Speaker: City thriving but must think beyond borders

Columbus is an appealing place and the city is doing many things well, but its future health also depends on its relationship with and the health of neighboring communities and the southeast Indiana region as a whole.

That was the message shared by Drew Klacik, senior policy analyst with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, during his keynote speech at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s 109th annual meeting Wednesday at The Commons.

A capacity crowd of 432 packed The Commons, a smaller venue than last year’s meeting at the since-razed Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, where about 500 attended.

Klacik’s presentation — “The Best of Times or Worst of Times?” — highlighted some of the city’s successes, but also included areas in which it falls short and its reliance on other communities for its own success.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Click here to purchase photos from this gallery

The speaker lauded Columbus for its aspirations, quoting the late J. Irwin Miller, longtime leader of Columbus-based Cummins, philanthropist and community leader, who said of Columbus: “We would like to see this community come to be not the cheapest community in America, but the very best community of its size in the country.”

Being the best is not just a function of ability, but being able to successfully work together with all the communities around you that contribute the talent to your community, Klacik said.

The community’s longstanding commitment to excellence is positive and a message that other communities should try to emulate, Klacik said.

He noted several rankings — city park system, best performing small cities, emerging metro area, for example — that indicate Columbus is a good place to live, work and play.

However, Klacik also noted that not everyone in the community is sharing in the educational and economic success. The disparity is evident with some minority groups, such as Latinos and African-Americans, he said.

That’s something Columbus must address as its continues its effort to find talented individuals to contribute to the community, Klacik said.

“We will need talent forever. And if we don’t help everyone maximize their talent, we will eventually have a shortage,” he said.

Thinking beyond borders

Neighboring counties and regions are interconnected and depend upon each other for collective success, Klacik said. As such, communities need to think beyond geographical boundaries, he said.

“Your future isn’t just a function of what you do, but it’s also a picture of the things that are going on around you,” Klacik said.

He noted how Bartholomew County succeeds because it attracts large numbers of residents from other counties to work in the Columbus area. For example, 2,787 Johnson County residents commute to jobs in Bartholomew County. Another 2,483 drive from Jackson County and 2,303 others commute from Jennings County.

If neighboring counties begin to fail and lose residents, that affects Bartholomew County’s ability to fill jobs, Klacik said.

As communities move forward in their efforts to thrive, they must be adaptable and willing to try new things, the policy analyst said. Adaptability is the only skill that matters anymore, he said.

“If you can’t adapt and you can’t change, you will fail,” Klacik said.

Points resonate

Mayor Jim Lienhoop said what Klacik shared supported some things that the city has come to learn. It’s doing better than expected in the areas of educational attainment and income levels, for example.

“But at the same time, his point was that there are folks who are not really sharing educational success or economic success,” the mayor said.

Lienhoop said he was glad that Klacik noted that Columbus is not an island and that its success is related to the success of neighboring communities and the region.

“Columbus needs to remain an attractive and attracting place. If we are able to do that, we will prosper, as will the region. We have a little bit of a responsibility to lead, and I hope we’re able to maintain being an attractive and attracting place,” the mayor said.

Chamber initiatives

Also during the luncheon, the Columbus chamber unveiled a new, concise mission statement: “Business thrives. Community grows.”

Chamber president Cindy Frey also spoke about the organization’s new three-year strategic plan, which focuses on:

  • Business growth
  • New business (entrepreneurship)
  • Talent
  • Innovation

Frey mentioned that the Chamber has unveiled a new app, MemberPlus, to help Chamber members better connect with each other.

Frey, describing the chamber’s efforts as a “call to action,” also said the organization is working to:

  • Expand the amount of business activity between chamber member companies.
  • Utilize the expertise of retired executives to help startup companies
  • Attract and retain talent
  • Commercialize ingenuity

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Award winners” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce announced at its 109th annual meeting Wednesday several award winners. They are:

MAVERICK CHALLENGE

First place: Taylor Klingler, Columbus North sophomore, for her business plan Bull Dog Deals. $1,500 award.

Second place: Eli Edwards, Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech senior, for his business plan Edwards Aviation. $1,000 award.

Judge’s Choice: Hannah Blair and Elise Whitley, both Columbus North juniors, for their company Baobab Cafe. Honored for the best branding campaign. $500 award.

EDNA FOLGER AWARD

Michelle Burnett, special education teacher at Columbus East High School. Honored for helping students with a wide range of special needs. Also serves as the Key Club faculty adviser, PTO officer at Rockcreek Elementary. $4,000 award.

COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Exhibit Columbus: The three-month exhibit that celebrated the city’s architectural heritage featured 18 temporary works in the downtown area, including the five Miller Prize winners, and attracted an estimated 50,000 visitors. It’s a project of Landmark Columbus and a program of the Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Hutch and Kevina Schumaker: Husband and wife, they were honored for their involvement in a multitude of initiatives, service to organizations and their donations of time and money to organizations and causes that impact Columbus. For example, Hutch has been involved with Mill Race Park improvements, community strategic planning sessions and serving as chairman of the Community Education Coalition board. Kevina’s involvement has included fundraising for Volunteers in Medicine, serving on the Columbus Regional Health Foundation board and chairing the heritage Fund Grants Committee and Heritage Fund board. The award is considered the Chamber of Commerce’s most prestigious recognition.

[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Speaker highlights” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Drew Klacik, senior policy analyst with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, gave the keynote speech at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s 109th annual meeting. Here are some highlights:

  • Columbus is doing some things well, and aspires to be excellent. “You need to continue to do it.”
  • Not everyone in the community shares in the educational and economic success, and efforts must help everyone maximize their individual talent.
  • Communities are interconnected, and specific boundaries are not important in the big picture. “Your future isn’t just a function of what you do, but it’s also a picture of the things that are going on around you.”
  • “Only one skill that matters anymore is adaptability. If you can’t adapt and you can’t change, you will fail.”
  • “Collaboration is as equally as important as aspiration.”

[sc:pullout-text-end]