Archive for Fort Wayne
What Political Campaigns can teach business, part 2 of 2
Posted by: | CommentsIn the Business901 podcast, What Political Campaigns can teach business, part 1 of 2 we looked at a more strategic view. In today’s podcast, we looked at the tactical practices and how they related not only to a political campaign but to a typical business marketing campaign. 
Derek A. Pillie has served public and political candidates for over 15 years. He has served on the staff of Indiana’s Third Congressional District, most recently as District Director for just over a decade. In that role, he oversaw Indiana operations of the office; including constituent outreach and helping taxpayers solve problems with federal agencies. He also worked on crucial economic development projects and was heavily involved with advising the office on online media and marketing decisions.
After his federal service expired Derek started working at Cirrus ABS, an online marketing and technology development company. He currently manages their business development efforts. Cirrus ABS has added political campaigns to the portfolio of industries they serve since Derek joined the team, and he continues volunteer efforts on behalf of candidates he supports.
Download Podcast: Click and choose options: Political Campaigns, Part 2 or go to the Business901 iTunes Store.
Related Information:
Preview of Political Campaign Marketing Podcast
Political Campaigning – Strategy Update
What political campaigns can teach business
Lean Six Sigma for Government
Does the expert need a suitcase?
Posted by: | CommentsIsn’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!
The Stimulus Revealed – Fort Wayne Chamber Event
Posted by: | Comments“Last Thursday’s conference at the Chamber on the Stimulus package was certainly revealing! Baker & Daniels team of nine professionals from their Washington D.C., Indianapolis and Fort Wayne offices provided key insights on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Last Thursday’s conference at the Chamber on the Stimulus package was certainly revealing! Baker & Daniels team of nine professionals from their Washington D.C., Indianapolis and Fort Wayne offices provided key insights on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Being in the queue for direct funding is best;however, the route for businesses in Northeast Indiana will most likely be indirect . So you follow the money trail – the agencies receiving allocations, the specific projects and programs that are funded, the requirements the projects and programs must meet, the companies most qualified to win the business and their suppliers.
Successful Northeast Indiana businesses will be standing by the door when it opens – anticipating rather than reacting to the Stimulus. The main opportunities discussed during the morning presentations were Energy and Environmen t, Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation, Health & Life Sciences, Education, Defense, and Small Businesses. We wrapped up the day by summarizing take-away’s from the lively afternoon round table discussions. For instance, the Stimulus offers numerous incentives for organizations to think (and act) ‘Green’. It was a long day for the B&D team who had held a similar program with the State Chamber in Indianapolis the prior day. Mike Landram opened the morning, John Sampson from the Regional Partnership (and sponsor) joined the forum after lunch and OnCallPSN Advisors moderated the forum and round tables.”
– Rob Drummond, President, OnCallPSN, LLC
I thought Rob summed it up very well in the above quote. However, I wanted to voice my reaction to the entire package. Based on what was presented, here are my thoughts:
- Health Care and Renewable energy are the big winners in the Stimulus bill. There was a lot of discussion about efficiencies in health care as an opportunity and I just wondered if that was going to decrease my bill at all. My 24-year old son just received about $2,000 in bills for 4 stitches above his knees. Now, the circumstances were somewhat unusual and he had taken an ambulance at the request of the hotel he injured himself at but still $2K is $2K. Efficiencies are one thing, but do we really think that is going to provide us with relief in health care expenses?
- On renewable energy sources, there was a lot of discussions about the transformation on the auto industry moving to electric cars, mainly Chrysler and also manufacturers developing resources to supply the wind power industry. Now I realize this the Green thing to do, but I am not sure we can convert that quickly and harvest an industry out of the passage of one bill, no matter how large it is. Manufacturers looking to be a supplier, need to look around and find how competitive an industry this may be and who is already successful in it. This will provide a model that they can see if they can duplicate or become better at. I think most manufacturers will be surprised by the competition that has been working very hard in this industry and will be unwilling to give market share away so readily. The thought process is great, if we are going to supply tax dollars and incentives lets do it in areas that we make the world a better place. I compliment the initiative.
- Following the money, that recommended trail is very much a slippery slope in my opinion. The recommendation that was given was to monitor the companies that won bids and solicit their business. I am sorry, I think that is a failed strategy. I believe that if I was one that won a bid, my ducks were already in a row on how I was going to spend it! What about you? The bottom line is that you better be seeking their business way before they get the money.
- I noticed so much of the stimulus has not been spent yet. But when it is let, there are extremely short deadlines so that the money can be put into the economy quickly. I would encourage you to surround yourself with people that are knowledgeable about completing grants and SBA loans for example. I think the companies that processes the information quickly and correctly will be the most likely to succeed.
Again, like most conferences and events I attend, there was plenty of people there to tell you what to do and few there to do it! I think once the stimulus package figures out how to swap that number around, we might be on to something!
