I truly appreciate Danny Hearn inviting me to the meeting this morning and allowing me to address the Chamber's Board. Below is my prepared statement and I am also placing it on the Project 3P website. I hope that you will begin visiting that website to see what the Future Economic Council is up to.
Thank You for allowing me to speak on behalf of the Future Economy Council. The Future Economy Council has given me hope that we can turn our area’s Economic Malaise around.
The last 2 meetings have been inspiring. Rick Smyre is very engaging and he certainly has a way of inspiring innovative communication. There are definitely quite a few forward thinkers in the group. This group seems to embrace the idea, notion, and actuality of an exponentially changing world.
The realities are that we need new skills, new approaches, and a different Philosophical framework for the world of tomorrow. And the world of tomorrow is actually here today. That is the reason why this area continues to fall behind. We have allowed innovation and technology to pass us by.
We are in a new age of enlightenment. We can’t cordon Hickory off from the global experience. Mr. Smyre believes that Catawba County's Future Economy Council is comprehensively setting up the initial conditions to deal with this New World effectively. One concept that Rick mentioned was the idea of looking at our community and organizations and building in resiliency. We have to develop capacities in our thinking, skills, and leadership to be able to adapt quickly in this exponentially changing world.
My role has been to develop a blog that will be the first in a number of websites dedicated to the process of rebranding Hickory as an area of innovation. I started a blog about the Hickory Metro’s political, economic, and cultural landscape called the Hickory Hound last August. I have received over 10,000 unique visitors to the website, in that short span, from cities around the world. I do not tell you this for self-promoting purposes. I am telling you this so that you might understand the possibilities of engaging the Global Community and helping them understand the Rebranding of Hickory and what we are setting out to accomplish.
The goals of this and subsequent websites will be to provide content, including books and links to websites, about what the Future Economic Council is trying to accomplish and what the Creative Molecular Economy entails. I will provide summaries of the agenda and the minutes of Future Economic Council and related meetings. We will create a message board forum that will allow for interactive communication between members and other interested parties.
My next goals are to interact with council members and devise a Mission statement. We want to outline a division of labor for both efficiency and effective purposes.
I really enjoyed Terry Bledsoe’s presentation of the Broadband upgrade opportunities for the area and the discussion that ensued. Since last Thursday I have had a couple of offshoot discussions that spoke to the limitless possibilities of upgrading our Broadband connectivity. If given the chance, this process will bear fruit. This is not the be-all, end –all, but it could enhance and attract entrepreneurs and forward thinkers from around the world to seriously enter Hickory into their equation.
In our last meeting, just last Thursday, Jay Adams said that he believes that the thing we need to aim at, is that there is going to be a lot of money thrown at solving problems like this (the Broadband issue). The project is going to have to be well formed and well thought out, it's going to have to look good on paper, it's going to have to be comprehensive. After the implementation, the maintenance is what local government and businesses have to cooperate to maintain. Hickory, because of size and layout, is in a much better position to implement these kinds of things than a major metro area.
Folks, the average citizen has been kept out of the loop on Economic Development Issues in this area. We are told that we are doing all the right things. We are told that it’s not the local government’s fault. It’s all caused by Washington and Raleigh. We have all the right ingredients, but we just can’t get over the hump. Apparently close only counts in Horseshoes, Hand Grenades, and Hickory.
I truly believe that the Future Economy Council is the missing ingredient. We have no plans to hide what we are doing. We are here and we are open to be approached from all angles. I believe in leaving the egos at the door. If this community will give us the tools and get behind what Danny, Rick, and this council are doing, then I 100% believe that we will bear fruit in the not too distant future.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Project 3P is Alive!!! -- The Future Economy Council
Project 3P
I have started a new blog per the request of Catawba County's Future Economy Council, which is a venture that was established by Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President Danny Hearn.
Project 3P is a play off of the idea of the future economy that is currently evolving. That economy is called the "Creative Molecular Economy." The 3P's = The Progressive Productive Proton Project. Progressive = the Future ( favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform) + Productive (Produce) = Create + Molecular = Proton (Positive Charged Molecule).
This website is just the first step in an ongoing process that we hope will evolve into something truly special. Let's work together to bring this community to the cutting edge of innovation. We already have so many tools at our disposal. This forum of open dialogue will lead to the innovation needed to bring us to an Advanced Economic Establishment for this community.
Thank You and May God Bless,
James Thomas Shell
I have started a new blog per the request of Catawba County's Future Economy Council, which is a venture that was established by Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President Danny Hearn.
Project 3P is a play off of the idea of the future economy that is currently evolving. That economy is called the "Creative Molecular Economy." The 3P's = The Progressive Productive Proton Project. Progressive = the Future ( favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform) + Productive (Produce) = Create + Molecular = Proton (Positive Charged Molecule).
This website is just the first step in an ongoing process that we hope will evolve into something truly special. Let's work together to bring this community to the cutting edge of innovation. We already have so many tools at our disposal. This forum of open dialogue will lead to the innovation needed to bring us to an Advanced Economic Establishment for this community.
Thank You and May God Bless,
James Thomas Shell
Saturday, May 23, 2009
10 questions with Harry Hipps
Harry has been a good friend of mine for nearly 25 years and he is the person that inspired me to start this site. We have come a long way in a short time with the Hound. This weekend we will hit the 10,000 unique visitor mark. Harry has a great philosophical mind and I highly value his opinion. I can assure you that this Q&A is the real Harry Hipps. (#3 in the series)
1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.) - I was born in Newton and was a graduate of Newton-Conover High School. I was elected Secretary/Treasurer of my class by write in vote, one of few to do so. I am a graduate of ECU with a degree in Music Education, a life long musician, currently doing some Church music and a member of the Newton/Conover Community Band. I am a volunteer for Rescue America Ministries, which was spun off from Charles Colson's ministries. Its focus is prison ministry and has focused on the Alexander County Juvenile Detention Facility. My home church is Gateway Baptist Church. I'm a baker by trade, formerly of Stone Hearth Bakery, now Pretzeltime at Valley Hills Mall.
2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life? I have shown sales growth every year in the high single digits to double digits in good economies and bad. I've had the opportunity to employ and befriend numerous younger people and help mentor them. My relationship with God is paramount and Spiritual growth is a joy and a challenge. Engaging people on the greatest and deepest issues of life is a passion of mine.
3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Well, if they were from my younger years they would say I'm a real jokester and should have been a comedian! Those who know me now would, hopefully, say that I am well read and have a passion for education, intelligent discussion on the issues we face in the world today and have a number of creative ideas.
4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? They have a great deal of impact on how I view what is happening in the world today and what I need to be aware of, but I also have to bounce them off my core values and ideas, beliefs, and practices that have proven to have lasting value. I am not too influenced by the buzzwords, trendy attitudes, and the "herd" mentality except to be aware of the influence it has on the people around me. I am comfortable in my own skin and have a solid framework for viewing the world.
5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? In my early days of managing people I was somewhat of a perfectionist and wanted the same in others. I frustrated some good people by not knowing what is enough and when to leave well enough alone. Now I can better gauge what is possible and find different avenues to reach what is needed.
6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? To conserve land and open spaces, while using the already developed areas in Hickory to better effect. You could write a book on this topic, but it involves public transportation, densifying Hickory's residential, office and institutional buildings, and other structures, to allow for fewer car miles and easier access to the goods and services we want and keeping as much of the woods, farmland and fields as possible.
7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? The democratization of City and State government. We can and should engage more people. With the internet we can give out public notices and save advertising costs. E-mailing links to interested citizens to the council and committee meetings could inform them what is coming up and they could respond to representatives with their concerns or suggestions. There are other ways we can include more people more often. To just hear from the population once every two, four, or six years at election time is simply not a vibrant or healthy way to run a democracy in the fast paced world of today.
8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? The overall theme would be transformation and revitalization. The globalization of the economy, leading to the loss of furniture and textiles, has fundamentally changed our future. I would like to take the great land, climate, cultural community, proximity to beaches, larger cities, mountains, lakes, and the other great assets and attract creative, productive people that can work in the global economy from Hickory and bring their distinctive talents to the area. We need to stop looking back, lamenting the loss of the things we can't control anyway and look to what is desirable and possible. Now is the time to recognize that we have to rebuild and we have opportunities to rebrand Hickory as a unique blend of the friendly hometown culture of Americana and the limitless possibilities of the high tech, molecular economy we are moving into.
9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? My hope is that I would be remembered as a person that came through turbulent times in my personal life and as a member of our society in times of transformation and finished the race well. I strive to serve God by being faithful to Him and to serve others. Jesus said the greatest gift was Love and I would hope to show it by living as purely as possible and serving others.
10) How do you define Leadership? There was a god of ancient mythology named Janus. Janus had a head that was looking in two directions at one time. I think a leader has to be somewhat like this. A leader has to be a really good listener and be able to understand the situations, ethos, and stivings of people and work on the modalities to see people achieve what they want. At the same time, a leader can't just see which way the wind is blowing and jump out in front of it. Sometimes a leader has to be an innovator or a person who sees what the crowd doesn't see and take the initiative when it may cause personal stress and unpopularity in the short term. How someone balances these disparate impulses is a critical feature of leadership.
1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.) - I was born in Newton and was a graduate of Newton-Conover High School. I was elected Secretary/Treasurer of my class by write in vote, one of few to do so. I am a graduate of ECU with a degree in Music Education, a life long musician, currently doing some Church music and a member of the Newton/Conover Community Band. I am a volunteer for Rescue America Ministries, which was spun off from Charles Colson's ministries. Its focus is prison ministry and has focused on the Alexander County Juvenile Detention Facility. My home church is Gateway Baptist Church. I'm a baker by trade, formerly of Stone Hearth Bakery, now Pretzeltime at Valley Hills Mall.
2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life? I have shown sales growth every year in the high single digits to double digits in good economies and bad. I've had the opportunity to employ and befriend numerous younger people and help mentor them. My relationship with God is paramount and Spiritual growth is a joy and a challenge. Engaging people on the greatest and deepest issues of life is a passion of mine.
3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Well, if they were from my younger years they would say I'm a real jokester and should have been a comedian! Those who know me now would, hopefully, say that I am well read and have a passion for education, intelligent discussion on the issues we face in the world today and have a number of creative ideas.
4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? They have a great deal of impact on how I view what is happening in the world today and what I need to be aware of, but I also have to bounce them off my core values and ideas, beliefs, and practices that have proven to have lasting value. I am not too influenced by the buzzwords, trendy attitudes, and the "herd" mentality except to be aware of the influence it has on the people around me. I am comfortable in my own skin and have a solid framework for viewing the world.
5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? In my early days of managing people I was somewhat of a perfectionist and wanted the same in others. I frustrated some good people by not knowing what is enough and when to leave well enough alone. Now I can better gauge what is possible and find different avenues to reach what is needed.
6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? To conserve land and open spaces, while using the already developed areas in Hickory to better effect. You could write a book on this topic, but it involves public transportation, densifying Hickory's residential, office and institutional buildings, and other structures, to allow for fewer car miles and easier access to the goods and services we want and keeping as much of the woods, farmland and fields as possible.
7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? The democratization of City and State government. We can and should engage more people. With the internet we can give out public notices and save advertising costs. E-mailing links to interested citizens to the council and committee meetings could inform them what is coming up and they could respond to representatives with their concerns or suggestions. There are other ways we can include more people more often. To just hear from the population once every two, four, or six years at election time is simply not a vibrant or healthy way to run a democracy in the fast paced world of today.
8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? The overall theme would be transformation and revitalization. The globalization of the economy, leading to the loss of furniture and textiles, has fundamentally changed our future. I would like to take the great land, climate, cultural community, proximity to beaches, larger cities, mountains, lakes, and the other great assets and attract creative, productive people that can work in the global economy from Hickory and bring their distinctive talents to the area. We need to stop looking back, lamenting the loss of the things we can't control anyway and look to what is desirable and possible. Now is the time to recognize that we have to rebuild and we have opportunities to rebrand Hickory as a unique blend of the friendly hometown culture of Americana and the limitless possibilities of the high tech, molecular economy we are moving into.
9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? My hope is that I would be remembered as a person that came through turbulent times in my personal life and as a member of our society in times of transformation and finished the race well. I strive to serve God by being faithful to Him and to serve others. Jesus said the greatest gift was Love and I would hope to show it by living as purely as possible and serving others.
10) How do you define Leadership? There was a god of ancient mythology named Janus. Janus had a head that was looking in two directions at one time. I think a leader has to be somewhat like this. A leader has to be a really good listener and be able to understand the situations, ethos, and stivings of people and work on the modalities to see people achieve what they want. At the same time, a leader can't just see which way the wind is blowing and jump out in front of it. Sometimes a leader has to be an innovator or a person who sees what the crowd doesn't see and take the initiative when it may cause personal stress and unpopularity in the short term. How someone balances these disparate impulses is a critical feature of leadership.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Future Economy Council Meeting (3) - 5/21/2009
I will go over this meeting chronologically, but I will let you in on the fact that this was another excellent meeting. This meeting got opened up and people just went with it on some new levels of innovative dialogue.
Welcome - Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President Danny Hearn started out the meeting by announcing that Rick Smyre has been named Chairman of the Gaston County Future Economy Council. Danny mentioned that several parallel processes have been taking place since the last time we met. Four new members joined the team including Mark Fleming, Congressman Patrick McHenry's Office; Andrea Surratt, Assistant City Manager, City of Hickory; Shane Pitman, Information Security Specialists; and Chuck Adair (Consultant). The Unifour Foundation grant will be decided upon during the first week in June.
Future's Communi-Versity: Speaker Joshua Cooper Ramo - Rick Smyre had the floor next and he spoke about the book that Danny has already sent us an e-mail about. The book is The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us And What We Can Do About It . (Rick did not mention this, but the author was the man who translated events and was a guest commentator during the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony on NBC). Joshua Cooper Ramo used to be an associate editor for Time Magazine. He lives in China and connects businesses to U.S. concerns. Ramo says, "We are in Revolutionary Times and We need Revolutionary Thinking." "We are living in a time when the ideas, the institutions, and the leaders are more attuned to an age that is 200 years ago." We are in a time of Civilization Change. Command and Control Management is no longer effective.
We need new skills. We need a new approach and a different Philosophical framework. We have to be able to identify weak signals. We are moving back to a new age of enlightenment. Rick believes that Catawba County's FEC is comprehensively setting up the initial conditions effectively. One concept that Rick mentioned was the idea of looking at our community and organizations and building in resiliency. We have to develop capacities in our thinking, skills, and leadership to be able to adapt quickly in an exponentially changing world.
Future Economy Council Website/ Hickory Hound Blog - Danny retook the floor and talked about our hopeful addition of an FEC website. He handed the floor over to myself to discuss the idea and a conversation that I had with Rick on Tuesday afternoon. The idea is to develop a subgroup that will in the end create a website focusing on the Creative Molecular Economy (CME). The steps to getting to the development of the website are 1) We need to obtain knowledge (concepts and methods of CME) about what we are doing. 2) We need to design the website after we have nailed down the concepts and have a connection of multiple websites to create a web based on that. 3) Basically, we need to identify individuals and small groups of intelligent knowledgeable people and I believe everyone in the FEC has something to offer.
He gave me a list of sites to check out that might be of interest. This will be like playing chess. We are going to have to think about multiple moves at one time. We can't afford to limit ourselves by thinking "This is the right move." If we all get together and go at this from a different angle, then when someone gets ahead of the game we can follow them. But, as in a horse race, when someone else takes the lead then we can slide on over and follow them. We need to go with whatever is the winning situation in this and that is how we are going to get ahead.
We are going to reference the minutes of our meetings, all of the references to books and websites, and interactivity of communication. This will essentially be the beginning of the communi-versity, where we don't have to have a physical building. We have the web and the virtual world to take care of, and obtain, knowledge from at any time.
Rick retook the floor and went over the meaning of the Creative Molecular Economy that he had spoken of at our last FEC meeting. He added that products being made in the future (some have already begun) and the processes in which they are made will be based upon biology. Our community's participation in this transformation will help us be at the cutting edge. The website will allow us to see what is emerging and Hickory is focusing on the idea of preparing for the CME. The website will create an access point that will 1) Bring attention to Hickory and help market our brand and 2) It will help build global connections to help access resources and other people.
I had to ask a question of Rick. "What is the syntax of the word "Molecular" in the term Creative Molecular Economy? We all know the definition of Molecular, but in this syntax are we talking about the processors and nanobiotics or are we talking about People?" There was a small discussion and in the end Rick said that it was both. Rick says that our education focuses on outcomes and content that think in either/or terms, but we need to think in and/both terms.
Houston Harris asked if "either/or" questions didn't give us the ability to prioritize? Rick said sometimes like in a city council situation you have to do this. He said however that many times these questions are formed wrong or put in the wrong context. Either/Or is necessary when you have to take control, but if you are trying to build new capacities it is the worst approach.
Future Citizen Teams: City and County Public Libraries: Mary Sizemore was given the floor and Danny encouraged her to address a library series being set up by herself, Karen Foss, Kim Whitmore, and Chuck Adair. There will be a feature learner group or book club that will meet once a month and come back for discussion. Hopefully this will grow. Mary addressed how this will be promoted by the Chamber and by the library. She hopes this will start this summer. Dates will be nailed down soon. Chuck Adair said he would like to have people on the FEC or their organizations participate in the series. He would like to see the transitional experience be a little more focused. Rick stated that Biological principle says that you can't have growth, evolution, or innovation without diversity.
Future's Institute/ Tranformational Leadership Training Site - Dean Bill Mauney of Lenoir-Rhyne was given the floor next. He has gotten together with Dr. John Brzorad and they are looking to make the Reese Institute at L-R a nationally known Futures Institute. The Reese Institute focuses on conservation. That provides all sorts of opportunities. L-R students are open to new ideas. Part of the Grant we are seeking as the FEC will seek to teach Master Capacity Building. L-R would be a regional center in that effort.
Broadband Connectivity - Terry Bledsoe next took the floor and displayed a Power Point Presentation. He stated that in the 1990s that Catawba County was a leader in the Fiber-Optic industry before losing much of that industry. Many people think that we are ahead of the game as far as Broadband is concerned.
What is the definition of Broadband? The legal definition was 256kb/sec download and 128kb/sec upload until March 2008. Now it is defined in tiers. Catawba County is defined as tier-4 on the scale (rated by e-nc). Terry said most studies say that we need 100mb/sec to the home by 2012.
In Europe, several areas have networks that are 100mb/sec to 1 gb/sec or higher. Public/Private partnerships have built most of this. Wilson, NC is offering 100mb/sec to the home and 1gb/sec to business. This $30 million plan is expected to only take 5 to 10 years to pay back. They are meeting resistance from Embarq and Time-Warner.
In Europe, the models are public-private to build the network out, then the companies can buy space on the fiber network. This has fostered more competition, a la carte service, and a better network.
There was an excellent discussion (and back and forth) by the group about capping of downloading usage and control of the internet by the private entities that offer the service. Terry said he doesn't know that we are even to that point, in the discussion, but he believes we are getting to the point of saturation. That is the point of the discussion. He stated that he does not know of any plans for 100mb/sec broadband to the home in Catawba County.
Terry showed some slides that show the average U.S. connection is 5mb/sec. Countries that had their networks installed later have obtained newer equipment and thus have better broadband. The U.S. were the innovators of the technology, but we have fallen behind as new equipment has been developed. The U.S. is paying on average $55/month or $11/mb. Japan is paying about $35/month. Wilson is paying $35/month for 10mb connections. Catawba County is going to have to move forward on this issue. We need to evolve with the technology. There are 30 counties in North Carolina with better broadband than Catawba County.
Another Lively Discussion Ensued about the possibilities of bringing Accelerated Broadband to Hickory. It was entertaining and informative. I'll tell you one thing. you better get Pat Appleson a gig connection soon (that would be an appetizer) or we might just see his head explode. I love his passion for technology.
Rick Smyre stated that he thinks we are going to see, because of the complexity of all systems, a move to public-private cooperation (in business). The ideological approach of the past isn't going to work in a time of constant change, interconnection, and increased complexity.
Jay Adams said that he believes that the thing we need to aim at, is that there is going to be a lot of money thrown at solving problems like this. The project is going to have to be well formed and well thought out, it's going to have to look good on paper, it's going to have to be comprehensive. After the implementation, the maintenance is what local government and businesses have to cooperate to maintain. Hickory, because of size and layout, is in a much better position to implement these kinds of things than a major metro area.
Danny asked Terry to continue more of this discussion the next time that we meet. He would like us to look more into what Wilson is doing and maybe bring in an official from CommScope.
Shane Pitman had an excellent statement that Internet Service Providers need to look to more than consumers, when trying to recoup costs. Consumers are downloading from Netflix and Hulu and the ISPs should be recouping part of the costs (of increased broad band) from those companies as well.
Houston Harris stated that if we solve the broadband issue, and move up two tiers, that doesn't solve our problem. It is an asset that helps us get to a real solution. This is about the economy. At the end of the day, we must be careful not to just focus on this one issue.
IT Training/Funding and Dialogue with Public School Teachers - Dr. Judith Ray spoke to the issue of "No Child Left Behind." She believes that it has strangled education. She wonders how we can bring more relevant instruction at a time when the schools are losing personnel (because of budget cuts). It is going to create more stress on the part of teachers and less receptivity to changing their teaching approach, because they have to have formative assessments. We are assessing the ability to regurgitate knowledge rather than think.
There have been a lot of strides in terms of hardware. She believes we have to look at small pockets, being able to get an initiative going. If we can find an outside entity to come in and talk and help partner with teachers, she believes it is an overwhelming task, but it must be done. Assessing current knowledge does not teach kids how to think. She said Rick asked how this will be received. Judith stated these are new jobs and they aren't replacing anybody, it is grant money, it is additional help, and it reduces class sizes.
Michael Neely spoke about the technology angle and teaching kids how to think. He sensed the urgency in education. He said his business depends on highly skilled people. He needs people that are skilled at more than one thing -- thinking and problem solving. Danny invited Judith to bring her counterparts to meet the council so that we may dialogue with them.
Danny Hearn then wrapped up the meeting. I truly felt like I learned a lot in that 1hour and 42 minutes. I think we all did. (Pictures by Pat Appleson)
The Future is Now
Time to Start Transforming Catawba County (1)
Transformative Leadership -- All Chips In. How 'bout You?
Future Economy Council Meeting was Awesome (2)
Welcome - Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President Danny Hearn started out the meeting by announcing that Rick Smyre has been named Chairman of the Gaston County Future Economy Council. Danny mentioned that several parallel processes have been taking place since the last time we met. Four new members joined the team including Mark Fleming, Congressman Patrick McHenry's Office; Andrea Surratt, Assistant City Manager, City of Hickory; Shane Pitman, Information Security Specialists; and Chuck Adair (Consultant). The Unifour Foundation grant will be decided upon during the first week in June.
Future's Communi-Versity: Speaker Joshua Cooper Ramo - Rick Smyre had the floor next and he spoke about the book that Danny has already sent us an e-mail about. The book is The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us And What We Can Do About It . (Rick did not mention this, but the author was the man who translated events and was a guest commentator during the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony on NBC). Joshua Cooper Ramo used to be an associate editor for Time Magazine. He lives in China and connects businesses to U.S. concerns. Ramo says, "We are in Revolutionary Times and We need Revolutionary Thinking." "We are living in a time when the ideas, the institutions, and the leaders are more attuned to an age that is 200 years ago." We are in a time of Civilization Change. Command and Control Management is no longer effective.
We need new skills. We need a new approach and a different Philosophical framework. We have to be able to identify weak signals. We are moving back to a new age of enlightenment. Rick believes that Catawba County's FEC is comprehensively setting up the initial conditions effectively. One concept that Rick mentioned was the idea of looking at our community and organizations and building in resiliency. We have to develop capacities in our thinking, skills, and leadership to be able to adapt quickly in an exponentially changing world.
Future Economy Council Website/ Hickory Hound Blog - Danny retook the floor and talked about our hopeful addition of an FEC website. He handed the floor over to myself to discuss the idea and a conversation that I had with Rick on Tuesday afternoon. The idea is to develop a subgroup that will in the end create a website focusing on the Creative Molecular Economy (CME). The steps to getting to the development of the website are 1) We need to obtain knowledge (concepts and methods of CME) about what we are doing. 2) We need to design the website after we have nailed down the concepts and have a connection of multiple websites to create a web based on that. 3) Basically, we need to identify individuals and small groups of intelligent knowledgeable people and I believe everyone in the FEC has something to offer.
He gave me a list of sites to check out that might be of interest. This will be like playing chess. We are going to have to think about multiple moves at one time. We can't afford to limit ourselves by thinking "This is the right move." If we all get together and go at this from a different angle, then when someone gets ahead of the game we can follow them. But, as in a horse race, when someone else takes the lead then we can slide on over and follow them. We need to go with whatever is the winning situation in this and that is how we are going to get ahead.
We are going to reference the minutes of our meetings, all of the references to books and websites, and interactivity of communication. This will essentially be the beginning of the communi-versity, where we don't have to have a physical building. We have the web and the virtual world to take care of, and obtain, knowledge from at any time.
Rick retook the floor and went over the meaning of the Creative Molecular Economy that he had spoken of at our last FEC meeting. He added that products being made in the future (some have already begun) and the processes in which they are made will be based upon biology. Our community's participation in this transformation will help us be at the cutting edge. The website will allow us to see what is emerging and Hickory is focusing on the idea of preparing for the CME. The website will create an access point that will 1) Bring attention to Hickory and help market our brand and 2) It will help build global connections to help access resources and other people.
I had to ask a question of Rick. "What is the syntax of the word "Molecular" in the term Creative Molecular Economy? We all know the definition of Molecular, but in this syntax are we talking about the processors and nanobiotics or are we talking about People?" There was a small discussion and in the end Rick said that it was both. Rick says that our education focuses on outcomes and content that think in either/or terms, but we need to think in and/both terms.
Houston Harris asked if "either/or" questions didn't give us the ability to prioritize? Rick said sometimes like in a city council situation you have to do this. He said however that many times these questions are formed wrong or put in the wrong context. Either/Or is necessary when you have to take control, but if you are trying to build new capacities it is the worst approach.
Future Citizen Teams: City and County Public Libraries: Mary Sizemore was given the floor and Danny encouraged her to address a library series being set up by herself, Karen Foss, Kim Whitmore, and Chuck Adair. There will be a feature learner group or book club that will meet once a month and come back for discussion. Hopefully this will grow. Mary addressed how this will be promoted by the Chamber and by the library. She hopes this will start this summer. Dates will be nailed down soon. Chuck Adair said he would like to have people on the FEC or their organizations participate in the series. He would like to see the transitional experience be a little more focused. Rick stated that Biological principle says that you can't have growth, evolution, or innovation without diversity.
Future's Institute/ Tranformational Leadership Training Site - Dean Bill Mauney of Lenoir-Rhyne was given the floor next. He has gotten together with Dr. John Brzorad and they are looking to make the Reese Institute at L-R a nationally known Futures Institute. The Reese Institute focuses on conservation. That provides all sorts of opportunities. L-R students are open to new ideas. Part of the Grant we are seeking as the FEC will seek to teach Master Capacity Building. L-R would be a regional center in that effort.
Broadband Connectivity - Terry Bledsoe next took the floor and displayed a Power Point Presentation. He stated that in the 1990s that Catawba County was a leader in the Fiber-Optic industry before losing much of that industry. Many people think that we are ahead of the game as far as Broadband is concerned.
What is the definition of Broadband? The legal definition was 256kb/sec download and 128kb/sec upload until March 2008. Now it is defined in tiers. Catawba County is defined as tier-4 on the scale (rated by e-nc). Terry said most studies say that we need 100mb/sec to the home by 2012.
In Europe, several areas have networks that are 100mb/sec to 1 gb/sec or higher. Public/Private partnerships have built most of this. Wilson, NC is offering 100mb/sec to the home and 1gb/sec to business. This $30 million plan is expected to only take 5 to 10 years to pay back. They are meeting resistance from Embarq and Time-Warner.
In Europe, the models are public-private to build the network out, then the companies can buy space on the fiber network. This has fostered more competition, a la carte service, and a better network.
There was an excellent discussion (and back and forth) by the group about capping of downloading usage and control of the internet by the private entities that offer the service. Terry said he doesn't know that we are even to that point, in the discussion, but he believes we are getting to the point of saturation. That is the point of the discussion. He stated that he does not know of any plans for 100mb/sec broadband to the home in Catawba County.
Terry showed some slides that show the average U.S. connection is 5mb/sec. Countries that had their networks installed later have obtained newer equipment and thus have better broadband. The U.S. were the innovators of the technology, but we have fallen behind as new equipment has been developed. The U.S. is paying on average $55/month or $11/mb. Japan is paying about $35/month. Wilson is paying $35/month for 10mb connections. Catawba County is going to have to move forward on this issue. We need to evolve with the technology. There are 30 counties in North Carolina with better broadband than Catawba County.
Another Lively Discussion Ensued about the possibilities of bringing Accelerated Broadband to Hickory. It was entertaining and informative. I'll tell you one thing. you better get Pat Appleson a gig connection soon (that would be an appetizer) or we might just see his head explode. I love his passion for technology.
Rick Smyre stated that he thinks we are going to see, because of the complexity of all systems, a move to public-private cooperation (in business). The ideological approach of the past isn't going to work in a time of constant change, interconnection, and increased complexity.
Jay Adams said that he believes that the thing we need to aim at, is that there is going to be a lot of money thrown at solving problems like this. The project is going to have to be well formed and well thought out, it's going to have to look good on paper, it's going to have to be comprehensive. After the implementation, the maintenance is what local government and businesses have to cooperate to maintain. Hickory, because of size and layout, is in a much better position to implement these kinds of things than a major metro area.
Danny asked Terry to continue more of this discussion the next time that we meet. He would like us to look more into what Wilson is doing and maybe bring in an official from CommScope.
Shane Pitman had an excellent statement that Internet Service Providers need to look to more than consumers, when trying to recoup costs. Consumers are downloading from Netflix and Hulu and the ISPs should be recouping part of the costs (of increased broad band) from those companies as well.
Houston Harris stated that if we solve the broadband issue, and move up two tiers, that doesn't solve our problem. It is an asset that helps us get to a real solution. This is about the economy. At the end of the day, we must be careful not to just focus on this one issue.
IT Training/Funding and Dialogue with Public School Teachers - Dr. Judith Ray spoke to the issue of "No Child Left Behind." She believes that it has strangled education. She wonders how we can bring more relevant instruction at a time when the schools are losing personnel (because of budget cuts). It is going to create more stress on the part of teachers and less receptivity to changing their teaching approach, because they have to have formative assessments. We are assessing the ability to regurgitate knowledge rather than think.
There have been a lot of strides in terms of hardware. She believes we have to look at small pockets, being able to get an initiative going. If we can find an outside entity to come in and talk and help partner with teachers, she believes it is an overwhelming task, but it must be done. Assessing current knowledge does not teach kids how to think. She said Rick asked how this will be received. Judith stated these are new jobs and they aren't replacing anybody, it is grant money, it is additional help, and it reduces class sizes.
Michael Neely spoke about the technology angle and teaching kids how to think. He sensed the urgency in education. He said his business depends on highly skilled people. He needs people that are skilled at more than one thing -- thinking and problem solving. Danny invited Judith to bring her counterparts to meet the council so that we may dialogue with them.
Danny Hearn then wrapped up the meeting. I truly felt like I learned a lot in that 1hour and 42 minutes. I think we all did. (Pictures by Pat Appleson)
The Future is Now
Time to Start Transforming Catawba County (1)
Transformative Leadership -- All Chips In. How 'bout You?
Future Economy Council Meeting was Awesome (2)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
10 Questions with Assistant Catawba County Manager Dewey Harris
Dewey is a Participant on the Catawba County Future Economic Council with 30+ other talented people and myself. I would like to thank him for his participation in answering these questions and I hope you enjoy getting to know what Mr. Harris is all about.
1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.)
The article below was in the Hickory Daily record last summer. It responds to the question above with the exception of where I was born which is New Haven Connecticut.
Harris, who is presently serving as Interim Assistant City Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has served as Director of Wilmington’s Community Services Department since 2002, has been named one of two Assistant County Managers in Catawba County. He will begin his new duties on August 25, 2008. Harris will succeed Joellen Daley, who left Catawba County in 2007 and is current serving as Human Resources Director in Evanston, Illinois.
“We’re very pleased to have Dewey join the County’s management team,” said Catawba County Manager, Tom Lundy. “He emerged from a rigorous process involving eleven department heads over two separate interviews. Dewey has significant experience in North Carolina local government. During his nine years with the City of Wilmington he has had responsibility for administrative services such as budget, technology, finance, emergency preparedness, community development, economic development, code enforcement, working with the film industry and the media. He brings a strong commitment to public service and experience in community engagement, having responsibility for implementing Wilmington’s strategic plan. We look forward to having Dewey, Sandy and their family as part of the Catawba County community.”
Harris will work as part of Catawba County's management team, with Lundy and Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley. Each member of the management team works on a day-to-day basis with specific County departments under Lundy’s direction. The entire team works closely with the Catawba County Board of Commissioners to carry out the goals and directives of the board.
"It was evident to me, during the interview process for the Assistant County Manager position, that Catawba County government is a leader in service delivery because of its dedicated employees,” Harris said. “I have been impressed with the commitment of County staff, and look forward to joining their ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens".
Harris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Rutgers University and later earned a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. In the years since, he has continued his education in matters directly relating to government, including studies in international economics at Harvard University, a Municipal Administration Course provided through the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and, in 2006, studies at the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. During those sessions, Harris met Catawba County Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley.
“I first met Dewey during our time at the Senior Executive Institute in 2006”, Worsley said. “I immediately was impressed with his character and commitment to public service – values that are important to Catawba County employees. Dewey’s vast experience in administrative areas and community services will be a great fit for our organization. I am excited about the addition of Dewey to the management team and welcome him and his family to Catawba County.”
Following his initial university education, Harris worked for the City of Pacific, Washington, and with the state governments in Oregon and Washington from 1989 until 1999. He was employed as a Senior Budget Analyst for the State of Oregon’s Department of Administrative Services from November 1989 to 1994 and then served as Assistant Director of the Accounting and Administrative Services Division of the Office of Financial Management of the State of Washington through March 1998, directly involved in financial management and policy in both of those agencies. As City Administrator in Pacific, Washington, from March 1998 through December 1999, he was responsible for providing direction and supervision to all departments and functions including administration and finance, human resources, public works, community development, municipal court services and operations, parks, community services, police, fire, and risk management. He also directed the enforcement of ordinances and policies; helped resolve complaints; established positive working relationships with the press; and represented the organization in intergovernmental relations, contract negotiations, collective bargaining, and major capital project development.
Harris moved to the City of Wilmington in December 1999 when he was named Director of Wilmington’s Administrative Services Department. His duties included many which touch on services provided by Catawba County, including direction and supervision of the budget, information technology, purchasing, fleet, and mail services staff supporting more than 1100 employees. In this role, Harris developed and implemented administrative policies; and coordinated emergency preparedness activities.
In May 2002, Harris was selected to establish a new department, with a staff of 100, for the City of Wilmington as Director of the Community Services Department. This department is charged with addressing strategic plan objectives to improve the quality of life in Wilmington. His responsibilities include working in economic development and redevelopment, including technical assistance to small businesses; improving the operating climate for businesses through enhanced understanding of City requirements; code enforcement (regulation of zoning ordinances, minimum housing codes, and public nuisance ordinances); enrichment programs for adults, seniors, and youth; and several parks and recreation facilities.
“I have represented the City of Wilmington in intergovernmental and community relations endeavors,” Harris added. “We have established positive working relationships with the media; helped increase the number of volunteers engaged in delivering services; and helped establish collaborative partnerships with private sector organizations, non-profit agencies, leaders in the faith community, and governmental agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.”
In addition to these duties, Harris has been serving as Interim Assistant City Manager since February 2008 and as Interim Human Resources Director since May 2008, assisting Wilmington’s City Manager in coordinating interdepartmental goals; establishing organizational policies and procedures; assessing City departments for performance; coordinating interdepartmental activities; meeting with civic and professional leaders; and representing the City Manager before groups on City plans, events, and activities.
Dewey Harris has also been very active in the Wilmington community. He has served as President of the New Hanover County Partnership for Children, which has a mission to develop, sustain and enhance health, family support, and early education services for children ages birth to five. He was 2005 Campaign Chair of the Cape Fear Area United Way, working with staff and volunteers to refocus fundraising strategy which resulted in new business development in a three-county area. He served as co-chair of a University of North Carolina at Wilmington Community Relations Task Force, establishing a standing committee consisting of state and local agencies, as well as students and residents, to identify and resolve ongoing quality of life problems in the University of North Carolina at Wilmington area; and is a member of the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, through which he works with community leaders to develop and promote nutrition; 4-H; coastal management; urban forestry; and natural resource and environmental education programs to enhance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and improved quality of life in the community.
Harris said he has no firm goals as he gets ready to move to Catawba County, saying he will work to make a smooth transition to the area for his family and learn about the community issues in which he will be involved.
“My wife, Sandy, and I feel that Catawba County will be an excellent place to work, worship, and raise our 15 year old son and 11 year old daughter,” Harris said. “We love the outdoors. Catawba County is a beautiful area that we are excited about calling home".
2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life?
Personal life: Living in different parts of the United States including relocating from the East Coast to the West Coast and back to the East Coast again. In doing so, I had an opportunity to appreciate the regional uniqueness of various communities in our country.
Professional Life: Establishing the Community Services Department in the City of Wilmington (North Carolina) which focused on “community building” through a myriad of programs which improved quality of life for residents. This was a challenge for me in that I had to figure out a way to work with staff to create a shared mission so that we could work with citizens to address issues of neighborhood crime, downtown improvements, affordable housing, support for groups engaged in visual and performing arts, town and university relations, and an aggressive program to create more parks.
3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Knowledgeable and experienced with the ability to tactfully engage and share my thoughts in a positive way to build relationships and partnerships.
4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? A lot of bearing, but I try to take a 360 degree view because over the years I have learned that there are several sides to an issue and by getting various perspectives I have made better decisions.
5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? Early in my career, particularly as a manager, I made immediate decisions on personnel issues, but as I have matured, I find that I make better personnel decisions if I sleep on them.
6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? A program to engage teen youth in after school or summer employment that benefits our community while giving youth tools to be successful in work and/or college life after high school.
7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? I think the Future Economy Council sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce would be my priority. I believe if successful, the benefits to this community would be significant.
8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Compared to other places I have lived around the country, this area has done a very good job of planning in terms of water, sewer, and road infrastructure. I would like to see progress towards “infill development” of vacant residential lots and abandoned manufacturing with mixed use (increased housing density and retail style space) in urban areas of the County.
9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? Using the time, talent, and treasures the Lord has given me to help others.
10) How do you define Leadership? There are different kinds of leadership. My style is to serve the people who I lead by caring about their lives and creating an environment for them to lead as well by getting their input into decision making. I also like to deflect credit from myself and give it to others.
1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.)
The article below was in the Hickory Daily record last summer. It responds to the question above with the exception of where I was born which is New Haven Connecticut.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED IN USING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE GOALS, NAMED ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER
One of Dewey Harris’s strengths is in project management and community leadership. In an eighteen year career in local and state government, he has been a leader in virtually the entire range of governmental services, from administration to budget and finance to emergency services, human services, and technology. He will soon be bringing that experience to Catawba County Government as one of its two Assistant County Managers. Harris, who is presently serving as Interim Assistant City Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has served as Director of Wilmington’s Community Services Department since 2002, has been named one of two Assistant County Managers in Catawba County. He will begin his new duties on August 25, 2008. Harris will succeed Joellen Daley, who left Catawba County in 2007 and is current serving as Human Resources Director in Evanston, Illinois.
“We’re very pleased to have Dewey join the County’s management team,” said Catawba County Manager, Tom Lundy. “He emerged from a rigorous process involving eleven department heads over two separate interviews. Dewey has significant experience in North Carolina local government. During his nine years with the City of Wilmington he has had responsibility for administrative services such as budget, technology, finance, emergency preparedness, community development, economic development, code enforcement, working with the film industry and the media. He brings a strong commitment to public service and experience in community engagement, having responsibility for implementing Wilmington’s strategic plan. We look forward to having Dewey, Sandy and their family as part of the Catawba County community.”
Harris will work as part of Catawba County's management team, with Lundy and Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley. Each member of the management team works on a day-to-day basis with specific County departments under Lundy’s direction. The entire team works closely with the Catawba County Board of Commissioners to carry out the goals and directives of the board.
"It was evident to me, during the interview process for the Assistant County Manager position, that Catawba County government is a leader in service delivery because of its dedicated employees,” Harris said. “I have been impressed with the commitment of County staff, and look forward to joining their ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens".
Harris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Rutgers University and later earned a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. In the years since, he has continued his education in matters directly relating to government, including studies in international economics at Harvard University, a Municipal Administration Course provided through the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and, in 2006, studies at the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. During those sessions, Harris met Catawba County Assistant County Manager Lee Worsley.
“I first met Dewey during our time at the Senior Executive Institute in 2006”, Worsley said. “I immediately was impressed with his character and commitment to public service – values that are important to Catawba County employees. Dewey’s vast experience in administrative areas and community services will be a great fit for our organization. I am excited about the addition of Dewey to the management team and welcome him and his family to Catawba County.”
Following his initial university education, Harris worked for the City of Pacific, Washington, and with the state governments in Oregon and Washington from 1989 until 1999. He was employed as a Senior Budget Analyst for the State of Oregon’s Department of Administrative Services from November 1989 to 1994 and then served as Assistant Director of the Accounting and Administrative Services Division of the Office of Financial Management of the State of Washington through March 1998, directly involved in financial management and policy in both of those agencies. As City Administrator in Pacific, Washington, from March 1998 through December 1999, he was responsible for providing direction and supervision to all departments and functions including administration and finance, human resources, public works, community development, municipal court services and operations, parks, community services, police, fire, and risk management. He also directed the enforcement of ordinances and policies; helped resolve complaints; established positive working relationships with the press; and represented the organization in intergovernmental relations, contract negotiations, collective bargaining, and major capital project development.
Harris moved to the City of Wilmington in December 1999 when he was named Director of Wilmington’s Administrative Services Department. His duties included many which touch on services provided by Catawba County, including direction and supervision of the budget, information technology, purchasing, fleet, and mail services staff supporting more than 1100 employees. In this role, Harris developed and implemented administrative policies; and coordinated emergency preparedness activities.
In May 2002, Harris was selected to establish a new department, with a staff of 100, for the City of Wilmington as Director of the Community Services Department. This department is charged with addressing strategic plan objectives to improve the quality of life in Wilmington. His responsibilities include working in economic development and redevelopment, including technical assistance to small businesses; improving the operating climate for businesses through enhanced understanding of City requirements; code enforcement (regulation of zoning ordinances, minimum housing codes, and public nuisance ordinances); enrichment programs for adults, seniors, and youth; and several parks and recreation facilities.
“I have represented the City of Wilmington in intergovernmental and community relations endeavors,” Harris added. “We have established positive working relationships with the media; helped increase the number of volunteers engaged in delivering services; and helped establish collaborative partnerships with private sector organizations, non-profit agencies, leaders in the faith community, and governmental agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.”
In addition to these duties, Harris has been serving as Interim Assistant City Manager since February 2008 and as Interim Human Resources Director since May 2008, assisting Wilmington’s City Manager in coordinating interdepartmental goals; establishing organizational policies and procedures; assessing City departments for performance; coordinating interdepartmental activities; meeting with civic and professional leaders; and representing the City Manager before groups on City plans, events, and activities.
Dewey Harris has also been very active in the Wilmington community. He has served as President of the New Hanover County Partnership for Children, which has a mission to develop, sustain and enhance health, family support, and early education services for children ages birth to five. He was 2005 Campaign Chair of the Cape Fear Area United Way, working with staff and volunteers to refocus fundraising strategy which resulted in new business development in a three-county area. He served as co-chair of a University of North Carolina at Wilmington Community Relations Task Force, establishing a standing committee consisting of state and local agencies, as well as students and residents, to identify and resolve ongoing quality of life problems in the University of North Carolina at Wilmington area; and is a member of the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, through which he works with community leaders to develop and promote nutrition; 4-H; coastal management; urban forestry; and natural resource and environmental education programs to enhance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and improved quality of life in the community.
Harris said he has no firm goals as he gets ready to move to Catawba County, saying he will work to make a smooth transition to the area for his family and learn about the community issues in which he will be involved.
“My wife, Sandy, and I feel that Catawba County will be an excellent place to work, worship, and raise our 15 year old son and 11 year old daughter,” Harris said. “We love the outdoors. Catawba County is a beautiful area that we are excited about calling home".
2) Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life?
Personal life: Living in different parts of the United States including relocating from the East Coast to the West Coast and back to the East Coast again. In doing so, I had an opportunity to appreciate the regional uniqueness of various communities in our country.
Professional Life: Establishing the Community Services Department in the City of Wilmington (North Carolina) which focused on “community building” through a myriad of programs which improved quality of life for residents. This was a challenge for me in that I had to figure out a way to work with staff to create a shared mission so that we could work with citizens to address issues of neighborhood crime, downtown improvements, affordable housing, support for groups engaged in visual and performing arts, town and university relations, and an aggressive program to create more parks.
3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say? Knowledgeable and experienced with the ability to tactfully engage and share my thoughts in a positive way to build relationships and partnerships.
4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions? A lot of bearing, but I try to take a 360 degree view because over the years I have learned that there are several sides to an issue and by getting various perspectives I have made better decisions.
5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error? Early in my career, particularly as a manager, I made immediate decisions on personnel issues, but as I have matured, I find that I make better personnel decisions if I sleep on them.
6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be? A program to engage teen youth in after school or summer employment that benefits our community while giving youth tools to be successful in work and/or college life after high school.
7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money? I think the Future Economy Council sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce would be my priority. I believe if successful, the benefits to this community would be significant.
8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Compared to other places I have lived around the country, this area has done a very good job of planning in terms of water, sewer, and road infrastructure. I would like to see progress towards “infill development” of vacant residential lots and abandoned manufacturing with mixed use (increased housing density and retail style space) in urban areas of the County.
9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for? Using the time, talent, and treasures the Lord has given me to help others.
10) How do you define Leadership? There are different kinds of leadership. My style is to serve the people who I lead by caring about their lives and creating an environment for them to lead as well by getting their input into decision making. I also like to deflect credit from myself and give it to others.
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