Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
That turn of phrase couldn’t hold more true for the North
Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission
in Ridgway, which lies at a pivotal point in its existence as the
agency strives forward and proactively builds stronger
relationships with its stakeholders in the region.
“North Central is at a very pivotal point in its time frame,”
Executive Director Eric Bridges said during a meeting with The Era.
“It’s important that we move ahead dialed into what needs to happen
across the region. We need to celebrate the small as well as the
large successes.
“Minute by minute there has been a change in the culture. Our
time and resources have to be focused on moving forward. Every day
you have to fight that tendency to look back, which is natural to
do. Healthy and dynamic organizations have to step back and renew
themselves.”
A large part of that forward-looking mentality is contained in
the agency’s 16-page strategic plan, which outlines its priorities
for helping build the region up in the coming years. Those
priorities and goals include:
* Community Development – including promoting economic
initiatives that benefit the region; establishing partnerships with
the region’s counties, municipalities and organizations, supporting
local regional planning and development; and promoting
quality-of-life initiatives while safeguarding the region’s
assets.
* Infrastructure and Technology – assess regional infrastructure
needs, including communication, transportation, water and sewer,
health care, education and site remediation; and leverage economic
development and other programs to advance emerging energy-related
industry opportunities, among others.
* Workforce Development and Education – determine the workforce
and education needs of the region; partner with educational
institutions, employers and other service providers to ensure the
area’s workforce is sufficiently skilled and develop that workforce
to meet the demands of employers, among others.
* Job and Business Creation and Retention – promote the economic
development and diversification of the region; improve coordination
among the region’s economic and workforce development and business
communities, among others.
* Organizational Excellence – evaluate the strengths and
weaknesses of the agency’s programs relative to the region’s
current and projected needs; assess and develop the commission’s
accountability systems; and encourage the development of
relationships with partner organizations, among others.
However, to get to that level – which Bridges dubbed “a
deliberate process that requires work” – the agency had to come to
grips with where it had been, namely an organization with a cloudy
future in the aftermath of the resignation of its former director
Ron Kuleck. Bridges, who had previous experience with economic
development agencies in New York state, was hired to lead the
organization last year.
“North Central wasn’t broke,” Bridges said. “There were systems
in place that were never allowed to fully work. The personnel,
which are very talented, were waiting for a change in
leadership.”
Executive board member and McKean County Commissioner John
Egbert agreed, saying “there was management there that was ‘do it
my way.’ Eric is starting to turn that wheel around. It’s much
easier for everybody to go in one direction together.”
Bridges said his initial focus has been on staff development,
including the staff being an intricate part of what direction North
Central is heading.
“It was important for people to witness my ideology,” Bridges
said. “That was a big step. I recognized the strengths and ability
that existed and needed to figure out how to build that up. We need
to reach out to our stakeholders and be proactive. It’s about
relationship building.
“There is a lot of great work done here that nobody knows about.
Our responsibility is to the region and its taxpayers and to
provide the access to those resources the region needs to move
forward.”
The complex organization – which has under its umbrella such
numerous entities as the Export Marketing Program, Foreign Trade
Zone, Geographic Information Systems and WIC – is also overseen by
a board comprised of elected officials and industry
representatives.
“It (North Central) is a constant source of new opportunities,”
Bridges said. “There are constant changes going on. There should
always be an influx of new ideas and creative thinking.
Organizations that ‘get it’ live within that reality.”
Such a realistic decision occurred recently when North Central
officials agreed to sell its Industrial Technical Education Center
(ITEC). Bridges called the move “the most responsible decision
since I’ve been here.”
Officials said the school deserves to be operated by an entity
focused on just that.
“We (North Central) are not in the school business,” Egbert
said.
