The Creative Coast’s blogspot is Savannah’s sounding board for local thinkers, innovators, wanderers and wonderers. Guest bloggers share their thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map. This week’s guest blogger is Eric Johnson, SEDA board member and president of Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, a Savannah-based architectural and engineering firm.  Read on for an interesting perspective on moving from Savannah’s squares to a world platform…

A World Trade Center Savannah? At first, I was skeptical.

But I committed myself to working with fellow SEDA board members Tommy Hester, Steve Green, Scott Center, and Brooks Stillwell along with Steve Weathers, Brynn Grant and consultant Kevin Werntz to explore the potential. It took four months.

As we got started, it was our intent to develop an international business development platform specific to the greater Savannah region and make sure whatever we might do would strengthen the four core focus areas of SEDA’s 5-Year Strategic Plan — Business Attraction, Business Retention & Expansion, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Competitive Positioning & Marketing, all of which exist for the purpose of creating jobs and attracting investment.

Our goals for the effort were to –

• Help established businesses expand internationally

 The Creative Coast’s blogspot is Savannah’s sounding board for local thinkers, innovators, wanderers and wonderers. Guest bloggers share their thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map. This week’s guest blogger is Brynn Grant, Vice President of Competitive Positioning at Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA).  A conversation with Brynn always leaves one thinking bigger and further outside the sandbox.

It’s widely known that Savannah has been a center for commerce since its founding in 1733. By the late 1700s, it was considered one of the most important cities in the world for international business and trade. Today, Savannah is a location for several global companies, the world headquarters for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and the North American headquarters for JCB, particularly. It is home to the 4th largest port in the U.S., 42nd in the world, and recognized internationally as a destination for tourism.

How are we maximizing these assets for the greatest possible economic benefits? Who’s doing what? Is there a collaborative, comprehensive and proactive plan for our city, our county, or the region as a whole? If not, should there be? And then, what kind of structure, plan or approach will have the highest value and greatest possible return? As part of the competitive positioning directed by our 5-Year Strategic Plan, SEDA is asking these questions.

Every other week or so we’ll turn this space over to a guest blogger so you can get thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map.  This week’s guest blogger is Drew Wade, avid cyclist, family man and radiologist.  Read on for the good doctor’s prescription for a better world….

Dr. Drew Wade, with Etta and Henry and their parent/multi-child bicycle at Fort Pulaski Wheelie.

Like many of you, I stay pretty busy: three kids, events, deadlines, work and play. A full time practicing radiologist at SouthCoast Medical Group, I also chair the Savannah Bicycle Campaign’s board of directors. I have trouble keeping track of it all.

So in all of those logistical challenges, why then, would someone like me choose to go – to the store, to work, to social functions – by bike?

Three reasons, really, and though bike counts show increasing numbers of people taking to two wheels (http://tinyurl.com/SBC-census , http://tinyurl.com/SBC-2010-census), I expect it could work for many more Savannahians than the 1% or so who currently use a bike to get around.

First, it’s the ultimate multi-task.

Friends.

Hello.

Do you like the new look?  Simple right? Elegant?

(Thanks WordPress. Thanks Paragon.)

Are we really more than halfway through January?

Can I offer two suggestions to help you bring a successful close to this wonderful month?

Who: You
What: PULSE: Art and Technology Festival
Where: Telfair Museums – Jepson Center
When: January 20- 29, 2011
Why: This annual nine-day festival promotes an edgier and more creative interpretation of art and technology and offers a diverse array of mind-expanding programs. All programs are FREE and open to the public and are geared towards students, artists, electricians, musicians, engineers, techies and families.
Details:
The schedule is available on this website or on Facebook.