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Thank you, Warren Times Observer, for your prescient editorial regarding Warren Worx and a previous editorial expressing concern about branding.
A city of Warren sanctioned consulting report made clear Warren was not ready for branding. I thought about informing our mayor, but after the WCCBI got their hands deep into the mayor's back pocket for $100,000, I waited to see how far it would all go. Then the county wrote a check followed by another from the city. All totaled, more than $300,000. WCCBI - "one of our biggest hauls."
In the end, a very lame branding was born, one so bad, it was soon forgotten. This happens by allowing inexperience and ego as a substitute for knowledgeable and experienced professionals. But this is Warren, forever fearful of looking beyond our county border. When we fear people with greater experience, we deprive ourselves of learning, but that's how we roll here - protecting our little domains at any cost.
There is absolutely no need for a full-time marketing director, especially one misguided in believing they can influence population growth. People are not moving to Warren because of all we lack starting with jobs. Ask the professionals who oversee recruiting and face a long list of shortcomings starting with our poor performing schools rated in the lower bottom third of schools.
Reread the article about Northwest Bank relocating corporate offices. It spoke directly to moving because doing so will attract a much wider range of professionals.
And what about the WCCBI? There was no real search for a seasoned candidate who has previous experience with attracting small and medium sized businesses for relocation to our city and county.
Blame lies squarely with a long list of Warren County Commissioners and Warren City Councilmembers who enabled the WCCBI by not demanding any accountability, while fueling it with county and city tax dollars year after year.
Danny Ristau is a Warren resident.