I have been trying to find the secret to getting people engaged in their community. Related to that quest is how we as managers of businesses and organizations become better engaged in an interactive, mutually beneficial relationship with our customers. For friendly rural communities like Hickman County, Tennessee that weren’t able to capitalize on the boom of our nearby Nashville neighbors, it is important to minimize the effects of the economic bust and to prepare for the inevitable changes in the coming recovery.
One way is to better understand generational differences. Studying articles like this one, “The Generation M Manifesto” on HarvardBusiness.org, can help us communicate our quality of place and to make the more youthful creative class feel as much at home in Hickman County as our ancestors do.
About Daryl Phillips, CEcD
I am a professional economic developer. I presently work for communities and companies in developing and implementing workforce and economic development solutions as CEO of Phillips Economic Development Solutions (Phi EDS).
Prior to September 2017, I was the economic development professional who served a community team of elected officials, business people, community leaders and dedicated stakeholders for economic development in Cheatham County, Tennessee (pop. 39,880) and its four towns. During my five-year tenure, I served the team as Cheatham County grew over 1,700 jobs, turned around population declines at the start of this decade into healthy population growth, increased tourism expenditures 20.3% and local tax revenue from tourism 25.4%, grew sales tax revenue 36%, focused on developing the local workforce and was recognized by SmartAsset as having the 9th highest Incoming Investment Index of all the 95 counties in Tennessee.
I am a member of International Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, Tennessee Economic Development Council and International Council of Shopping Centers.
I have earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification from National Development Council and hold a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University.
