The Rural Insights Podcast

In this episode, David talks about technology and cybersecurity with Lois Ellis, Executive Director of the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, Evan Rice, Vice President of Information Technology at CCI Systems, and Doug Miller from the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute.

Please note: Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of our conversation were cut off. We apologize for this issue, and hope you enjoy the episode.
In this episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, seasoned public administrator Scott Erbisch joins David Haynes to discuss the unique challenges faced by rural areas in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Topics discussed include air travel, broadband access, road infrastructure, housing affordability, and the impact of state and federal policies on rural communities. Scott sheds light on the complexities of managing rural public services and the ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life in these communities.

In this episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Duane DuRay, Airport Manager for Sawyer International Airport--the Upper Peninsula's largest airport. DuRay has served as the Airport Manager since 2012, following his position at Gogebic Iron County Airport.
Topics discussed include the challenges presented by the reduction in flights by American Airlines and Delta Airlines, the pilot shortage, the changes to the Essential Air Service, and how the Sawyer and Marquette County are dealing with these challenges.

In this episode, David sits down with Don Wotruba, UP native and Executive Director of the Michigan Association of School Boards, one of Lansing's biggest educational associations and one of the most powerful in the state.
In the podcast, Don discusses the educational policy work he is currently involved in--including managing the difficulties with mask mandates and other COVID-related policies that are controversial within communities and the tough decisions school districts are having to make.

David Haynes sits down with David Jahn, President and CEO of Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital. David has been with War Memorial for 15 years, and prior to that he was CEO and CFO at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique (his hometown) for 22 years.
David has his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from Lake Superior State University. He is currently a member of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Board of Directors and the Vice-Chairman of the Michigan Center for Rural Health Board of Directors.
In this episode, David Jahn discusses healthcare in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and the difficulties that are being faced not just at his facility but in hospitals throughout the UP, including nursing shortages and strain, the impacts of COVID, new partnership opportunities with downstate universities to help attract and recruit more doctors, and funding difficulties from decreasing Medicare reimbursement rates.