Greenville Trip 2011
One after another, speakers from Greenville, South Carolina painted a picture of a city languishing with very little hope some 30 years ago. But, that all changed thanks to the vision of former Mayor Max Heller and a group of committed city officials and community leaders. Much of what a Bluegrass delegation of some 193 people saw during the 2011 Leadership Visit presented by Chase / J.P. Morgan was the dream of Mayor Heller, who incidentally passed away just days before the group arrived in Greenville.
Each local speaker linked Greenville’s success to its consistency of leadership, public-private partnerships, its ability to adopt a plan and a willingness to see it through to conclusion. On more than one occasion, presenters noted that the city’s elected officials were willing to take risks, and the private sector backed them up with regularity.
After experiencing three days in Greenville, some 16 years after last visiting the city, the group could easily see how far a clear vision and a well drawn-out plan can take a city and ultimately a region.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15:
Upon arriving in Greenville, the Bluegrass group headed to BMW’s Zentrum in Spartanburg - the only BMW museum in North America, which sits next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the U.S. The opening session featured 2011 Commerce Lexington Inc. Chairman of the Board Harry Richart of PNC, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, Greenville Chamber President & CEO Ben Haskew, Don Hellmann, Central Kentucky Market President of Chase / J.P. Morgan (Presenting Sponsor), and Max Metcalf, communications manager for BMW.
Following the opening session, the group participated in the “ultimate” trust-building experience when individuals got behind the wheel at the BMW Performance Driving School and had the opportunity to drive five different road courses.
THURSDAY, JUNE 16:
Thursday morning’s session in Greenville kicked off with new University of Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto addressing the business community for the first time.
Next, the city of Greenville’s economic development director Nancy Whitworth and Greenville Forward program director Brock Koonce impressed the group with a presentation on the city’s progress over the last few decades. Koonce said, “Greenville has been built on vision.”
Following the general session, trip participants got out and about in Greenville through on-site Discovery Sessions that enabled Bluegrass visitors to explore a variety of locations, such as the A.J. Whittenberg School and Kroc Center, Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research, a tour of downtown development projects, a tour of Falls Park led by Greenville Mayor Knox White, the NEXT Innovation Center, and the Metropolitan Arts Council.
Thursday evening was capped off with the ever-popular Bank Reception and Dinner at Zen, an old chemical warehouse that now houses a contemporary space. The Bank Dinner actually began in 1995 during our last visit to Greenville.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17:
Friday morning began with Minor Mickel Shaw, who serves on a number of boards in Greenville, including the Chamber of Commerce and the airport board, emphasizing the importance that public-private partnerships have played in the success of Greenville. She also cited the area’s trees as the cornerstone of “who we are.”
Then, it was time for trip participants to roll up their sleeves, take a closer look at what has worked for Greenville, and reflect on what could be replicated in the Bluegrass during a session entitled “Discovering Priorities” led by Sheri Evans Depp (Lexmark) and Lyle Hanna (Hanna Resource Group). Participants were asked to consider the following: 1. List 3 things about how Greenville has been successful; 2. What attitudes and aptitudes do we as a community need to embrace to reach our potential?; and 3. What was the coolest thing you saw in Greenville?
GREENVILLE PARTICIPANT DOCUMENTS (.PDFs):
AGENDA
SPONSORS
ATTENDEES
ABOUT GREENVILLE
SPEAKER BIOS
DAILY NEWSLETTERS - ISSUE #1 (06-09-11) | ISSUE #2 (06-16-11) | ISSUE #3 (06-17-11)
GROUP SUMMARIES - DISCOVERING PRIORITIES SESSION
Each local speaker linked Greenville’s success to its consistency of leadership, public-private partnerships, its ability to adopt a plan and a willingness to see it through to conclusion. On more than one occasion, presenters noted that the city’s elected officials were willing to take risks, and the private sector backed them up with regularity.
After experiencing three days in Greenville, some 16 years after last visiting the city, the group could easily see how far a clear vision and a well drawn-out plan can take a city and ultimately a region.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15:
Upon arriving in Greenville, the Bluegrass group headed to BMW’s Zentrum in Spartanburg - the only BMW museum in North America, which sits next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the U.S. The opening session featured 2011 Commerce Lexington Inc. Chairman of the Board Harry Richart of PNC, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, Greenville Chamber President & CEO Ben Haskew, Don Hellmann, Central Kentucky Market President of Chase / J.P. Morgan (Presenting Sponsor), and Max Metcalf, communications manager for BMW.
Following the opening session, the group participated in the “ultimate” trust-building experience when individuals got behind the wheel at the BMW Performance Driving School and had the opportunity to drive five different road courses.
THURSDAY, JUNE 16:
Thursday morning’s session in Greenville kicked off with new University of Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto addressing the business community for the first time.
Next, the city of Greenville’s economic development director Nancy Whitworth and Greenville Forward program director Brock Koonce impressed the group with a presentation on the city’s progress over the last few decades. Koonce said, “Greenville has been built on vision.”
Following the general session, trip participants got out and about in Greenville through on-site Discovery Sessions that enabled Bluegrass visitors to explore a variety of locations, such as the A.J. Whittenberg School and Kroc Center, Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research, a tour of downtown development projects, a tour of Falls Park led by Greenville Mayor Knox White, the NEXT Innovation Center, and the Metropolitan Arts Council.
Thursday evening was capped off with the ever-popular Bank Reception and Dinner at Zen, an old chemical warehouse that now houses a contemporary space. The Bank Dinner actually began in 1995 during our last visit to Greenville.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17:
Friday morning began with Minor Mickel Shaw, who serves on a number of boards in Greenville, including the Chamber of Commerce and the airport board, emphasizing the importance that public-private partnerships have played in the success of Greenville. She also cited the area’s trees as the cornerstone of “who we are.”
Then, it was time for trip participants to roll up their sleeves, take a closer look at what has worked for Greenville, and reflect on what could be replicated in the Bluegrass during a session entitled “Discovering Priorities” led by Sheri Evans Depp (Lexmark) and Lyle Hanna (Hanna Resource Group). Participants were asked to consider the following: 1. List 3 things about how Greenville has been successful; 2. What attitudes and aptitudes do we as a community need to embrace to reach our potential?; and 3. What was the coolest thing you saw in Greenville?
GREENVILLE PARTICIPANT DOCUMENTS (.PDFs):
AGENDA
SPONSORS
ATTENDEES
ABOUT GREENVILLE
SPEAKER BIOS
DAILY NEWSLETTERS - ISSUE #1 (06-09-11) | ISSUE #2 (06-16-11) | ISSUE #3 (06-17-11)
GROUP SUMMARIES - DISCOVERING PRIORITIES SESSION
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