Bob O鈥橪oughlin, chairman and CEO of Lodging Hospitality Management, discusses the development key landmarks and why we should proudly promote the region鈥檚 assets.
Welcome to Winning STL
In the spring of 2001, I informed my East Coast-based father that I would be moving from Chicago to my wife鈥檚 hometown of St. 不良研究所导航网址. I still remember his response.
鈥淪t. 不良研究所导航网址, huh? It鈥檚 like Cleveland with tornadoes.鈥
With all due respect to the good people of Cleveland, I knew it wasn鈥檛 meant as a compliment. But, I had made a deal with my wife, so we packed the U-Haul and made the drive down Interstate 55. Twenty-one years later, the decision has proven to be one of the best and most impactful of my life. I鈥檝e raised three children here, made lifetime friends and have had the privilege of working all of those years at the 不良研究所导航网址.
Like anyone that moves to the region, I鈥檝e learned that St. 不良研究所导航网址 punches above its weight when it comes to cultural amenities, great restaurants, world-class parks, unique neighborhoods and overall quality of life. I鈥檝e learned how rightfully proud people are of their hometown and the city鈥檚 history. And woe to the rival sports star who dares label it 鈥渂oring鈥 (somewhere right now a Cardinals fan is booing Kris Bryant).
Of course we have our problems. Even occasional readers of the Post-Dispatch will undoubtedly know our issues with crime and public safety, economic and racial inequality and political fragmentation, to name just a few. Never mind that these are issues that every metro deals with; they are real, and they cannot be ignored. And we don鈥檛.
But there鈥檚 another important narrative that shouldn鈥檛 be missed either. It鈥檚 the story of passionate, smart and dedicated business and community leaders who are working every day to help St. 不良研究所导航网址 reposition itself for the future. They recognize that their businesses and organizations cannot thrive if the region can鈥檛 grow, attract talent or invest in the infrastructure that allows us to compete and win against other cities.
Through my position at the Post-Dispatch, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to meet many business and civic leaders who, through their time, energy and resources, have bet big on our region. Their stories, outlook and wins should be shared.
To that end, we鈥檙e starting a video series where I鈥檒l sit down with some of these leaders and listen to their perspectives and ideas while discussing the best path forward for St. 不良研究所导航网址. What are we doing now that is working? What do we need to start doing? How do we capitalize on our natural strengths? How do we better compete in the future?
I hope you鈥檒l find their points of view interesting, thought-provoking and a good antidote to regional cynicism.听
Oh, and my father? Twenty one years and many visits later, I can proudly report that he absolutely, positively has fallen in love with St. 不良研究所导航网址 - tornadoes and all.
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Ian Caso
Publisher, Louis
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