Dialogue with Larry Burns

I think we would all agree that Toledo and Northwest Ohio can use an image enhancement.

I am pleased to report that a collection of community organizations are banding together to start a process which will result in a game plan and road map for the Toledo brand. Organizations including The Toledo Community Foundation, The Toledo Mud Hens, The Greater Toledo Urban League, The Chamber of Commerce,  Bowling Green State University and The University of Toledo are united in this effort to attract MORE business, MORE students, and MORE visitors to our community.

The outcome of this exercise will be much more than a logo or an advertising campaign.  We will develop a process and a plan to strategically communicate all of the wonderful attributes that make our region a great place to live, work and play. We will be conducting focus groups from dozens of clusters that make up the community. From Wood County to Sylvania.  From the Restaurant Association to the Arts Commission. From the Home Builders Association to Cedar Point.  I will also be making an individual survey available on this journal for all of you…to tell us what you think.

Stay tuned…I think we have a real opportunity to get it right.

Regards,  Larry.

A very important and exciting milestone occurred this past Wednesday at the University of Toledo.

The UT  Minority Business Incubator opened for business. The opening ceremonies included comments from Dr. Lloyd Jacobs and Dr. Rosemary Haggett as well as the Mayor of Toledo, Mr. Carty Finkbeiner.

But, it was really the comments from the community representatives that made the day so special in my mind. Comments from Mr. Vince Wiggins, president of the Toledo African American Chamber  of Commerce; Mr. Gary Johnson, president of the Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. George Robinson, II, director of the Minority Contractors Business Assistance Program were remarkable.

George Robinson, II talks at the Minority Business Incubator grand opening

These gentlemen spoke of the University’s commitment to diversity and how important this incubator will be in helping minority businesses get started, grow and become successful elements of our economic infrastructure. Their collective comments pointed out that the University of Toledo is now taking  active and real steps forward in diversity and in particular the development of minority owned businesses. I’m extremely proud to be part of this initiative and look forward to welcoming clients into the incubator and working with our College of Business as we encourage and guide these entrepreneurs as they reach for their dreams.

I want to thank Dr. Shanda Gore and Kara Mominee for their leadership in developing this initiative. And there is also a large  group of people that worked as a team to make this a reality. People like Megan Reichert, Chuck Lehnert,  Steve Wise, Bob Mackowiak, Laurie Flowers and others who worked so hard to get the building ready for the opening. I have never been more proud to be part of the University of Toledo than I was yesterday. Stop by the UT Scott Park Campus of Energy and Innovation and take a firsthand look at whats happening.

If you have any questions about the incubator please feel free to contact Shanda or myself at any time.

Regards,  Larry.