As Butler County looks toward America 250, what does it take to build a community where people want to live, work and raise a family? In this episode, host Laura Crago sits down with Mark Gordon, Chief of Economic Development and Planning for Butler County, to discuss the ideas shaping the county’s future. Drawing from decades of experience in manufacturing and leadership that took him from Japan and France to Kentucky and Indiana, Mark reflects on why Butler County has always felt like home, and why he believes the county’s greatest strength is its people. Together, they discuss: * The importance of collaboration and cooperation * Why “people first” creates sustainable economic growth * Workforce development and the role of BC3 and Slippery Rock University * Butler County as a crossroads for opportunity and innovation * Manufacturing, history and the community’s evolving identity * Creating a county where the next generation can build careers, families and lasting roots The conve...