Blog Entry
Avoiding Pink Eye
Published Mar 24 at 9:50 am
March 17th was my anniversary date here at the EMBDC. I have until the end of the pay period to use 11 hours of vacation or I will lose it. Zachary (our 4 year old) sensed my need to take time off and somehow timed contracting pink eye accordingly. I like to think he gets his powers of perception from his father but I think his Momma had more to do with that. Thankfully the conjunctivitis wasn't too bad and the fact that his Mom is an optometrist was nice. The good thing about Pink Eye, is you feel fine. Zachary did not know he was sick unless he looked in the mirror or had to suffer through being held down for eye drops.
As I try to be the best employee possible (and I do fall short) I sometimes wonder if my work suffers from a sort of pink eye. I may be sick and need a mirror to show me the unrealized realities of what it is I am doing and just how I do it. Productivity is difficult to gauge in economic development. Certainly I have my share of late nights or even yet, early mornings at the office and there are plenty of good days that seem to fly by where I accomplish a great deal. Unfortunately, not everyone can see behind the curtain at the daily intricacies of community and economic development.
In hopes of avoiding my productivity pink eye I put a lot of faith in benchmarking. I like comparing myself to the communities I see as leaders in the field so to speak. Tupelo and Hattiesburg are two that have been successful that I try to emulate when and where possible. Comparing organizations would be like comparing red apples to green apples. For the most part both are like the EMBDC in that they are charged with both chamber of commerce and economic development activities however funding mechanisms and staff capabilities are varied (CDF in Tupelo is a staff of 21, ADP in Hattiesburg is a staff of 15). That said, I have visited my friends in Tupelo on more than one occasion and each time I have found useful tools to be adapted here. Similarly, I like to think others have looked at the EMBDC for ideas on programs and activities. I know for a fact that our Existing Industry program is appreciated across the state as is our work in education and image.
Looking back on the past 6 years here I am proud of many activities and the work we as a community have been able to manage. Just off the top of my head, I have had both the pain and pleasure to be an integral part of six projects that together represent 670 jobs and an investment of $93,000,000 (U.S. Blades, Tower Automotive, Teikuro, Summer Industries, N.E.W., and Handy Hardware).
Despite all the activities related to new developments I am most proud of my/our work with Avery Dennison in helping them expand. In an industry with incredible global pressure and a low cost product I had been afraid of their leaving the community. Thanks to the workforce who adopted lean manufacturing principals and the plant leadership that saw an opportunity, we were able to work within the existing industry incentives to not just secure the Meridian facility for the long term but support their growth of 70,000 additional square feet and 100 new jobs. While there is immense satisfaction in knowing you helped create a new job for someone, knowing you saved someone's job is even better.
Let's hope we don't suffer from pink eye without a mirror to remind us. Not to worry, this is Meridian after all. As for the future, personally I am in unchartered waters. I have not been at any one organization for more than six years since elementary school. However, at the age of 40 I am enjoying what I do and just as importantly the people I get to do it with. We are a small team of 7 here at the EMBDC and one I look forward to staying with for a few more years.
Send a comment!
Skip Scaggs, Manager of Business Development
sscaggs@embdc.org