CHANGE REQUIRES DISRUPTION C REATE’s work challenges the status quo – and may even be described as unconventional, or disruptive at times. CREATE leans into discomfort as its best opportunity for growth, while leading positive change and impactful transformation.
CHAMPIONING CONNECTION
W hat better way to end this story than with the value that is perhaps most central to my fellowship experience with CREATE Portage County and the MBA program? That value is - you guessed it - connection. We’ve identified the importance of culture as we tell our impact story. Another key pillar of the organization’s values has stood out above the others: connection. The work CREATE champions is about connecting people to each other – and to places and possibilities. As CREATE secures more work and increases revenues and funding, its growth and impact – through connection – will simultaneously multiply. As time goes on, you will see and experience more and more impact resulting from CREATE’s work in our community through consulting, development and community-based projects. The success of the organization
We identified a need to build a portfolio – to demonstrate the organization’s track record of success. We needed to ensure CREATE was regarded as an expert in the areas in which the organization has worked for the last five years. It was telling stories like when the community asked CREATE to address entrepreneurship, they implemented the IDEA Center that has successfully launched over 40 start-ups locally. It meant leveraging local relationships that have already been on the receiving end of CREATE’s expertise in space planning and development initiatives – like the Village of Plover – as an initial client as we built out our portfolio. It meant sharing successes like the regional viability of the IDEA Center model. CREATE will be a partner in implementing CREATE Adams County, the second co- working space CREATE has launched in our region. Based on what I’ve seen in 10 short months, I feel passionately that CREATE is going to transform communities – work that has already begun in Stevens Point. And, I am hopeful that the businesses and communities on the receiving end of CREATE’s expertise will contribute to its growth of resource to support expansion of impact.
Amanda Elsen, Greg Wright
The service we were developing was disruptive. Mostly to the consulting industry. It attempted to keep dollars that are often spent on outside consultants local. This required articulating the value of an in-community firm versus hiring professional expertise in firms from outside our area. For starters, as a community-embedded consultant, CREATE has capacity to lead development and community-based projects. CREATE’s strength lies in connecting people and resources while identifying where duplication of effort exists, a common side effect when multiple strategic initiatives occur simultaneously within one community. Based on the premise of living where they work, CREATE has a depth of understanding of our community history and network with which no external consultant can compete. More importantly, CREATE has longstanding relationships with these organizations and individuals. Further, CREATE’s model is financially accountable, with the dollars staying local AND within an organization whose mission is to advance OUR COMMUNITY. When you put it on paper, it is almost a no-brainer. Yet, there remained a disconnect.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of this important work.
The work CREATE champions is about connecting people to each other – and to places and possibilities.
Greg Wright, Chris Klesmith, Leah Knights
is bolstered by the incredible people in this community.
After all, we are the sum of our networks and communities and what we create together.
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