By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Kati Thompson knows that as the new executive director of Bowling Green Community Development, she’s following someone who set a high standard for the job.
Thompson was named to the position earlier this spring, just as the stay-at-home order had been issued. She’ll take over for long-time executive Sue Clark.
“Sue has been here almost 30 years and done incredible work,” Thompson said last week. “I’m grateful for the time she’s spending with me on the transition. I just want to continue in her footsteps. She’s really set the stage for me to do incredible work.”
Clark will continue to work part time through the end of the year.
“I’ll start to take over things slowly as Sue is teaching me and guiding me and handing things off,” Thompson said.
When she heard that Clark was going to retire, Thompson knew it was a job she was interested in. The two women went to lunch to discuss the position, and then Thompson submitted her resume and went through the hiring process.
Thompson owns Eden Fashion Boutique in downtown. She opened the shop, 186 S. Main St., Bowling Green in summer, 2016, and she’s entrusting it to her team of employees as she heads down the block to the Four Corner Center Economic Development office.
As a shop owner Thompson joined with other women downtown business proprietors to launch Firefly Nights in 2018.
That’s been a victim of the pandemic, and the year before that of construction that disrupted business.
The pandemic is “definitely a hard pill to swallow for the downtown,” she said. “I don’t think a lot of places were in a good place after a couple years of construction.”
But in her conversations with downtown merchants her impression is: “People are focusing on positivity. They’re really grateful for the way people have shown their support. Most of the businesses said they have felt that and are tremendously grateful for the intentionality in our community to keep business going their way.”
Looking at the broader business landscape, Thompson said, “there is absolutely no common experience as to how people have been impacted by COVID.”
Some manufacturers “have grown tremendously” because of what the products they make, while others had to shut down for a time, and still haven’t completely ramped up operations.
While many small businesses suffered, some restaurants have thrived because of the strength of their take-out trade.
“It really runs the gamut,” she said.
“It has been eye opening to see companies all over our community pivot and make the best of a really difficult situation. I think we’re really headed toward growth in development. I feel positive about it.”
Fostering that will be Thompson’s focus in her new job.
That includes attracting new industries to the community.
Bowling Green offers flat easy-to-develop lots, easy access to I-75 that intersects a few miles north to the Ohio Turnpike, and “very reliable utilities.”
The office also wants to bring in more white-collar jobs.
And retaining the businesses that have already put down roots here is also a goal. “We have incredible businesses located here that employ a lot of people and do great things,” she said. “We want to make sure their needs are met and when they do expand they do so here. Developing those relationships is key as well.”
Employers, especially in manufacturing, often express concerns about the availability of workers. In her short time so far on the job, Thompson hasn’t delved into that yet, though she’s heard the pleas.
“That’s something we’ll continue to work towards,” she said. “Obviously we need to attract people to our community so we have a great employee base. Building collaborations with the university will be really important as well.”
The strength of education in the city is important. Not only is the university an important asset, she said, but “we also stand in support of making sure that our Bowling Green City Schools are thriving.”
A strong school system encourages people to move here.
Thompson grew up in Waterville. While in high school she was active in a church in Bowling Green, and then she attended BGSU where she studied business, marketing, and organization development. She graduated in 2004.
She also met her husband, David, and they settled in Bowling Green.
It has the amenities of a larger city, she said, yet “not too big. It’s a very friendly community. It’s great place to raise a family. Something about this place just kept me here.”
Now that passion for the city has found a new outlet.
“I want nothing but the best for Bowling Green,” Thompson said. “Obviously we need to grow.” With her background in business, sales, and marketing she felt being executive director of the Economic Development was a way “I could really add value and provide some benefit,” she said. “That’s the hope for me. It was really a long-term way to help Bowling Green move forward.”
