On Tuesday November 1, the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Priority One and the Cedar Rapids Downtown District invited representatives throughout the region on stage in front of hundreds to collectively celebrate success throughout our region and reveal a major milestone in our community story. Below is script from Stronger Together-a Joint Annual Meeting.
Stronger Together-a Joint Annual Meeting
Tuesday November 1, 4-6PM at Hawkeye Downs Expo Center
Group 1: Tom Anderson (Morgan, Stanley, Smith, Barney), Barry Boyer(Van Meter, Inc.), Larry Helling (Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust), Nancy Kasparek (US Bank), Chuck Peters (Source Media Group)
Tom Anderson: On behalf of the Cedar Rapids Downtown District, the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and Priority One, we’d like to welcome you to Stronger Together-a Joint Annual Meeting. Today, we introduce to you to what we anticipate will be one of the most unique approaches to a year in review our community has ever seen. We want to first thank Hawkeye Downs for hosting us tonight, and give special thanks to our presenting sponsor US Bank along with Van Meter, Inc and ITC Midwest. It is an honor to have with us this afternoon many local and state elected officials, and representatives of our federal officials. Strong leadership and political courage in elected office is critical to business success and economic growth. Can we please have all elected officials stand and be recognized. Thanks for your service and thanks for joining us today. It is an impressive testament to our message of Stronger Together that we have so many partners with us here today. Growing businesses and communities is an all-hands-on-deck task, and we want to take a moment to recognize the various Chambers of Commerce, economic and entrepreneurial development organizations, higher education institutes, visitors bureaus and others who we work with within the Corridor Business Alliance or other endeavors. Some of those are from right here in Linn County, but many of them from throughout Eastern Iowa have joined us as well today. If all of you representing those partner organizations could stand, please do so we can express our appreciation.
Barry Boyer: What exactly sparked the notion of a joint annual meeting? One could say consideration of ticket costs for patrons, others could say our organizations decided to give the gift of extra calendar time….but believe it or not, there is true purpose to why we have brought you here tonight, collectively. First of all- we are gathered here tonight to celebrate the accomplishments made possible by our customers and investors. Essentially, we are here tonight to toast you. Given the unique nature of this meeting, it would be next to impossible to speak on all of the accomplishments of the economic year in the next 45 minutes. Instead, we’ve tried to capture them in great detail through an inclusive annual report, located at each one of your seats.
Larry Helling: As current chair of the Downtown Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District – what you sometimes here called the Downtown SSMID -- I would like to congratulate the hundreds of stakeholders representing our region for an accomplished 2011. We’re happy to be a small part of this event, to celebrate a strong year of lots of construction and progress downtown. In addition to an amazing year in review, we would like to acknowledge a pivotal crossroads our community has reached with a next step that will be unveiled to us all here this afternoon.
Nancy Kasparek: Our community kaleidoscope theme serves as an evolving, interactive message that will have a presence throughout our program, into our post-program reception, and beyond this night. Similar to a kaleidoscope, our community consists of a pattern of frequently changing shapes and colors that when joined together, offer possibilities limited only by one’s imagination. We come to you today, Stronger Together in true kaleidoscope form, sharing perspective in Coordination, Growth, Focus and Voice, with an overarching message that like true Midwesterners, we are setting our sites on a bigger vision for our region.
Chuck Peters: As mentioned earlier, this annual meeting is going to be done with a unique approach. Rather than staff and board members running the show, we wanted to make this as inclusive of a celebration as possible—giving you, our stakeholders, the chance to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and what’s to come. Over the next 40 minutes we’ll be joined by an impressive variety of representatives from across the Corridor. These individuals and organizations have, like you, been direct stakeholders to the success and growth of our community. While each group may represent a diverse area of our community kaleidoscope, all share a contagious enthusiasm for what they do, and how it contributes to the strength of our community. All are eager to share with you unique perspective on the various ways in which our moving pieces working together have much more impact. All are ready for a region with a Stronger Together state of mind. Let’s get started.
Group 2: Kim Johnson (Kirkwood), Dawn Kluber (University of Iowa), Katie Mulholland (Linn Mar Community School District), Carroll Reasoner (University of Iowa)
Theme: Stronger
Kim Johnson: Continuous strive for educational excellence throughout our region has and will continue to have a profound effect on the success of our community for countless generations to come. It has been said that education goes well beyond the classroom, and the three organizations hosting today’s program are no doubt examples of this timeless theory.
Dawn Kluber: Connectivity, interactive learning and first rate leadership opportunities have engaged thousands in our region throughout 2011. Programs like Conquer the Corridor, Leadership for Five Seasons and MyTernNow hold true the golden rule to virtually every successful educational experience—share your story, challenge stale approach, and leave them with an unquenched thirst to learn more.
Katie Mulholland: As Conquer the Corridor aids in workforce retention by helping connect new employees to essential area resources, Leadership for Five Seasons, now in its 29th year, is an anchor program for the Chamber, encouraging diverse individuals to actively lead in shaping and enhancing our quality of life. One of Priority One’s newest programs, MyTernNow has led the way for aspiring students and recent graduates to identify future career opportunities. Each of these programs provide individuals with a fresh approach to understanding opportunities within our community, paving way for a stronger tomorrow.
Carroll Reasoner: Today we congratulate those entities that have allowed multiple generations to enhance their educational experience outside the classroom-creating a stronger piece to our community kaleidoscope.
Group 3: Karl Cassell (Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission), Travis Christopher (Boy Scouts of America), Jack Evans (Hall Perrine Foundation)
Theme: Together
Karl Cassell: Each year, hundreds of non-profit entities throughout the Corridor offer a variety of services- locally and throughout the world. These organizations devote themselves tirelessly to ensure their resources are able to provide a positive, successful impact on those they serve.
Travis Christopher: Similar to many other industries, but perhaps none as obvious as the non-profit sector is there a distinct need to join forces with other organizations, building together from often otherwise limited resources.
Jack Evans: Information sharing and a strategic team approach have enabled opportunities for projects such Signs of Progress, a multi-media campaign communicating the nearly one billion dollars in community investment to local and regional audiences, including legislatures. Cross- promotion and communication of our regional assets from economic success, to new amenities throughout our neighborhoods emphasizes the pride we have in our region. Together, the best is closer than ever before and we are proud to share this monumental step with the organizations and individuals represented here this afternoon.
Group 4: Mayor Ron Corbett (City of Cedar Rapids), Debi Durham (Iowa Department of Economic Development), Ben Rogers (Linn County Board of Supervisors), Mayor Tom Theis (City of Hiawatha)
Theme: Coordination
Mayor Tom Theis: An empowered public, informative input and a fresh look at a community’s unique assets are all key ingredients to the formula for coordinated community success. From this inclusive approach comes the creation of some of our most impressive accomplishments.
Ben Rogers: Passionate stakeholders from around the Corridor devote thousands of hours to the stronger together mantra as they take an active seat at the table through task forces, working groups and development committees. Programs such as the Chamber’s Regional Sustainability Alliance and Downtown Partner Mixers are examples of flourishing committee level work, thanks to time and input provided by passionate stakeholders. Coordinated effort from nearly every portion of our Corridor continues to raise us to-despite national trend of economic challenge- growth and strength, international recognition and connections from around the globe. I’m now honored to invite via video message, Ms. Debi Durham.
Debi Durham (Video Message): The old theory that ideas and decisions are made in a vacuum is simply an unacceptable way to conduct business these days. As we work to reshape economic development in our state in partnership with Iowa communities, I am confident that our need to be forward thinking when it comes to coordination as a means to bring jobs and capital investment to our region, is on the right track.
Mayor Ron Corbett:: One of the next steps in our community story is a succinct approach to our legislative and lobbying efforts. In no other sector is coordination of local, state and federal needs so vital to a community’s future economic success. The organizations honored here tonight are poised for such a coordinated endeavor. A continued laser like focus of separate endeavors while adding an impressive umbrella of defined public policy is no doubt a much needed, much anticipated enhancement to our region’s community kaleidoscope. We are indeed, moving forward.
Group 5: Mitch Bloomquist (ImpactCR), Rob Merritt (Theatre Cedar Rapids), Mike Monahan (Blue Strawberry), Jon Rouse (Park Cedar Rapids)
Theme: Growth
Mitch Bloomquist: As chair of an organization devoted to exposing members to life outside of the 8-5, Quality of Life and feeling a sense of connection to one’s community continues to rank as a top priority for now and next generations.
Rob Merritt: As demonstrated in the series of nationally ranked accolades we saw before the program, we continue to grow leaps and bounds beyond Maslow’s basic hierarchy of needs-taking charge of our own qualitative needs and placing them at their own triumphant level. A newcomer to our community is greeted with a warm smile and an instant feeling of belonging at an ImpactCR event or Corridor Welcome Reception, while the exchange of a handshake, good conversation and a business card can create life lasting connections at a Chamber PM Exchange.
Mike Monahan: Events within our kaleidoscope such the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers’ Market continues to captivate thousands every Saturday morning, exposing patrons to the triumphant return of some of our community’s most valued assets-local, hard working businesses, with a desire to grow.
Jon Rouse: Our lifestyle resources don’t stop with places to go—it’s just as important to create convenient, accessible means to get there. Projects such as the completion of Highway 100, volunteer clean up days, street and sidewalk improvements and the launch of a new parking system add up to what will continue to be a positive experience for a patron-from having a place of residence, to truly feeling at home. We ask you now to join us in a quick reflection of the ways in which we as a region are growing our qualitative side of life.
VIDEO
Group 6: Bruce Lehrman (Involta), Chad Simmons (the PenDennis Group, Diversity Focus)
Theme: Focus
Bruce Lehrman: Very few understand the value in risk vs. reward like the small business and entrepreneurial community. Tools such as member and partner programs provide businesses with the resources necessary to reach their potential, enabling them to focus on their investment with an unmatched enthusiasm for what they do and how they do it. Programs such as the Business Success Initiative protect our business community from the unsettling post-disaster national closure rate of 55%, as we stand at 18%. With such support on their side, neighborhoods such as downtown Cedar Rapids have welcomed more than15 new and migrated businesses in the past year.
Chad Simmons: The next step in small business and entrepreneurial success is truly limited only by the imagination. Our community holds a special respect to newcomers of the business community, providing resources necessary to carry one from business plan to grand opening and beyond. Continued innovation and a no-boundaries approach from community enthusiasts such as SEED Here and We r CR have ignited a spark we know will continue to prosper as our resources come together in a kaleidoscope- like focus.
Group 7: Dr. Tim Quinn (Mercy Medical Center), Ted Townsend (St. Luke’s Hospital)
Theme: Voice
Dr. Tim Quinn: Among what can often be perceived as thousands of individual whispers do we now -more than ever -understand the powerful potential in one unified, regional voice. No doubt this statement holds true on a local level, but becomes an absolute requirement when communicating our regional assets around the globe. This year, 18 headquarter companies were visited to not only voice our progress and appreciation of investments made and relationships built, but to gain perspective of what the Cedar Rapids area should continue to expand upon in order for businesses to succeed in our region.
Ted Townsend: Collaboration and support among our own organizations has launched profound projects concentrating on our nationally ranked medical assets. Endeavors such as the MedQuarter will provide not only a unique patron experience, but enhance a patron’s interest in our community through exploration of adjacent neighborhoods. It is with our unified voice that we continue to pursue such groundbreaking regional aspirations, contributing to our economic and community enhancement goals. We are no longer a region of whispers—we will be heard.
Group 8: John Bloomhall (Diamond V Mills), Chris Bright (Nordstrom), Alisha Foldes (Rockwell), Tom Hobson (Rockwell)
Theme: Future
John Bloomhall: If one is only interested in what has been, the future faces a certain doom before it can even begin. The next chapter of our community story is one unique to any previous chapters ever written. Within the very near future, our region will be introduced to a new found strength in synergy.
Chris Bright: Our region has had much to celebrate from a large industry perspective. We’ve witnessed a diversified economy growing substantially through existing expansions-accounting for 680 new jobs and recruitment of businesses such as AgSugar International and mCube. We’ve also seen major enhancements in the private business sector for downtown Cedar Rapids-including the re-investment of a new and expanded Intermec facility and entrepreneurial success of Raining Rose.
Alisha Foldes: But our story does not stop here—our sites are set beyond today as we drive our desire to become one of the top economic growth areas in the country. The question that has been contemplated is what is required beyond today’s kaleidoscope to get there.
Tom Hobson: During the past ten years … we’ve been thinking … and talking about regional development a lot more than we’ve been doing anything about it. In a widely covered Keynote speech last February, Rockwell Collins CEO Clay Jones challenged the region in saying we need to get serious about looking for synergy and efficiency by working together to unleash the full economic power of this region and its many assets.
He said we have to change … and with a sense of urgency … and a sense of ownership to the task at hand. Because the world is moving too fast and the next quarter century will be far more volatile than the previous century. The ability for us to adapt will determine our fate … but if we take ownership of the challenges and work together with a true sense of urgency, we’ll achieve our goal ... Stronger Together.
A monumental step took place last week by the Chamber and the Downtown District Boards to get us to today’s milestone. In a way our region has never seen before will our future be bright. With that, I’d like to introduce the two leaders of this Stronger Together Initiative, Dee Baird and Doug Neumann.
Group 9: Dee Baird (The Chamber, Priority One), Doug Neumann (Cedar Rapids Downtown District
Dee Baird: Thank you to all the speakers; it was great to hear from so many people and to be able to share so many perspectives of a successful 2011 and a very promising 2012. Thank you for your leadership in our business community and for your involvement here today. Let's give them all a hand... what a great message. We want to congratulate all of you here today. The economic accolades that this region is receiving from all over the country are because of you and what you are doing to grow jobs, sell good and services, retain high-quality workforce and enhance our quality of life. Thank you for all you do.
We also want to take one more opportunity to thank our sponsors for today's event. This unique event was made possible, in part, by the presenting sponsorship of U.S. Bank and the supporting sponsorships from ITC Midwest and Van Meter, so thanks to those companies and all of you here from those companies.
We want to extend sincerest, heartfelt thanks to our "bosses" during this term... to Nancy Kasparek for chairing the Chamber Board... to Tom Anderson for chairing the Downtown District Board.... to Chuck Peters for chairing the Chamber Board last year and now Priority One Board this year… to Barry Boyer for chairing the Priority One Board last year. On a personal note, your leadership, vision and strength has meant a lot to Doug and, and on an organizational note all of our stakeholders owe a debt of gratitude for your service. So thank you.
And finally, we want to thank staff of the Chamber, Priority One and the Downtown District. Not only have they put together this unique celebration today, but they have provided untold nose-to-the-grindstone work all year long to support you, our customers, and help make this a successful year. For many of you, it is not the two of us who are the faces of these organizations, but rather the staff people with whom you have day-to-day interaction. Staff members, please stand and be acknowledged for the extraordinary work that you do. Thank you for all you do.
Doug Neumann: I want to add my thanks to staff. It has been an extraordinary and unusual year, so thank you for working so hard and so capably. As almost all of you know by now, this is more than just a Joint Annual Meeting of these three organizations. It's a celebration and kickoff of a new organization formed by bringing together the Chamber, the Downtown District, Priority One, and potentially other components of economic development, into a stronger, more integrated corporation. Putting this together has been a nearly year-long process that has involved direct input and feedback from more than 500 of you, our customers, who have molded our original proposal into a far more powerful and investor-engaged model than we first envisioned.
We're proud to announce that the final merger votes to make this new organization come together took place last week, and that on January 1 the three organizations will be unified into one new group. Our commitment to you is that this new organization will be laser-focused on job growth and retention, strongly committed to downtown development, engaged in broad public policy activity that matters to business, and designed to support businesses central to our goal of being one of the top economic growth regions in the country.
Dee Baird: The whole process of reflection and outreach involved in the study of a new structure has been extremely valuable. It has helped us -- all of us together -- to build a common understanding about where we are and where we want to be. It's a lofty goal -- to be one of the top economic growth regions in the country -- but one that has been universally embraced during our outreach to so many of you. That shared goal and our shared understanding seems to have made it easier to reach consensus on the structure and organization needed to deliver results, even though that means a big change from the way we had been doing business.
What we present to you today is not just a new structure, a new organization. It's a common vision that leverages our opportunities and economic assets, and one that will have broadly understood outcomes. After nearly a year of working on this, we can't wait to get started.
Ah, but what to call ourselves, right?
For most of the past year, Doug and I have been referring to the potential new organization as New Co. or New Corp. And it might take a little while to stop referring to it as that, but it is surely time to give this thing a real name. We involved board leadership and staff in this naming exercise, and want to share with all of you today that the new organization will heretofore be called... the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.
Doug Neumann: And finally, we want to close this historic Joint Annual Meeting and public unveiling of the new Economic Alliance with a ceremonial signing of a short resolution that I think speaks for itself. It reads:
WHEREAS, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance will strive to be one of the top economic growth areas in the country.
WHEREAS, attaining that goal will require formation of a high-performance business organization designed to deliver more proactive public policy, a more unified business voice, more integrated economic development strategy and a sharp focus on business recruitment and expansion, downtown development and business support.
WHEREAS, the business and community leaders of this region have said clearly and powerfully that we believe we are Stronger Together in this pursuit.
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Priority One and the Cedar Rapids Downtown District have all affirmed in recent days their approval of this merger and our common understanding of the challenges and opportunities that will face The Economic Alliance.
THEREFORE, be it resolved on this 1st day of November, 2011 that we are Stronger Together, and that achieving the goals outlined here today shall heretofore be the commitment of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance to you, our customers.
And as we come together to sign this, we are adjourned!
