ESCANABA — I have always thought a sports analogy was on the money as I looked at many things in life, “If you are staying status quo, you’re moving backwards.” As an individual or as a business, you always have to learn to get better than you are today. How do you challenge yourself to move forward and take risks when you feel comfortable? Do you think your competition is looking to stay the same or are they looking to improve? In my career, I have always been encouraged to balance risk with reward, become comfortable with change and challenge what you have done in the past. I have been lucky when it came to business during my career as I have been part of many wildly successful initiatives that changed our vision of the future. I recall the great people that have work with me on projects that enabled changes that no one thought could be achieved.

Moving away from the area after graduating from college in 1980, I was able to move back after 33 years. In 2013, I was hired to be the executive director for the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority. I was given some direction from the board at the time, but really had a blank canvas to create a vision and brand for the organization. We have achieved many accomplishments since 2013 that I am very proud of. The momentum we have created in the downtown has taken hold and we are seeing more opportunities to move towards the vision for the downtown crafted by citizens in the current city of Escanaba master plan. None of the achievements are possible without all of us having a shared vision of the future and working selflessly to achieve the greater goal. The many relationships I have made during my tenure with the DDA I will always value! I will continue to have the opportunity to support many of the local initiatives and projects in my new position.

I will be starting the next path in my career as the executive director for the Delta County Economic Development Alliance. The organization has done many great things in the past and I am excited to have the opportunity to join such a great group of people. The vision for the organization and the area is filled with opportunity. There are many projects that are already being worked on in the area that will be a catalyst for future economic development. I will do everything I can to continue to bring opportunities to the area, while also looking to do what can be done to support our existing core of businesses. I will be starting my new role on Feb. 17 and moving to the new Commerce Center. I look forward to talking with many of you that are interested in the area’s economic development. I am excited about staying in a role that will allow me to make a difference and give something back in the area where I grew up. I have lived in many different parts of the country, but there is no better place than the Upper Peninsula and Delta County.

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Ed Legault is the executive director of the Delta County Economic Development Alliance