Ten People Who Made a Difference

By Michael Randle

Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell

Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell has earned a spot on this year's "Ten People Who Made a Difference" because of one word: courage. In the winter quarter, Purcell vetoed a local ordinance that would have established "English-only" as the only way government would be conducted in the Music City.

In an age when illegal immigration is more than frowned upon by many "natives," Purcell's stand isn't popular among some folks in the state of Tennessee. Look, this nation is being swallowed by the entire world. At the same time, the world has been introduced to everything American.

We no longer can isolate ourselves even if we wanted to. We understand the fear and anxiety associated with a more diverse nation. Yet, we must embrace it and acts like the one done by Bill Purcell recently show us how to take the high road when it comes to embracing that diversity.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Commerce Secretary Mike Olivier

Yes, this is the second time these two leaders have made this list. They certainly deserve it again this year. Gov. Blanco and Commerce Secretary Olivier have faced some of the toughest odds any two economic developers have encountered, what with the two disasters named Rita and Katrina.

On March 20, Gov. Blanco informed the people of Louisiana that she will not seek reelection. "After much thought and prayer, I have decided that I will not seek reelection as your governor," she announced in an address in March.

That announcement saddens us here at SB&D. We saw firsthand what Blanco and Olivier began three years ago. They instituted some outstanding business-friendly reforms and turned some of the most impressive deals in Louisiana history. They aren't finished, and Olivier may stay on as Commerce Secretary. But, the hurricanes of 2005 certainly slowed the momentum this pair had going at the time. Regardless, we are very proud of what they have accomplished.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredeson

Phil Bredesen has brought a strong, entrepreneurial presence to The Hill in Nashville. He is one of the few governors in the South who have actually started a company, taken it public and gotten it listed on the NYSE. That achievement doesn't necessarily make for great economic development governors. In fact, we felt that, like most governors, it took Bredesen a period of time to understand effective economic development.

Bredesen now fully understands economic development and has a clear plan on how to implement his strategies. The results have been outstanding. Tennessee has landed many corporate headquarters in the last couple of years including Nissan N.A., Louisiana Pacific, International Paper and ServiceMaster. In addition, personal income in the state of Tennessee rose 6% in 2006 alone.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Gray Swoope, David Rumbarger and Dennis Cuneo

Haley Barbour has received a lot of credit for luring Toyota to Mississippi in February and he should. The $1 billion-plus assembly plant is a huge coup for the Magnolia State. But credit must also go to Gray Swoope, the Mississippi Development Authority's executive director and David Rumbarger, CEO of the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo.

It was Rumbarger's idea several years ago to "go all in" with a marketing campaign for the Wellspring supersite. In other words, Rumbarger (see SouthernAutoCorridor.com news in this edition or go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com) took a huge gamble to market that site exclusively to an automaker. As far as we know, that's never been done before.

So, with Haley Barbour's powerful persuasion talents, Gray Swoope's great organizational skills and Rumbarger's idea, it was an unbeatable team. 

As for Cuneo, here's our reason we have included him in this group. Dennis Cuneo, who is officially retired from Toyota, but apparently remains an integral part of their site selection team, is being named one of our "Ten People Who Made a Difference" this year for the same reason Nashville mayor Bill Purcell made this list. Cuneo has courage, as does the entire Toyota corporation and site selection team.

In light of what has been said by representatives of the South's competition when it comes to recruiting the automotive industry -- all of it has resonated from Ontario and the Midwest -- Toyota, led by Cuneo and others chose Mississippi for its latest $1 billion-plus investment in North America. It was just 18 months ago that someone from Canada suggested that automakers in Mississippi and Alabama had resulted to using "pictorials" to teach their workers how to operate machinery in auto assembly plants. Dennis, thanks in part to you, that allegation has proven to be preposterous.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue

Not only did Sonny Perdue win reelection in November, his popularity among Georgian's has never been better. Perdue pulled the trigger on the Kia project a mere 90 days after Georgia lost its automotive assembly industry when Ford and GM announced they would close their two plants that have been located in the Atlanta area for decades.

Purdue has really become much more engaged in economic development over the last couple of years, championing initiatives in the life sciences and other emerging growth industries. Sonny didn't seem to get it in the beginning of his first term. Sonny Perdue now gets it when it comes to true, honest, and effective economic development as he leads the Peach State over the next three-and-a-half years.

Alabama Governor Bob Riley

Bob Riley is one smart dude. Unlike some other governors I know, Riley represents the ultimate in delegation. There is no "new sheriff in town" mentality with Riley. Control freaks never work out to be effective politicians, yet sometimes that attitude works in the economic development arena, at least until they burn out.

What we love about Riley is his apparent lack and disregard of arrogance and skepticism. Alabama's Governor, now in his second term, has put in place some incredibly talented people in his economic development department. Smart? You bet! Riley has led his state during a period that we have described for four years now, as one of the nation's most dynamic state economies. And, guess what, he has let other people help him do it and he takes very little credit that Alabama's economy is the greatest comeback kid we've seen in years. 

Georgia Officials D. Lindner, Drew Ferguson and former Commission Craig Lessor

It was a monumental task to land Kia in West Point, Ga. D. Lindner of the Development Authority of LaGrange, Ga., and Drew Ferguson, the Chairman of the West Point Development Authority were up to the task, as was Craig Lessor, the former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Other individuals were involved in landing Kia as well, including Jane Fryer, Chris Clark, Jim Ewing and Brian Warsham.

Together, they convinced something like 39 landowners in and around West Point, Ga., to sell their properties so that Kia, the Korean automaker, could build its plant. Congratulations to all and they all deserve this recognition, as well as all of the people who live in Troup County, Ga.

South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell

What we like about South Carolina Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell is his ability to "get it." What we mean by that is that politics and economic development are forever entwined and not all politicians "get it" when it comes to reaching across party lines in an effort to increase prosperity in their states. Harrell is constantly introducing and pushing new legislation to make South Carolina more pro-business and to help create higher paying jobs. One of our best writers recently heard Harrell say, "We're going to reform South Carolina's economy or die trying ... I like the first option better."

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley and Commerce Secretary Jim Fain

This is the second year in a row we've included this pair of leaders from the Tar Heel State. Not everyone agrees with us that these two gentlemen deserve to be recognized. But we know better. Easley and Fain were the two key individuals that brought North Carolina out of an incredibly deep economic funk it found itself in between years' 2001 and 2003. The state has been on a roll ever since, tying Alabama in our State of the Year designation in 2005 and 2006.

To the detractors of Gov. Easley and Secretary Fain, all we can say is the numbers don't lie and those numbers -- an incredible increase in the number of job and investment deals announced in North Carolina between 2004 and 2006 compared to 2001 and 2003 -- must be credited to someone. If that's the case, you've got give credit to the people at the top.

Kay Brockwell, Director of Economic Development, City of Marion, Arkansas

Each year we try to include a local economic development practitioner from the South to this list. This year that recognition goes to Kay Brockwell. Kay is a piece of work. A former journalist, she has worked tirelessly (that's a journalist for you) on bringing an auto assembly plant to Marion, Ark. for years now.

For the second time in four years, she, and all of the leaders in Arkansas and East Arkansas were disappointed when Toyota picked Tupelo, Miss., in February. In 2003, Marion placed second to San Antonio for Toyota's Tundra pickup model plant. With what has occurred in Texas with that deal since that decision was made, we believe Toyota would have been better off choosing Marion way back in 2003. While Kay and others in Arkansas have worn stoic faces regarding Toyota's latest decision, we know better. They were devastated. Yet, time heals all things and Marion will eventually get its due.