Barry Broome's Last Words on Kalamazoo

Barry Broome, the President and CEO of Michigan Southwest in Kalamazoo is headed to Phoenix to run the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC).

Many folks in the ED profession by now have received this news. To some economic developers, Barry's selection as the new GPEC CEO was a surprise (maybe a shock to some) because of Barry's relatively young age and the fact that he has not worked in the business as long as many others aiming at the job. I must say that Barry got some important things done in Parma, Toledo, and SW Michigan. He worked on things that were important. That is a hallmark of a good economic developer in my book.

The world is full of surprises. Economic development is full of surprises. For example, who would have guessed five years ago that offshore outsourcing would be economic development's single greatest challenge?

In my view, there is plenty of room for youth, energy, and new ideas in economic development. Approaching 30 years in this interesting and wonderful business, I can attest to the fact that as a profession, we have plenty of room for these things. I can also attest to the fact that economic development needs more wisdom, long-term thinking and planning, and systematic approaches to the issues it seeks to address. Economic development, especially in fast-growing states like Arizona, requires greater balance with Mother Nature, and it needs to work on the qualitative transformation of the Arizona economy.

In Barry's parting comments about Kalamazoo, he says that the area has "something to offer." I agree with him on that point. Qualitatively, Kalamazoo is a different type of economic place than Phoenix, and should be treated as such. Hopefully Barry's successor in Kalamazoo will quickly come to terms with the unique and valuable qualities of the Kalamazoo and help area businesses, communities, and workers to make the most of those assets.

I wish Barry well in Phoenix. I would urge him to consider the "chemistry" of the place and its people as he starts his new assignment. Economic developers have always been part alchemist from what I can tell.