The last issue of Cascade Business News focused on the economic outlook for Central Oregon for the coming year. One of the forecasters, David Rosell, made a very strong point that what our region needs is a strong spirit of collaboration between business, non profit and government organizations. He encouraged us to ‘think differently in order to create opportunity because what we have known in the past will not allow us to successfully compete in the future in this now global marketplace.
Rosell said that part of effective collaboration means coming together to develop strategies based on shared values, mutual respect and a proactive engagement with our business community.
“It is time for Communication, Cooperation & Coordination between these valued organizations. There is far greater potential when we work together on overlapping agendas. Some of the many possibilities and areas of current focus include connecting economic development with tourism, a four year university, an applied research center, an elite athletic sports training facility, developing a more permanent, sustainable Mirror Pond, growing air service in Redmond, the recruitment and expansion of our local businesses including the aviation, technology and bioscience sectors.”
While most directors of our economic and tourism organizations will state publicly that they work closely with other entities oftentimes there remains an underlying theme of self promotion and secrecy.
Case in point: the challenge of bringing the Ironman Triathlon to Central Oregon around the same time that a similar event, the Leadman, was already planned. A commitment from Visit Bend was already in the works for the Leadman event when other groups led by the Oregon Sports Authority began working on the Ironman event. It appears that some entities were not talking to each other and some ruffling of feathers occurred. It is not a catastrophe as it has been reported that the Leadman Triathlon will be coming to Bend in September and the Ironman organizers will have to have another day in our region.
However, many people, including Deschutes County commissioners who had to approve the fine permit for the triathlons, suggested that organizations such as the tourism agencies and chambers of commerce need to communicate better with each other.
Just when we think that we all speak to each other, we turn around and find out we don’t. Like Rosell suggested it’s time to communicate our intentions and share plans that impact each other, cooperate to find the best solutions that have the greater good for the most Central Oregonians and coordinate the plan so everyone is on the same page and helping each other.
It is not effective to establish territories, keep information close to your chest and pat yourself on the back when something works. Too often it doesn’t! pha
