Over 100 business leaders and community champions attended the 2018 Synergy Summit held at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on Monday.
The goal of the summit was to obtain input and insights invaluable to the development of a tri-county comprehensive plan for McKean, Potter and Cameron county. Monday’s event was focused on the collection of input and ideas specific to McKean County and complimented Focus Groups being held by Michael Baker International later in the day in Smethport and throughout the week. Audience participants were asked for their thoughts on McKean County’s assets, challenges, and its future.
The summit first created an environment of heightened creativity. It was curated to be highly interactive and energizing. Through a process titled “P.L.A.Y.: Jumpstart Your Creativity”, Michael Pitek, CEO of The Pitek Group, enabled both individual and group discovery that tapped into the imagination and increased participant’s capacity to listen openly and fully.
Next, Michael Baker International provided input into the development of the Northern Pennsylvania Tri-County Comprehensive Plan for Cameron, McKean, and Potter counties. The plan will identify realistic, community-driven implementable strategies that each of the three counties will focus on over the next 10 years.
The participant input will guide the strategies developed for McKean County to support healthy, safe, and sustainable communities; preserve the county’s heritage; drive economic sustainability and growth; and align governance with the priorities of its citizens and businesses.
Represented at the meeting were public and elected officials, industry, manufacturing, small business, healthcare, banking, tourism, oil & gas, lumber, construction, human services, not-for-profits & foundations, education, various board representatives, and our faith-based community.
“The group was energized, engaged, and thoughtful in their input,” advised Carolyn Boser Newhouse, executive director of Bradford Area Alliance and coordinator of the event. She opened with the following statement: “We are here this morning because we care about our community and each other and to start the dialogue on what we can achieve as a community… as a county…. and that community is you.”
Tracey Vernon, a consultant to Michael Baker International, explained to the participants that a next step will include a community-wide survey that will be sent out to collect additional input. The plan is scheduled to be completed in 2019.
Northwest Bank and Southern Airways Express were event sponsors.
