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Issue 1455 March 25, 2012
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Dr. George Puia explains Road Map plans to Chamber leaders as Eileen Curtis looks on.

CHAMBER LINKS LEADERS: Blue Water Economy, P-20 Education Key to Growth

Road Map to the Future Process Continues As Leadership Group Collaborates

March 12, 2014       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Let George do it?

No, says George, we'll all work together to do it!

Dr. George Puia is the Dow Chemical Centennial Chair in Global Business at Saginaw Valley State University.

"It" is grow the community, to be a place known outside the boundaries of the Bay-Midland-Saginaw area, according to Dr. Puia.

The group is crafting a Bay County Road Map to the Future, a 10-year vision for the community, creating a framework to move quickly and collaboratively, a working plan embracing what the community aspires to be.

Professor Puia specializes in strategic planning and business internationalization. His research interests include environmentally sustainable business, technology shifts, responses to large scale change (especially for small to medium sized firms), and factors that shape the competitiveness of America in world markets. He teaches courses in Strategic Management, International Business, Entrepreneurship, and E-commerce.

Dr. Puia keynoted a Bay Area Chamber Business-Government-Education Summit Tuesday evening at the DoubleTree Hotel-Bay City Riverfront. The summit was the brainchild of the immediate past chair of the chamber, Pat O'Brien, of Emcor, Inc., and Chamber President Mike Seward.

The Bay Area Community Foundation, headed by Eileen Curtis, was co-sponsor of the event.

This planning process began in 2004 with the Whittaker Report, sponsored by the Bay County Board of Commissioners. The first recommendation from that report embraced by the community was the creation of Bay Future, Inc., public/private economic development partnership, Mr. Seward noted.

Dr. Puia cited a survey of 500 community leaders to determine their sense of what the future should hold for the community.

In sharp focus for the leadership group are two projects: 1-Paraleon Pier, offering improved public access to Saginaw Bay at the foot of State Park Drive; and, 2-Improvement of the visual aspects of the motor vehicle entrances to the city from the west and east.

Collaborative task forces will find "creative ways to work toward a common goal, breaking the cycle of poverty by improving the economic climate, said Dr. Puia.

One goal cited by Prof. Puia is "add 5,000 people in high income jobs."

The Blue Water Economy (buzzwords for using water in a smart and sustainable way) is one pathway, adopted by the start-up mavens, Blue Water Angels, now sparking entrepreneurial growth locally, he said.

Based in Midland, BlueWater Angels (BWA) is a network of more than 50 high-net-worth individuals and select organizations interested in investing capital in promising companies. Investment goal is exit in 3-5 years with a 30x return.

Another route to growing the community is focus on the P-20 schools, not just K-12. P-20 is pre-school through post-graduate study.

Improving access to higher education is a key to economic growth, said Prof. Puia, since communities with higher education levels are more attractive to business.

One goal discussed at the summit was more accessible university level education. A survey showed people here are very satisfied with higher education if they have a degree, but those without degrees are not satisfied since they find higher education difficult to access, he said.

The 2012 Bay County Report Card is available through the chamber website, www.bayareachamber.org.



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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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