Welcome | Trust Builders

Trust Builders: The Key To Thriving Communities

by Amy Holloway

Trust Builders started with a simple question:

Why do communities with similar attributes have very
different outcomes?

The answer, again and again, is trust among local leaders.

This #1 bestselling book includes Amy's interviews with 31 local leaders from across the country who share lessons on how trust is built, repaired, and sustained. And how that trust has led to game-changing progress in
their own communities.

Inside, you’ll find:

The 8 Trust Builder Strengths
Practical, everyday actions leaders can take to strengthen relationships and accelerate results
Real stories from communities bringing big projects to life because of trust among their local leaders

Trust doesn’t require more funding. It requires more intention.

If you’re leading in a community—formally or informally—this
book is for you.

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Meet Amy Holloway

Amy Holloway is the president of Aha!—an economic development consultancy specializing in strategic planning—and a practitioner-in-residence with Harvard Kennedy School’s Reimagining the Economy Project. Amy helps places and teams build more prosperous futures.

Over a 30-year career, she has helped more than 200 communities design strategies for more resilient economies and long-term growth.

A retired partner at Ernst & Young and leader of the firm's national economic development practice, Amy previously founded and led Avalanche Consulting, one of the nation’s leading strategic planning firms.

With her upbeat, welcoming style, she brings local leaders together through conversations that spark “aha!” moments and shared action. Trust Builders is the culmination of Amy's career-long belief that trust among local leaders is the single most powerful force shaping thriving communities.

Amy lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and enjoys hiking, painting, and teaching Pilates in her free time.

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Perspectives

Future Fridays with Rebecca Ryan

March 20, 2026

Southern Economic Development Council Webinar

March 26, 2026

More content coming soon!

Speaking and Workshops

Trust Builders™ keynote speeches and workshops reveal how trust becomes a competitive advantage, amplifying resources, forming stronger partnerships, and creating better outcomes. Audiences leave with clear actions, an understanding of their individual Trust Strengths, renewed confidence, and a shared language for building trust where it matters most.

Inquire here about inviting Amy to speak at your next event, team meeting, or retreat.