Welcome to Business like 360 with Kristi K., where we get to know thought leaders and innovators, trends and impact in the world of business and we see firsthand how business and life have evolved.

Business Life 360 with Kristi K. is made possible by Promedica, a locally owned, nationally recognized, not for profit health care network that has a strong commitment to clinical excellence, providing safe, high quality patient care, and addressing social issues that impact health.

John B and Lillian E Neff, College of Business and Innovation at the University of Toledo Developing lifelong Leaders for the World of Business and by KeyBank, also by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Kristi: Hello and welcome to Business Life.

360.

I'm your host, Kristie Kaye.

Our topic on this episode is how to grow and develop a region for long term success.

Well, that specifically into the strategic direction of the northwest Ohio region, talking with three experts on strategies, actions and utilization of resources for economic impact and growth.

So kick back, relax and come along with me.

This is business life 360 What is most important for regional success?

Attracting a talented workforce, building corporate equity or enhancing a region's natural amenities to attract people for a better quality of life?

Well, we'll find out.

And the answer may not be that simple.

Let's head out to get some answers.

I'm here in Perrysburg, Ohio, at a company named Satellite X that has experienced extreme growth in the last ten years in terms of white collar jobs and revenue.

So I'm here with the CEO and President Shaun Donovan to talk more about how that's been happening.

So I'm great to be with you today, Kristi.

Sean: Great to see you again and welcome to Satelytics.

Kristi: Thank you.

It is a pleasure to be here.

Sean: Thank you.

Kristi: Sean, why does the company exist?

What's your mission statement?

Tell us a little more about satellite X. Sean: So satelytics is a primarily a software company, but it develops some very unique world breaking algorithms that detect some of the most challenging problems of our customers have.

So, for example, one of the algorithms that we're very known for is detecting methane.

Not only do we detect the methane with a very high degree of accuracy and where it's located as as greenhouse gases expel into the air, but we also measure both the gas plume and the flow rate.

No one else in the world does that.

And that's down to, as you asked why.

I mean, you look at the brilliance around this organization and we've got a bunch of young people that bring such tremendous talent and disruptive technology that we can't help but succeed.

So that's really the secret sauce to sad lyrics.

Kristi: Why is it important to grow white collar jobs in a region?

Sean: Well, specifically, Kristi, I'd say more than white collar jobs.

I'd say in the tertiary industry, the services industry in particular.

In my experience looking at the Midwest and I've been in the Midwest for a number of years, it's one of those areas that's often overlooked because of the East and the West Coast get so much attention.

But there's brilliance in the Midwest and growth of a region is extraordinary.

You want a young family to cement and put their roots in the area.

So you want graduates to come out of university, be innovative, work for innovative firms like Satellite X, so that that group stay, have families and their children stay.

So it builds the tax base, it builds a stronger community.

You've got more services that would go around with that because obviously a bigger population attracts.

I mean, Columbus is a very good example.

It's often referred to as a test market around the world or around the country, and that attracts new elements, new services, new restaurants, new fashion.

So all of those things keep those young families growing, good schools.

Kristi: Are there things that you say, hmm, companies really need regions really need to look at these five items to make the region more attractive, to bring in those people, those families you're referring to, to keep students staying in that region.

Sean: So I was at a meeting recently where people were talking about new buildings they were building to attract companies from outside of Ohio into Ohio, as an example.

And, you know, you often hear about Amazon bidding, various states as to where they're going to put their next facility and the price that these states are willing to pay in incentives, tax abatements.

I often, you know, we have an English expression about catching the mice and missing the elephants.

And I said at this particular gathering, I think we are catching the mice and missing elephants.

Why aren't we worried about youngsters that are coming out with degrees and masters?

Why are we letting them migrate to other cities and states around the country?

Why aren't we making capital innovation tertiary industries?

Because industries like Seattle, it it doesn't take a lot to get going.

You don't need huge infrastructure.

You're not building a processing plant.

What you're building is taking somebody's brainpower and turning it into gold.

Kristi: So for you, it's analytics.

What kinds of partnership are you looking for?

You mentioned universities.

Are there other partnerships that, as you said, Okay, I'm looking at Perrysburg, Ohio.

This is truly what I'm looking at and what I need for this company to not only succeed but thrive in this particular area.

Sean: So you for us, the challen and the set of skills that we need, whether it's software infrastructure, whether it's scientists, data analysts, all of those skill sets are available in the local area.

What you need are the universities to say, how do we promote and stimulate and how do I connect with those local businesses that will grow, that services industry.

Kristi: And that strategy, if you will, that you just defined is a win win win.

So you have said Olympics getting its employees, you have the student with a job, the university being able to place their students in fabulous companies.

So all of those things really are a recipe for success and for building a region.

Sean: Yeah, for Perrysburg, too.

The more we increase our tax base, the more local taxes that they gather, the bigger our footprint, the more and more profitable you are, the better off the Exchequer is for gathering taxes that we pay.

So, I mean, Seattle Alex is a highly profitable company.

So, you know, we write checks based, we pay taxes based on profits.

I mean, that's good because it means we can stimulate better, better, better benefits for our employees.

We can do some innovative things.

And of course, we're adding to the region.

Kristi: What's more important for a region to attract companies, to attract a workforce is one more important in your mind than another?

Sean: Well, I'm biased because I think the what the price you pay to attract a big name company I think is way too much.

I've only ever had small companies.

My career started with small software companies.

I would say it's the people.

Don't let the people leave and attract people from the outside.

We've got individuals in our company that walk to work.

They literally live next door in some fabulous condominiums and they walk to work.

Their dollar goes a lot further in Perrysburg, Ohio, than it would in some of the other major cities.

So those I think our considerations, the work itself, of course, has to push the boundaries of their brain and push their subject matter expertise.

I think that's very important.

I would be firmly on the side of people above companies.

Kristi: So Sean, when you're in business, Life360, we do something called Quick Hits where I ask you a question, you respond quickly and our viewers get to know you a little bit.

Sean: That over that quick, though.

Kristi: Well, we'll do our best.

So you ready for this?

Sean: Yes, I am.

Kristi: Your birth city, Southampton.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Sean: Well, I normally start off with steak and eggs.

Then I have creme brulee and then and that's in my dreams.

A drink of water.

That was it.

Kristi: That's it.

Sean: That's it.

Kristi: Okay.

Sean: Pretty boring.

Kristi: Favorite sports.

Sean: Favorite sports.

Yes.

I would like to say so.

All the Americans will agree with me.

American football and basketball.

But that's not true.

There is only one game and that's football.

You call it football, soccer, whatever it is.

Kristi: What is the current music in your car right now?

Oh.

Sean: Duran Duran.

Kristi: Nice one.

Shaun Donovan.

You're an excellent example of what it takes to grow a region.

And congratulations to you on the growth of Satellite X and thanks for joining us.

Sean: Thank you.

And you're welcome.

Any time.

Kristi: As we discuss our business life, 3060 topic of how to grow and develop a region, particularly in the Midwest, we are now on site at the Regional Growth Partnership in Toledo, Ohio, to discuss this Midwest region's opportunity and potential for growth.

And I'm here now with Dean Montague, the president and CEO.

So, Dean, it's great to be with you today.

Well, thanks.

Dean: For having me on.

I appreciate it.

Kristi: As we dive into our topic, Dean, of how to successfully develop and grow a region, what are some of the specific factors or key indicators, if you will, that we look at in terms of regional growth?

Dean: Well, first of all, it's got to begin and end with collaboration.

I've always said that's a really easy word that people throw around quite a bit.

Collaboration, it's a lot tougher and practice to make it happen.

And I think if you really look at a lot of the what people would consider agencies, whether it be in RG, PE, the Port Authority, the chamber and others, we have all kind of come up together.

Those of us that are now leading these organizations kind of came up together, have known each other for over 20 years.

So I think that collaboration, which really is based on trust and not having an agenda and not trying to build kingdoms but work with your partners, that's really the key to it and that's how I think you begin to build a region by getting everyone on the same page.

Kristi: So when you talk about your track record here, you track record of success.

How do you define that?

Is it the number of businesses you bring in, a number of people who come into the region?

How is it defined here?

Right.

Dean: That's a great question.

Success is defined like most regional economic development groups around the country.

There's really three core things that our board really cares about.

It's how many projects are you closing each year?

How much capital investment is associated with those projects, and how many brand new jobs are being created?

Kristi: Absolutely.

That's impressive.

And as a midwestern region, how important is it to continue to attract the traditional blue collar companies to the region?

Is that one of those things that does it remain strategically important as you go forward and look ahead?

Dean: Again, another great question, and it's all about balance.

First of all, it's incredibly important to continue.

And the majority of those hundred and 15 projects I mentioned, the majority of those certainly are in the industrial manufacturing space.

And the reason that's so important is because of the kind of jobs that we do have here in northwest Ohio.

Are really tied to those industries and something that, again, not our GDP talking about it, but something that was a study that was done by the federal Reserve just two years ago showed that what they defined as opportunity occupations and they define that as a job that doesn't take a four year degree, but it pays over the national median wage that Toledo in northwest Ohio has more opportunity jobs and anywhere else in the country.

It's incredibly important that we continue to stress what has provided a very good living for a lot of people in northwest Ohio.

Kristi: As you look ahead, making a shift to more white collar jobs, bringing in more tech, more innovation.

How is that playing into your corporate strategy and the regional growth partnerships kind of vision for the future?

Dean: Right.

As as important as the industrial manufacturing sector is in northwest Ohio, certainly I think you see the entire country and you see new technologies.

Even in the manufacturing space.

There continues to be so many new innovations and technologies that the skill sets that are needed today and the kind of again, kind of really going from blue collar to white collar, I think that's extremely important for any region if you want to grow in the future.

You know, the analogy is simple.

If you are going to be hard hat and say I'm going to continue to build buggy whip and that's all I'm going to do, sooner or later you're going to be in trouble.

So it's not that we're really shifting focus.

We're going to continue the focus we have on the traditional industries that again, provide for a lot of reasons, a very good opportunity here in northwest Ohio.

But we also have to always be looking at the future and looking at what regions are doing that are growing and making sure that we're not too late to that party and I think we've had some early successes with that.

Kristi: And there has also been discussion about as you grow a region and develop a region really focusing on lifestyle assets.

Is that something that you're seeing?

And if you were to say, okay, which is more of the focus, is it bringing companies in?

Is it really working towards those lifestyle assets and developing those or is it a little bit of both?

Dean: As I started out, I think mentioning the word balance, everything we do is about balance.

Certainly a lot of it, if you look at what has happened in downtown Toledo in the last decade, and for those who was born and raised here, it's always easy to forget.

But when you look at a ten year period and look back at all the changes that have happened, this is the thing that has really allowed us, I think, to have we sell the business assets of the region.

But as we start focusing and starting to shift some resources into the white collar knowledge base, job attraction and trying to attract those companies, those companies have to have the amenities they know that young people want, and it's as simple as that.

So to see the renaissance of downtown and the things that this region has, the new convention center, everything that people that live here know we have, that is a that's a way to draw.

It's either way to keep young people here or to draw young people or even young adults that have moved away to draw them back in.

So it's a balance of having what people want for quality of life, but also having the jobs are looking for that.

They don't just want to leave and go to New York and Chicago because the opportunities aren't here.

So it's always balancing those things together.

Kristi: Talk to us a little bit about some of the success stories as you've had in terms of bringing in new technologies and innovative companies that are really focused on that new strategy.

Dean: Sure.

So again, as part of the show that Shawn Donegan, it's analytics.

They were they're a poster child example of a technology that came out of the university system and then grew and got a lot of help, whether it be grants, loans, different forms of assistance, whether it be local, state jobs, Ohio, others to help them.

There are dozens upon dozens of satellite trucks in northwest Ohio that people just really aren't aware of.

So I think when we talk about white collar and innovation and technology, we have a lot of that here already and we work on quite a bit of that.

There are so many examples of those things that I really do believe for the most part, people just don't realize it.

And then even on the manufacturing side, NSG that everyone knows as Pilkington, that was a huge win for the region to get the first in 40 years new manufacturing site with all new technologies of how they create glass and what they do and they then become a supplier to for solar.

So, so many interconnected stories here in northwest Ohio that again I don't think the average person really, even though sometimes you'll read about it, don't really realize holistically how all that fits together.

Kristi: Steve Mirsky, Thanks so much for sharing your insights and all that you are doing to really grow and develop a successful region.

Thanks for being with us.

Dean: Thank you for having me.

Kristi: And now let's head back to the studio.

As with any regional growth and development, it's imperative to also grow the city hub.

And this region of northwest Ohio is no different.

Joining me now is Paul Toth, the president's of an organization called Connect Toledo that creates environments to attract people and revitalize the city hub.

So, Paul, welcome to Business Life, 360.

It's great to have you here.

Paul: Thanks, Christi.

Great to be here with you.

Kristi: So as we said, Toledo is the hub of northwest Ohio and downtown Toledo is really the epicenter for business in the region.

So as president of Connect Toledo, what would you say is your primary organizational mission and the purpose?

Paul: Yeah.

So the really Connect Toledo was formed out of the business community.

There was a group that got together back in 2016 called the 22nd Century Committee, and it was a group of our CEOs, our corporate leaders that got together and actually hired a planning firm that did a master plan for downtown.

We had seen really about 50 years of of downtown Toledo, typical of Midwestern cities.

We'd seen about 50 years of of loss of jobs and loss of corporate existence and downtown.

So there was a new goal to revitalize Connect Toledo was born out of that effort.

We were really created, along with those business leaders, to help drive revitalization of downtown, find our way back to the great city that we were back in the early 1900s.

Kristi: The downtown Toledo area has truly experienced a surge in new development and revitalization.

How have you been able to do so?

Paul: Yeah, So, you know, one of the I think one of the most important parts of communities like Toledo that are from the Midwest and have seen decades of lost jobs in manufacturing.

Toledo's core was always manufacturing and I think one of the important things really developing that quality of life.

And so that's really what we've been focusing on communities that are willing today are communities that are figuring out how to make an attractive place for people to live.

Kristi: Why should millennials, let's say, be interested in the Midwest and specifically in Northwest Ohio?

Paul: Well, I have my own personal opinion on that.

Part of that has to do with you know, we have to make our community cool for people to want to live.

And so when you think about millennials and Gen Z and and all, you know, all the people coming up and our future, we have to make it an environment people want to be.

And, you know, the one nice thing about Toledo in northwest Ohio, extremely cost effective place to live.

Kristi: Talk to us about some of the things that the Toledo and the northwest Ohio region has that really are bringing people in and that are attractive to those who are considering.

Paul: We have this wonderful park system.

We're in the process right now along our riverfront, the downtown, a $200 million big, bold renovation of our downtown waterfront.

We call it the Glass City River Walk, being led by our natural parks system.

And it's really transforming our parks.

But again, one of those huge investments that it's all about, quality of place.

Kristi: So why is it that some Midwest regions thrive and others maybe fail?

Paul: Yeah, I think, you know, we grew up in Toledo as a manufacturing community.

You know, that was kind of in our DNA where the glass capital of the world, that was the foundation of what we built our industry on.

And those companies are still located.

Libbey Glass That was that was created back in the late 1800s.

And Owens-Illinois, Libyan's Ford, which is now known as G.E.

and Owens Corning, these were really all the foundational businesses in Toledo.

And, you know, through globalization and we've seen a lot of that low skill manufacturing move to other places in the world.

And Toledo has not reacted well enough or fast enough to create the opportunities for creating an environment for tech innovation.

We've got a wonderful history of tech innovation.

We parlayed the glass industry to create the largest solar manufacturing industry in the United States and First Solar, and that was really developed out of the University of Toledo and, you know, emanated from our glass industry.

And so we've got a wonderful history and heritage of innovation.

We just haven't we haven't doubled down on it, and we're starting to do that.

That's really part of our big push now with our business community and randomization, that the communities are focused around innovation and creating, you know, an opportunity for people that want to come to Toledo and give people a reason to be here.

Kristi: And really highlighting those assets that we have of being near the Great Lakes and some of those things that are sort of our natural amenities.

That's really important as well, is it not?

Paul: It is.

You know, we joke, those of us that have lived here forever, we always talk about you can get anywhere in Toledo in 20 minutes.

And it's absolutely true.

You know, it's.

Kristi: A beautiful.

Paul: Thing, 25 miles, 20 minutes, which doesn't.

I just spent the weekend in Washington, D.C. and know what you know, sometimes you're lucky to walk a mile in 20 minutes.

So I really appreciate the fact that we've got a, you know, unbelievable amount of many amenities.

Great Lakes, the just you know, we're in a location where we're 50 minutes from Detroit and we're a couple hours from big cities like Chicago and Columbus.

And it's just it's a great place to call home.

Kristi: I think that, too, is very intentional.

I mean, you've had a committee like yourself and others working in the business community as well, working very hard to bring tech jobs, to bring innovation, to bring more white collar jobs into the region.

How is that looking in that strategy for you thus far?

Paul: It is.

I'm I'm excited about what's happened over the last 12 months.

There is an unprecedented amount of resources available for communities like ours to to raise up innovation.

We've been able to engage with our biggest corporation, our Fortune 500 companies in and around Toledo and with the leadership of our business community.

It's been exciting.

Kristi: Well, Paul, congratulations on the successes.

So far, and we can't wait to continue to watch what happens in the future.

I can't think of a better person to be leading the charge than you.

So thanks for joining us on Business Life 360.

Paul: Thanks, Kristi.

Thanks for having.

Kristi: We thank Paul Troth for joining us to define the critical ingredients necessary to develop a downtown region that a successful, thriving and innovative the regional growth urban and business experts we talked with agree that a multi-prong strategy that includes successful innovation, white collar job enhancement, effective traditional economic development strategies and enhancement of community assets will all improve the quality of life to bring growth development along terms.

This has to a region.

And that's a wrap on this episode of Business Life 360.

Thanks for joining us.

To learn more about the exciting leadership, innovation and advancements occurring right here in our region and beyond.

I'm Christy Kay and I'll see you on the next Business Life 360.

Announcer: Connect with Kristi K. on LinkedIn at Kristi Kay Hoffman and here the Business Life 360 conversation on FM 91 on Thursday mornings.

To watch previous episodes and more, visit our web site at WGTE.org/B360 and join Kristi for her new podcast, Business Life After Hours Business Life 360 would Kristi K. is made possible by Promedica, a locally owned, nationally recognized not for profit health care network, then has a strong commitment to clinical excellence providing safe, high quality patient care and addressing social issues that impact health.

John B and Lillian E Neff, College of Business and Innovation of the University of Toledo.

Developing lifelong Leaders for the World of Business and by KeyBank, also by viewers like you.

Thank you for.