Isn’t that the truth, the farther you travel the smarter you are. I think the smartest I have ever been was in Cairo, Egypt, even though I was unable to get a $200 package out of customs for less than $400. Being perceived as an expert in your own home town is simply the most difficult thing to do. Why?

I believe a lot of it is that others have watched you mature, go through your ups and downs, and gotten to know you other than your area of expertise. But being from the smallest biggest city in America, I see this first hand in many instances.Fort Wayne has the stigma that it struggles to grow as a city. I will admit to its troubles, we are surrounded by major cities in every direction and a state line within 20 miles to boot! We also have been tied to the auto-industry for years creating a bond with southeastern Michigan and Northwest Ohio more so than Indianapolis, our own state capital.

What frustrates me, is not the lack of entrepreneur spirit, I think we have that. Not the lack of forward thinking politicians, I think Graham Richard was one and that Tom Henry may be in a totally different way. What frustrates me is the total lack of support on a state basis to develop Fort Wayne as a second city and the agencies within Fort Wayne that are supposed to take the initiative to develop Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. The thinking in Indianapolis is like they are sending Commodore Perry to Japan to open us up to western civilization.

They continue to think our region can be better served by hiring outside people to lead us and to consult us. Is it better to have experience of the job or the experience of the region? (A question, that may be weighed heavily with recent resignation of Kristine Foate, FTW Chamber CEO) I could cite other positions that we have hired in the NE Region and though experience counts, does not local Tribal knowledge count? I am not saying not to hire the best qualified, but I am saying to check your criteria.

Back to the original discussion on entrepreneur spirit and my concern of brain drain on the local economy. If we do not have local talent leading us, is there a reason to believe that an individual staying here would be given a chance? The recognition of our internal strengths and what we have as a community to offer and utilization of our internal talent pool may be the very best single thing we can do as a region. We have the talent here in Fort Wayne to develop ourselves as a second city and put us on the map. What stops us from being what Charlotte is to Raleigh-Durham or Cleveland/Cincinnati is to Columbus or Memphis is to Nashville or Louisville is to Lexington? We talk the talk about developing and preserving local talent but do we really walk the walk? Look at the next expert you use, do they have a suitcase!

Technorati : Chamber of Commerce, Consulting, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Northeast Indiana, SBDC

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