By Kevin T. Sheilley
This past September marked 30 years of my work with chambers and economic development organizations and in January I celebrated my 27th year of leading these types of organizations. I consider myself incredibly fortunate and blessed to not only love what I do but to have “found my calling” so early. I do consider it a calling. I truly believe part of my purpose, part of the reason God put me on this earth, is to impact communities.
Growing up, I was constantly planning out “my city.” Literally, I had a three-inch binder that was overflowing with not only my sketched plans but list upon list of how my city ranked. Is it any surprise that I am today so enamored with following various rankings, lists, and data?!? I spent hours working, thinking, and researching about communities and growth. If you don’t believe me, just ask my twin sister. However, I had no idea any of that work could one day relate to a career.
After college, I went to work for a statewide gubernatorial campaign in Tennessee. While I enjoyed the work, it certainly did not pay well. Note—don’t believe everything you see on TV and movies upon campaign life. However, there was a plan. My candidate would win, and I would have a position in the new administration. While my candidate did win the primary, we all knew he was not going to win the general election. When my phone rang and a former college professor inquired if I would be interested in the communications job at the local chamber, I jumped at the chance. I had no idea what a chamber did, but it paid money!
However, I quickly discovered the Jackson (TN) Area Chamber of Commerce did the work of which I had always dreamed. They led the community’s economic development efforts and worked with the local school system and focused on transportation issues. This was my stuff! This is what I wanted to do for a career—I just never knew what it was called.
Fast forward now 30 years, and I have been doing work which I love. God willing, I will get to do this for another 18 years. (I would like to say 20 but my wife will kill me if I say that.) I have worked with incredible communities in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. By the time you read this, I will have added my fourth state with South Carolina. However, there will always be only one Ocala.
For the last 12 years, Ocala has not only been where we work, but it has been where my family calls home. In fact, I think for two of my three children, Ocala will always be what they think of when discussing home. It is not hyperbole or trite for me to say we love Ocala.
I would offer two bits of advice. First, always remember that partnership is what has driven the incredible recovery, and now growth, this community has experienced over the last 12 years. Partnerships between the business community, local governments, and education providers. I would argue that no community in this state works as well together as this one. That is not to say that we always agree, but we find ways to partner to address the important issues.
Secondly, do not let anyone tell you Ocala is any less. This community takes a backseat to no one. Part of the Ocala charm and success has been to find uniquely Ocala ways to address our needs and challenges. We love coming up with our own approach, hearing the naysayers, and then smirking when our success becomes the one they all want to copy. Ocala can and Ocala will.
This is a place where things happen. At the CEP, the mission is to be the catalyst for a prosperous community, and this is becoming a more prosperous community by the day. As someone I greatly admire and respect is known to say, “Ocala = Opportunity.”
