I try to use this space in our newsletter to shine a light on something special about Greater Peoria or to discuss a particular project or initiative. I’m never at a loss for topics, but I just got back from the Annual Summit of the Illinois Economic Development Association (IEDA) and have been reflecting on how lucky I am to have been in this line of work for just over twenty years. Between listening to experts share their thoughts and ideas on topics ranging from housing to energy and connecting with my amazing peers, I was struck by the dedication these professionals have to the communities they serve.
I am reasonably sure (to the point of being absolutely certain) that no children dream of growing up to be economic development professionals. That was certainly the case for me: I didn’t know that economic development was a career you could have until I had it. I think of this job as my accidental passion. I had been in Peoria for about 2 years (having moved here from Denver to be closer to my wife’s family) when I found myself out of work. A friend shared information about a job as an “economic development specialist” at the City of Peoria. I didn’t know what that meant, but I had ten years of good project management experience and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. That must have been good enough for them, and I was offered the job.
Had you asked thirty-something Chris if he planned to make this new job his life’s calling, he would have snickered. I needed a job, and this was a job. But I enjoyed the work, felt like I was having a tiny positive impact on the community, and most importantly got to work with some really amazing people. My boss and first mentor, Craig Hullinger, was a whirling dervish of energy, enthusiasm, and crazy ideas. His favorite quote was from Daniel Burnham: “Make no small plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” He had bold ideas about how to improve Peoria. Some of them, like redeveloping the Warehouse District, were hits. Others, like installing water cannons that would crisscross the Illinois River, not so much. But his passion for making things better was catchy.
Over the following twenty years, I witnessed that same passion across my industry, time and again. This includes the people I work with every day at the EDC as well as partners in economic development across the region and state. People like Sally Hanley, who has worked at the EDC for over 30 years and is the first to step up when there is a problem to solve. Seasoned professionals like Jon Oliphant in Washington, who balance caring for their own community with an understanding of the region’s importance. Earlier career pros like Josh Wray in Pekin, who has, as my dad would say, taken to his job like “a duck to water.” At the IEDA summit, I connected with so many colleagues who feel just as passionately about their communities as we do ours.
I am blessed to have found this career. It allowed me to walk through old, vacant warehouses and try to glimpse the future a developer envisioned. It introduced me to entrepreneurs who get by on hustle and a dream. It gave me a chance to help businesses survive the fallout from a pandemic. It took me to China, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil to represent the interests of my community and region. But most importantly, it introduced me to so many amazing people who were eager to build partnerships that improve Greater Peoria. Chances are that if you are reading this, you are one of those people. Thank you for being part of our team, and for your support of the work we do. Economic development isn’t a job I ever thought I would love, but I’m glad to have been wrong.