![]() ![]() went after Michael Blouin, who had been instrumental in the success of the development happening in Cedar Rapids. With the window of opportunity to implement change in DSM closing, Steve C. said he couldn’t accept the position, but he did accept the thought and spent that morning discussing what should be and how to design an economic development organization. to meet with him for coffee and asked him to resign from the Belin Firm, where he was employed, and become president of the new organization. But it might help if he found the right person to run the new organization. was aware that the change would need to happen fast and that board members might not be quick to dissolve the organizations they belonged to. Implementing the changes needed within The Chamber would mean collapsing boards, taking away organizations and consolidating funding. ![]() knew what he had to do: hire the other Steve. knew that Steve Z.’s ability to develop a long-term vision would be integral to what he hoped to do for DSM. At the time he served as chair, he worked on a project known as Project 21, but even though the project had some steam, over time focus again returned - as it was known to do - to short-term thinking. He had a knack for building targeted industries for DSM. Steve realized there was an opportunity to bring them together to create something new that would combat the issue of project-based business and seek to implement a long-term vision.Ī former chair of the Chamber, Steve Zumbach, had an ability to attract the right industries to develop marketing plans and secure financing. ![]() Steve knew that members of the boards of each organization were discussing important issues, but time and again no progress would emerge through any of the four on their own. These organizations included: Des Moines Development Corporation, which boasted senior and community leadership and financial resources the Greater Des Moines Chamber the Downtown Partnership, which focused solely on Downtown DSM projects and the Downtown Committee, an offshoot of the Chamber. Local DSM Organizations and Community Leaders Work Togetherįour local DSM organizations were all meeting monthly to discuss similar issues within the city. Without long-term focus, Steve knew he wouldn’t be able to implement the changes the community needed. The Chamber back then was project-driven, with the staff working on implementing a project. At the time, economic development was not being achieved and there was no long-term economic development strategy. ![]() His predecessor, Lynn Horack, told Steve it would be up to him to decide how the organization moved forward so he took the opportunity to think about where the Chamber stood within the region. Prior to becoming chair of the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce in 1999, the president of the Chamber resigned. Of note, Chapman’s interview was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In part two, Suku Radia discusses The Partnership’s role an impact through the years. Steve sits down with The Partnership’s Chief Strategy Officer and OneVoice podcast host, Tiffany Tauscheck, to discuss the history of the region, the growth we are seeing in Greater Des Moines (DSM) and what we can learn as we move forward. He has also been a member on The Partnership’s Board and has served as a past Board Chair. Steve Chapman is a retired businessman and one of the original founders of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, founded 20 years ago. ![]()
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