Broadband is Economic Development
Workforce is the Strategic Urgency being highlighted this quarter by your Chamber of Commerce. In case you may not be familiar with the term ‘Strategic Urgency,’ here’s a quick primer.
Every two years we conduct an in-depth survey with each Chamber member via a Survey Monkey style questionnaire. Time and time again, we get a great return from these surveys. Your Board of Directors delve deeply into hundreds of member responses. The Board members’ findings and recommendations become the platform, strategic plan is you prefer, for the Board Chair during his/her term of office.
Art Thomas of Meck Tech Engineering/Diversified Construction quoined the phrase ‘Strategic Urgency’ to characterize his commitment to closing the gaps identified by our members two years ago. His Number #1 Priority was and continues to be Workforce.
Art is well known for his ‘out of the box’ thinking when it comes to finding solutions. He knew, and has made sure to let everyone know, that he would not settle for the same old solutions to our chronic concerns and issues. New solutions had to be tried and tested, and that’s what he has made happen.
With Art’s leadership, your Chamber has also been very strategic in its advocacy when it comes public investments. We’ve partnered up with the kindred organizations all over our state to help deliver meaningful ‘fixes’ to our local Strategic Urgencies.
One such organization is the Pennsylvania Telephone Association. On April 1st, Steve Samara, President of this association joined Art and me for a conversation On The Mark. That morning, we were also joined by past Chamber Chair, John Uehling. What developed was a ‘rally cry’ moment live and on air that we would never again miss out on an opportunity to make sure that the workforce living and working in Greater Susquehanna Valley would have access to affordable and compatible world-class broadband and high-speed internet.
Recently, Mr. Samara took pen-to-paper to write an opinion piece which appeared in The Daily Item this past Sunday. Once again, he makes a very strong case for the Chamber to work alongside our incumbent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to deliver communications services for our members, our future members, and for their families.
As the moniker ‘Urgency’ suggests, we haven’t a minute to lose. Please watch closely over this calendar quarter has we convert, together, our mission into action and expand our legacy of prosperity.
Our best days lie just ahead.
Broadband is Economic Development
