Chuck Gray (Impact Corry) and Brody Howard (Corry Higher Education Council) join the podcast for a very special, Corry-focused, episode. Throughout the discussion, the duo touches on Corry’s relationship to greater Erie County, how they’ve helped re-establish the identity of their city, and their personal experiences working with the NWPA Beehive.
Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership
Music: Kevin Macleod’s "pamgaea" available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, No changes were made.
Music by audionautix.com. Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, No changes were made.
Transcript
CHUCK GRAY: We're kind of saying, that Corry-- it isn't small town. It's small city living. And the more we accelerate, the more training, the more job opportunities, the more parks, the more linkages to parks, the more we're fiscally stable for our municipality, the more that city is going to thrive. We say, we're the small city option in a rural environment.
NARRATOR: That's Chuck Gray, executive director for Impact Corry. She's a guest on this episode of Buzz, Generated, a show that introduces listeners to businesses and community leaders that collaborate with the Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation Beehive Network. Through our conversation, you'll also meet Brody Howard, executive director for the Corry Higher Education Council. And as a duo, Brody and Chuck will talk about how their two nonprofits are on a mission to revitalize the Corry region.
You'll also learn about how Brody is teaming up with Erie County Community College, plus how Chuck aims to attract new residents to their city. Finally, the pair discusses how Corry can be vital to the overall economic development of Erie County Pennsylvania. Join host, Tony Peyronel, the executive director of entrepreneurial development for Edinboro's Center for Branding and Strategic Communication, as he sits down with our guest. Together, let's discover what the buzz is all about.
TONY PEYRONEL: We're joined on the podcast today by Chuck Gray, executive director of Impact Corry, and Brody Howard, executive director of the Corry Higher Education Council. For short, we're going to refer to this episode of Buzz, Generated as "Corry Squared". Chuck and Brody, it's a pleasure to welcome you both to the show.
CHUCK GRAY: And we're very happy to be here.
BRODY HOWARD: Thank you for inviting us.
TONY PEYRONEL: You're welcome. You have both been clients of our Beehive here at Edinboro University, so we're especially excited to have you both on the show to talk about all the great things that are going on in Corry. Chuck, we worked with you first, so we'll start with you. Please give our listeners a quick overview of all the things-- and I know there are a lot of them. Please give our listeners a quick overview of all the things that Impact Corry is involved with.
CHUCK GRAY: We, actually, have narrowed the focus down to five concentration areas. We are improving and linking our green spaces, we are revitalizing our housing in neighborhoods, activating our city center, strengthening our fiscal balance sheet, and ramping up our connectivity. And I have to tell you, our experience in creating the logos here was incredible. We love our logos. They are being used.
And wait until the students see all the ways they're being used. We're creating a park right now. And all of our signage-- that logos going everywhere around Corry. It's been so well accepted, and it's just amazing.
TONY PEYRONEL: That's wonderful. That's wonderful. And it's funny, you said, we've paired our focus down to not one, not two, not three, five major areas. Do you want to tell us a little more about any of those?
CHUCK GRAY: Yeah, sure, I'll drill down on connectivity because it's large right now, especially with the national funding. Our first was to establish Wi-Fi in downtown, free Wi-Fi. That's been completed. Our next goal was to create a universal fiber network throughout the city of Corry. Hopefully by the end of this year, we'll be able to announce that the whole $2.2 million is raised. And that will start in March.
We've also applied for funding. We are committed to full-fiber outlay in the school district. So currently, we are hoping to hear back on a large grant that would fund unserved, and underserved, census blocks throughout the Union City area, and Corry area, school districts.
Oh, and all of that comes together. So now, imagine this great big footprint of fiber. In the middle of it, we are building the Corry area Technology Center and Hub at the Pike building. And basically, we are upscaling a nine-year vacant, former hospital into an 88,000 square feet Technical Center and Hub.
So think about all the education, all the business development, that can flow in from those rural communities through the fiber, and flow back out for remote work, job training. Things that Brody is going to be taking the lead on. So even though it's one category, it's a big picture too.
TONY PEYRONEL: Right, what a fitting and wonderful transformation of that facility.
CHUCK GRAY: Yeah, and think about, everybody I talk to who's from Corry, or who's been in the area, has a story about the place. I am blown away. The person who currently owns it feels a debt of gratitude for how a family member was taken care of at that facility, and is actually donating the entire facility to the project.
TONY PEYRONEL: Wow.
CHUCK GRAY: So it speaks that Corry is ready for transition. Corry is ready for good jobs. Corry is ready to join. For after-- railroads were the thing. That's how Corry got started. Everyone showed up because this was the leading edge of innovation. Fiber optic cables have replaced railroad ties.
Now we're bringing the leading edge of business back to Corry, and it's going to mean that we draw more artists, more entrepreneurs, more residents. And I think it's going to advance a bunch we do, and the fact that we're looking at it as a model for revitalization of rural communities. This idea is being developed with the concept that, if it works, we take it elsewhere.
TONY PEYRONEL: Wow, wow that's super. Now, Brody, I'll ask you to do the same. Please give us the highlights of what the Corry Higher Education Council is about.
BRODY HOWARD: Well, this past year, we just celebrated our 30th anniversary. And so we had a great opportunity to, not only celebrate the past 30 years, but have the chance to reintroduce ourselves to the community. And I feel like, at this point in our organization's development, we are looking at growth.
And really, overall, what we offer is anything on the educational spectrum for adult education and workforce development and training. Anything from GED and adult basic education attainment, all the way through post-secondary options through various educational providers that we've had historically or just newly formed. Additionally, we offer a variety of credit, non-credit, bearing options that are available for the incumbent worker, anybody that may be dislocated, or simply looking at transitioning within their career.
So there are many things. We often say, our tagline is, we're many things to many people. And one of the things that we are looking forward to, and continuing to advance as a leader, is education and innovation. And that's where the crossover here is with, and why we're so excited to be partnering with Impact Corry on the Community Strategic Plan. Specifically, all that, what Chuck talked about, and connectivity. Because that is-- that synced right alongside anything that we want to do, as far as the development of what's next in education and training.
There really is no better litmus test for, or at least overall, we-- over this past year, we took a lot of inventory of Corry, self stock. We took a self-study through this process. And COVID really exposed some of our vulnerabilities, particularly with the lack of broadband in rural areas. And we really believe, at this point in time, we have to be ready for on demand training.
Companies and organizations just can't wait around on an academic term schedule to be able to train their workers. The training has to be available for them when they need it. And we also have to be able to retain our talent within town. You know, I know you had Amanda Duncan on just recently with one of your podcasts.
TONY PEYRONEL: Yep, she's our-- yeah, our last interview, she's the episode that is on the website right now, yep.
BRODY HOWARD: Our stories are very similar. And I laughed when I listened to that podcast because I'm what would be considered a boomerang to Corry. Born and raised in Corry and have the opportunity to move away when I was first married, to be able to start a family. But quickly realized that living in a big city and having the opportunities that I had around our family just paled in comparison to the quality of life that you can have here, and living in our county, particularly in Corry. And so we've relocated back.
And that's one of the things that really drives this whole entire process for me, personally. But also on a professional level, is that someday I really want to be able to have my kids live down the street and have the opportunities for them to be able to not have anybody tell them, no, you can't do that here. And so that's really what is driving our next steps, and our goals, and our initiatives. Not only at the organizational level through Corry Hi-Ed, but for the betterment of the community through Impact Corry.
TONY PEYRONEL: Right, now to our listeners who may not be familiar, Brody mentions Amanda Duncan, president of Young Erie Professionals, involved with Radius Co-work. Just interviewed her for the show, and as Brody said, her story is similar. Grew up in Erie, left as a-- she left as an 18-year-old to go to college in Pittsburgh. Stay-- got married, stayed, worked in Pittsburgh for a while. And then when the family arrived and it was looking for a place, a longer-term settle, turned back to Northwest PA.
And that's interesting. Your stories, in that regard, are very similar. Also obviously, your organizations collaborate with a lot of various partners. You're about partnerships. I mean, you look at your websites, you're working with everybody and anybody.
But I know that the two of you-- and you've already touched on it early in the interview here-- work directly with each other. What are some of the major projects that the two of you worked together on? We'll start with you, on this one, Chuck. And then we'll go to Brody. What are some of the major collaborations between Impact Corry and Corry Higher Ed?
CHUCK GRAY: Well first, I have to tout Brody's horn. He's one of our champions, and he serves on the Activate Our City Center. So he personally brings his experience to that. Part of that, what we found was we need to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem. And what are our two words, Brody?
TONY PEYRONEL: This is a quiz, Brody.
BRODY HOWARD: --putting me on the spot.
CHUCK GRAY: I know. Unique and remarkable.
BRODY HOWARD: Right.
CHUCK GRAY: So we are looking to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the unique and remarkable, that can be located off the main path, that only needs the linkage of the internet to thrive. And since instruction and this ecosystem was important to Hi-Ed, Brody stepped up in those conversations and said, can Hi-Ed lead this portion. And I am-- we couldn't be more heartened by that.
My mom was a teacher, but I'm not an educator by trade. So the right people are showing up to do the right work. And under Brody's leadership, I know that we are going to have world-class training opportunities for every business. And recently, we were invited to join in the EDA application. It's a collaborative among many groups but Penn State was the issuer, was the applicant. And our work is, actually, part of it.
The first phase would fund a study of workforce needed in the region and how that could be delivered through technology, as well as curriculum development, pre-K through senior center, not just school. And the second phase would be putting money into the Technology Center to make that available.
So to have Brody as a partner who's going to be that. I mean, they've been the linchpin among all these universities and colleges for years. So think about now, everybody has their area, and they can all bring their best curriculum. And we can distribute it in a nontraditional way. It changes everything.
So I feel that, although, Brody, I do think your input on the font selection for our downtown wayfinding was very important. This is a big deal. And to have an organization that's trusted, and a leader that's trusted, like Hi-Ed and Brody, looking at the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the [? CATCH, ?] how we do education. I feel very confident in going forward.
TONY PEYRONEL: Brody, anything you want to add to that?
BRODY HOWARD: I think, just generally, to reciprocate here, overall. The work that we are talking about today and anything that has gone on, what's interesting about Chuck and I, we came on in our positions, our current positions, at about the same time. It's been about three years now.
TONY PEYRONEL: I noticed that in looking through your bios. You had a--
CHUCK GRAY: Unplanned.
TONY PEYRONEL: --start time.
BRODY HOWARD: Right, right. But our paths crossed, and for a reason. And I will say, without a doubt, what we're talking about doing, what we're alluding to, all these various projects that we talked about here today, it doesn't get done without her. There's absolutely no way.
There are so many things that are lined up. And I would talk with individuals here recently, you know, what's it been like over the last year and a half. And I said, well I had a lot of plans to make great strides on many, many large goals that we were looking at, transformational opportunities. And I liken it to having a large space shuttle on a launch pad counting down, and then having to abort because of poor weather.
TONY PEYRONEL: Right.
BRODY HOWARD: And now that we're looking at it from this standpoint, the silver lining is that we've had the opportunity to-- not only through this plan, the Community Strategic Plan-- reset, reevaluate, look, become stronger. We've been better because we've had to be better. And I think that is going to make these projects and these initiatives so much more-- with longevity. But it means that it will-- it's very likely to happen.
The things that we're talking about here today, it's not pie in the sky. They are going to happen. And change is coming, and it is for very positive. And I could not be happier to have, not only an internal partner here in the community with Impact Corry, but being able to have our organization bring all of our partnerships together in order to make this happen.
The collaborative model is what will drive this. And we will partner. There are so many talented organizations and groups, not to duplicate, but to become-- have a competitive advantage by coming together.
[MUSIC - JASON SHAW, "ROBOSKATER"]
NARRATOR: This episode of Buzz, Generated is sponsored by the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, the voice of the business community in the Erie region. The Chamber provides advocacy and access to people, education, and information, so that businesses have the leadership, resources, and expertise needed for continued prosperity throughout the region.
Schedule a time to meet with the business action team and learn more about how the Chamber can help. Or visit the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership online at www.eriepa.com. The growth of our vibrant community in Erie, PA depends on a dynamic business environment. The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership aims to provide just that. Let's get back to the episode.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
TONY PEYRONEL: Speaking of collaborations, I know the new Erie County Community College is a key partner of yours, Brody. And we've already mentioned adult education and workforce development training are central to overall economic development. The county has been waiting for, and working toward, the launch of a community college for a very long time. How's that partnership going, and in what ways do you expect it to expand from here?
BRODY HOWARD: Well, so far, it's been-- they've been wonderful partners. We have great communication with the community college under Interim President Gay and then also current president, Dr. Chris Gray. We've had just a great opportunity to be able to help the community college expand and serve the county, because of where we're geographically located.
But moreover, I think that we will continue to have a very high ceiling, as far as what can be done, as far as the workforce development piece within Corry, as far as the specialization of items that, or training that, can be offered. We talk about some of the training that we'll be developing up at [? CATCH ?] with fiber optics technicians and installers. Not only will we have these positions available and train them, but we will need, then-- to then train those that will be training others.
And so it continues to pass along, down through the line, that we hope that through our educational partnerships-- such as the community college or those others that we work with too, as well-- that we'll be able to bring that so we can facilitate that training and continue to grow that center. So I'm very optimistic about the relationship. I think it was needed within the county.
And we're better when-- Corry is better, the county is better, when it has a menu of options that are available, that create different pathways to different types of industries, or career pathways. So I'm very excited to have them there. And I'm very much looking forward to continuing to build that relationship with them.
CHUCK GRAY: And actually, I need to give a shout out to EC3 and to Erie County. One of our plans with what Brody was speaking about with the fiber optic technicians, we've been funded by the county, which will buy the lab equipment and part of the renovation at [? CATCH. ?] But in the meantime, we need these fiber optic installers and splicers. And local organizations in the region need them as well.
So we're talking about situating that at the Hi-Ed until the [? CATCH ?] is built out, buying the equipment, and starting those programs up. And there's a national trainer who is coming in to do that. And EC3 basically said, they'll come in alongside, learn the curriculum, then the curriculum will be donated to that so it can be taught by the community college in perpetuity.
TONY PEYRONEL: Yeah, great, fantastic. Chuck, when we first met, we had a chuckle about Corry's rather remote geographic location. The Spectator, Edinboro's campus newspaper, used to be printed by the Corry Journal. I can remember, many years ago, making my first trip to Corry for a meeting at the Journal, and I started out thinking that it's only a little past Union City.
Once I drove through Union City, I seem to just keep driving forever. After thinking I was lost, the first thing that struck me when I finally arrived was Corry's size. It's not a tiny little town. In our first conversation, I remember you quipping, that Corry is a beautiful 40-minute drive from anywhere.
There is a real rural beauty and unique charm to the place. But it is a hike from a lot of other places in Erie County. How do you reconcile those things when you make the pitch for people to either visit Corry, or to come and live and work there?
CHUCK GRAY: You know, I heard tell, even this morning, that Corry is right in the middle of everything.
[LAUGHTER]
And actually-- that's something that he said when I came in. And actually, during our strategic planning, it came up that if you look at the points of a compass, you are by any amenity you'd want. And in the evening, you can be back home where the pressures are less.
I would not make this pitch to a hard, fast, city dweller. I mean, we all have our stages of life and what we want. But I make the pitch that if you want to have your kids safely walk to school in just a few blocks, if you want a thriving downtown where people still congregate and talk, if you want to know your neighbors, if you're looking for that type of atmosphere, I think we said, we're a place where it's kind of hip to be square.
It is beautiful architecture and livable communities, in a time of everything looking the same. It is a place to be yourself in a world of fractiousness and speed. So for people looking for-- to raise a family, or the young professional, or the young entrepreneur who's looking to be a maverick, to stand out in-- to be a big fish in a little pond, Corry's your place. And we're going to give you every tool you need to compete internationally, even though you're living in a small place.
So this was a long answer. But I guess I hadn't thought of it before. But to me is, if you want a rural existence, and you want to be even closer to more rural. Like Allegheny National Forest, guess how many miles away? 33. And you want to be close to a city center. Erie, guess how many miles? 33. You have a home base, and you can launch out from there. And if that's what you're looking for, then Corry is a great answer.
TONY PEYRONEL: That's true. See, that rural country 33 mile drive, probably 40 to 45 minutes in the country road, but pleasant. I think of the episode, you mentioned Amanda Duncan, we'll be-- we'll probably be dropping the episode we're recording now sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And you think of Corry as a community. That time of year, I mean it's a Christmas card kind of community.
Not even talking about the innovation, and the entrepreneurship, and some of the things that folks might not be aware going on, that I'm glad we're talking about today. But even when you wipe that away, I mean, let's face it. This time of the year, I mean, Corry is the cover of a Christmas card.
CHUCK GRAY: There's a reason those Hallmark movies are so popular, right?
TONY PEYRONEL: That's right.
CHUCK GRAY: And also, we're kind of saying that Corry, it isn't small town. It's small city living. And the more we accelerate, the more training, the more job opportunities, the more parks, the more linkages to parks, the more we're fiscally stable for our municipality, the more that city is going to thrive. So we say, we're the small city option in a rural environment.
TONY PEYRONEL: Right, right, and that is, to my recounting, my first experience, that was what, at first, I thought after all that driving. It was going to be one stoplight, and this little intersection. And really, you guys are-- you're a small city, for sure.
CHUCK GRAY: Yeah, and I do have to tell people that if you've been along Route 6, and you think you've seen Corry, yes, that is part of Corry. But come a mile, 1.1 mile, south. That is Corry.
TONY PEYRONEL: Right, right.
BRODY HOWARD: I think just to add to that-- and this is something that you aren't even aware of yet, Chuck. But typically, what we do every year at the Hi-Ed, we publish a course catalog. And since I have been in the position of director, I try to give each one of the catalogs a theme. And on this same topic that we're talking about here, overall, the theme for our winter catalog-- and winter 2022, which will come out in January-- is think global, train local.
And so, that is one of the themes that we have here, overall, with all of the initiatives that we're currently working on. And what makes up the physical nature of Corry, and then all of the things that come along with it. It felt like that was really appropriate for what is going on right now. And how to identify ourselves in that specialty area of what we are all about.
TONY PEYRONEL: Right. Now in some ways, I think of Corry as being the Titusville of Erie County. And when most people think of Crawford County, they think of Meadville. They don't think of Titusville on the other corner of Crawford County.
Likewise, most people thinking of Erie County are thinking of the city of Erie, not Corry, or even Edinboro, here in rural, southern, Erie County. What are some of your strategies for ensuring that Corry is viewed as a vital part of Erie County, when it comes to things like innovation, industry, and economic development? Brody, let's have you take this one first, and then we'll go to Chuck.
BRODY HOWARD: I think forming an identity that is unapologetic for where we're located and what we do. Ultimately, we have a wonderful community that is very proud. And I think, being able to have that recognition of what we have that may be stand-out, or maybe not be available in other communities, will really help us forge an identity that we can continue to be proud of, but really will differentiate us.
We don't-- I don't think, and I don't want to speak for Chuck, but-- I don't think that we're trying to be Erie. We're not trying to be Meadville or Warren. I think that we are looking at our key characteristics, our attributes, that make Corry, Corry. And being able to utilize those in a positive manner that makes the most sense for us to be very successful.
And so overall, I think in creation of that identity-- something that's ours and only ours, that helps us to stand out and stand above-- will really, I guess overall, just set us apart, just in general, in what you're speaking of.
TONY PEYRONEL: Chuck?
CHUCK GRAY: I agree with Brody, wholeheartedly, on that. I would add that our identity we're going for is a history of innovation, and a future of innovation and making it here. What I would add to it is, since arriving, I have not seen a disconnect with Corry. Some people say the rural areas are overlooked. As soon as we started reaching out, the urban areas started reaching back. We have been supported amazingly.
But we had to take the first step. If we just stay shuttered in, no one is going to think about us. But I think a bigger part of it is-- I was actually headed back to California, and I decided to stay here because I went back to my hometown. I grew up in Warren. And I saw that the vitality that used to be there wasn't there.
And I realized that my passion to bring that back to the place where I grew up, the region I grew up, overrode everything else. So I decided to stay. And I feel that there's a responsibility we have, not just to Corry, but to every rural region that surrounds us, to link with them.
We're doing a lot of work with Union City right now. We've been working with Edinboro. We're even talking to Albion. We're going around. This goal of fiber connectivity doesn't stop with Union City. It's going to fan out. And we're going to try to help every rural community become connected, become noticeable in that way.
But I think these relationships, I think, when we pick our heads up, we look outside our box. And we connect with others. Then, we become part of the stream. I think we've had our heads down for too long a period of time. And I do think that that's how we're going to make our mark. If we can work together to revitalize the rural areas of our county and our region, there's going to be no issue about who Corry is, and who Union City is, and who Albion is.
TONY PEYRONEL: As I stated earlier, you've both worked with our Beehive here at Edinboro, and some of our other partners in the Northwest PA Innovation Beehive Network. What are your thoughts on how the Beehive Network has contributed to the entrepreneurial ecosphere here in Northwest PA? Chuck, let's start with you and this one, and then we'll go to Brody.
CHUCK GRAY: It is immeasurable. I know we have collaborated in a few different ways. But everybody, every place I go, when they're looking for that edge, when they're looking for that help, I point them in your way. And I know there's a waiting list. But having, number one, education, I think, is primary to success. It doesn't matter what your field is. But as long as you're striving to know more and integrate more, it changes lives.
And I think the expertise and the abilities that are here, it launches us. I know we came in, and we had these steampunk and innovation ideas for our logo. And through that process, our team was forged. And the students feedback, it set us on a course to know more. And, I don't know. I just found it amazing.
Also with the social media review about who we are and how we express ourselves. This is not stuff that any-- well, that I instinctively know. And where do you get that? Where does a small non-profit get that advice? I think it's been invaluable. It's changed our way of being.
BRODY HOWARD: Well, I'd like to shout out to the Edinboro portion of the Beehive for the redesign, the rebranding, of our logo, recently. That process was seamless. The students and all the staff here have been phenomenal in that entire process. And we're very grateful. But
I think to answer your question-- not only to echo what Chuck said, but additionally-- accessibility for those that may not have the chance to, or the ability to, be able to access a small nonprofit, a startup business. Not having the ability to be able to spend a ton of money on market research, or rebranding and redesigning a prototype. You know, anything along there.
And the great thing about the Beehive is that every single director, or any student that has worked there, has been so eager to help. And put themselves front and center and say, how can we help you get where you need to be. And I think that has just been a great opportunity.
But I've had a lot of conversations with Jake Marsh over at Penn State Behrend. Jake and I are working on a few things together, right now. And just how eager the Beehive is willing to work with individuals, organizations, companies, any idea overall, they're there.
And they will not, in any way, squash it, or try to suggest of anything differently. But it is such a collaborative process that is accessible, that is welcoming, inviting. And I think that is going to be-- put a great charge into the communities around the area, particularly in economic development.
TONY PEYRONEL: Well thank you both for those kind words.
CHUCK GRAY: And beyond the Edinboro connection, Brody is right. It's like, we have manufacturers looking for ways to enhance their projects, looking for their products, looking for ways to sharpen their blades, cut out ineffective use of funds or resources. And each one of the Beehives has stepped up to answer those inquiries. And I just feel like, it's a resource that I'm so glad that someone thought of. It really is bringing a lot to our community and every community it touches.
TONY PEYRONEL: Well, we always end the show by asking if there is anything else our guests would like to share. Now, Brody, I think you're going to agree with me on this one. I want to start with you on this one so that we can literally give Chuck the last word.
CHUCK GRAY: Uh-oh.
TONY PEYRONEL: So you--
BRODY HOWARD: That sounds fair.
TONY PEYRONEL: --you start us off, and Chuck's going to take us home.
BRODY HOWARD: All right. Well, I think just overall, when we are referring to Corry in general, watch us. Watch what's going to happen, particularly over this next year. And we kind of joke about this a little bit. It's going to take everyone. I've talked about-- we have talked about that collaborative effort. The bandwagon, we continue to add on to it.
[LAUGHTER]
And we've got a lot of room. And there will always be room. In our community, within the county, within the region, we are open for business. We want to work with you. And we're looking at being better and continuing to be better.
And I think that in general, overall, I'm very proud to be a part of that, proud to work alongside with Chuck. But our community is on an upward trajectory. And watch us.
CHUCK GRAY: OK, there's two things that come to mind. I come from a theater background and an improv background. So I'd-- as my management style, is yes, and. So you bring me an idea. I say, yes, and let's do this too. Now, we've incorporated that into a, what I call, a model of radical collaboration.
So if you're out there. If your heart beats for a small city. If you want to be part of this change. If you want fiber. If you want to find out how to bring low-cost fiber to your community. If anything that we've said today touches a passion that you want to find out more about, write me, director@impactcorry.com. Let me know. I, we, welcome everyone into this tent. Every idea is worthy. And you'd be among great people working to a better future for our whole region.
NARRATOR: You can find the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn by searching NWPA Beehive. The Beehive is made up of five grant-funded centers that collaborate to encourage business growth in the Erie area and beyond. The centers work together to form the Hive Network, while each location operates in its own specialized area of expertise. The Erie County Public Library, Penn State Behrend, Edinboro University, Gannon University, and Mercyhurst University, are each responsible for a specific service. You can contact any of us at NWPAbeehive.com.
You've been listening to Buzz, Generated. This podcast was released through Edinboro University's Center for Branding and Strategic Communication. It's produced by Chris Lantinan and Thomas Taylor. Thank you to our guest for their insight and to you, our listeners, for taking the time to experience innovation alongside us. Consider subscribing if you like this episode, to get more as soon as they drop. And if you really enjoyed it, jump over to Apple Podcasts for a five star review. We'll see you next time.
