Last month, I wrote about the magnetism of our orthopedic industry to attract global partnerships. The point of the column was to acknowledge that as a city, we must continue to do what is necessary to grow and remain attractive to the industry and future partnerships.
Next week, I have been invited to participate on a panel at the Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit in Sunnyvale, Calif. The Summit is a gathering of entrepreneurs and innovators from around the globe who will network and pitch their successes in hopes of connecting with collaborators and attracting investors. Zimmer-Biomet CEO Ivan Tornos will deliver the opening keynote. The panel is made up of mayors that are from cities that have established technology hubs in their regions and will address an audience of industry leaders and prospective entrepreneurs to promote the successes and economic benefits of innovation in their communities. We belong.
We all know that Warsaw's orthopedic industry has a long, storied history of innovation. In addition, our region boasts a significant manufacturing presence that is supported by a committed, highly skilled workforce. Also, Indiana has positioned itself in the top tier of states that offer the most attractive business climate in the nation.
All said, the Warsaw orthopedic community has the trajectory and is poised to broaden its reach as a global medical technology hub. The best is yet to come!
This is my final “From the Mayor” column in the Warsaw Times-Union. As you all know, at the end of this month, I will be completing my 24th and final year serving the citizens of the city of Warsaw as an elected official. Serving as your mayor for the past 12 years has been a privilege and an honor!
In that role, I have been blessed to work alongside citizens who love their city, committed city employees, community partners and organizations, peers in federal, state and local governments, professional municipal consultants and others too numerous and random to mention.
Along the way, those relationships have continually provided me with the resources I relied upon to guide my decision-making as mayor. Those friendships also broadened my experience and what I learned, taught me how to be a better mayor. We cannot ever stop learning from each other. What was new one year ago is now old news.
So I must give a heart-felt thank you to each and everyone who has helped me along the way. I will forever appreciate your role in making our city a better place. And for those I didn't always agree with, I learned a lot from you as well.
I also wish to thank my wife, Jill, whose wisdom, love, and support were invaluable. My children were never afraid to offer their perspective and I am forever grateful to them for broadening my thinking. My family and friends always supported me to do what was best for the city.
Seize the opportunities the City of Warsaw has been blessed with. Use your individual talents to serve for the benefit of our community. Never stop learning. Collaborate.
The best is yet to come!