Donald Iannone

Don Iannone (Ya-known) has followed his curiosity through life, allowing it to guide him on a rich journey of exploration and discovery. His boundless curiosity has led him to immerse himself in writing, teaching, research, consulting, poetry, photography, and painting. Through these diverse pursuits, Don has crafted a multifaceted career, earning recognition as a thought leader, wisdom worker, author, and creative leader. His work reflects a deep commitment to understanding the world and sharing that understanding with others, inspiring countless individuals through his innovative and insightful contributions.

Don has worked in economic development and public policy as a consultant, advisor, teacher, and analyst for over four decades in 32 US states and internationally. He is the author of four nonfiction books [ Evaluating State and Local Economic Development Policy (1999), In Sacred Relationship, Learning from Lakota Spirituality (2019), Digital Spirituality (2020), and Stories from an Hourglass: A Personal Memoir (2023).] His economic development and public policy experience prepared him to write his latest book, America's Dream at a Crossroads, The 2024 Presidential Election and Beyond, which makes the case why the American Dream should be the defining issue in the upcoming presidential election.

Don has testified before Congress and several state legislatures and spoken widely on economic development and public policy issues. He has held national leadership positions in economic development as an accomplished strategist, writer, and educator. He has been a business strategy professor at Transcontinental University for five years. His students are worldwide. He is currently supervising the dissertations of two doctoral students in Ghana and Malta.

Don is a celebrated poet and photographer with ten published poetry books and ten photographic essays. His photographic exhibit on human trafficking was used in public meetings by the FBI and state and local law enforcement officers.

He prides himself on his creativity, communication skills, and ability to bring an informed and listenable voice to complex issues. In addition to his writing and teaching, Don is a certified mindfulness instructor and an ordained interfaith minister. Don is a cancer survivor. For seven years, he and his wife, Mary, worked as complementary medicine consultants at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, offering Reiki, meditation, journaling, and spiritual care to cancer patients and their families two days a week. His book, Cancer as Spiritual Teacher, was purchased by the Clinic and distributed to over 500 cancer patients.

Don is a gifted speaker and conversationalist on political and economic issues, poetry, personal creativity, complementary medicine, spirituality and religion, metaphysics, and philosophy.

Don holds doctoral degrees in divinity and philosophy and lives in Greater Cleveland.