led the Economic Development and Environmental Centers at Cleveland State University for almost fifteen years. He served on the faculty of the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute for twelve years and was the director of the Ohio Economic Development Course for five years.
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Education and Personal Background
Don holds a doctorate in Philosophy, as well as degrees and professional diplomas in Economic Development, Divinity, Metaphysics, and Anthropology. He enjoys travel, fitness training, meditation, hiking, poetry, photography, and painting. He has two sons and three grandsons. He and his wife, Mary, reside in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His first eighteen years were spent in Eastern Ohio (Martins Ferry and St. Clairsville).
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