Looks Forward to Helping Businesses Thrive During Bridge Reconstruction
Jenice Meyer has been a bridge builder for most of her professional career. So it has been a natural fit to make a change from the public to private sector, helping to build connections between the two entities in her new role with the Development Association.
She came on board in January as the advancement and outreach consultant. Ironically, one of Meyer’s first task with the association is to provide leadership for the Blatnik Bridge project.
After spending nearly two decades in higher education, both at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Meyer decided it was time for the next chapter in her professional career.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what that would look like,” Meyer freely admitted. “I think there could be a parallel here with entrepreneurs who bravely make the jump into starting a new business and the work I’m so grateful to now support at the DA (Development Association).”
Meyer said she was very grateful for her time in higher education and was able to work on some great projects during her tenure. She left UWS after 16 years, along with attending the school as a student, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
“It will always be a place near and dear to my heart,” Meyer said. Her earliest memories of the school were when her mother worked there and she would visit as a young child. “The timing was just right to make a change.”
Meyer contributes much of her professional success to the work ethic instilled in her at an early age. Her mother and father were blue-collar workers, who both came from farm families, and worked for the railroad and sheet metal trades, respectively. She said she learned a lot from them, from the importance of an honest day’s work to the value in building strong relationships in the local community.
“Most of my adult life has been dedicated, professionally and personally, to bettering our region and the hardworking families who also call this place home,” Meyer said, adding that she has been rooted in Superior for most of her life and has deep ties and commitment to the community. “I am passionate about regional innovation and grateful to serve the community in this way with other leaders that I admire.”
Meyer views her transition as a reinvention with intention, seeing the career pivot as a strategic evolution.
“The skills, insights and leadership I gained in higher ed(ucation) now benefit local businesses and economic development at the DA,” Meyer said. “I think there might be a parallel here with how people find themselves becoming business owners and how I’m uniquely positioned at the Development Association to be a support for the business community.”
Jim Caesar, executive director of the Development Association, praised Meyer for being a forward and strategic thinker, who is typically ahead of the curve.
“She was brought on board to primarily work on the bridge closure program,” Caesar explained. “However, she has quickly branched into other areas for the DA, such as the North End project and membership growth.”
Having worked with Caesar and the Development Association while at UWS, Meyer said she saw first-hand the valuable economic development work being done in Superior and Douglas County. She said Caesar always provided great leadership and was extremely helpful and supportive of those in the business community. Caesar had passion and energy for those looking to make their entrepreneur dreams a reality, which Meyer said made it a natural fit to join the DA.
“I have always thought about owning my own business and getting an opportunity to work with local entrepreneurs who share the same ideals and passion has been wonderful,” Meyer said. With the Development Association celebrating 65 years in the community, Meyer added that being a part of the organization that has done so much for local business has made this career shift a great move. She is excited to highlight everything that the DA has done for more than six decades and wants to help play a role in moving it forward for the next 65 years.
“The Development Association has done so much for northwestern Wisconsin, by creating wealth and opportunities for local business owners to both survive and thrive,” Meyer said.
With all of her connections and experience in the region, Meyer said she has been able to hit the ground running during the first six months on the job. One morning she was talking with local legislatures on the phone about the impact of the Blatnik Bridge project. In the afternoon, she was meeting face-to-face with DA members to find out what their current and future needs might be.
Meyer said there certainly are many concerns for Superior businesses, along with those in the surrounding counties, about the bridge closure. It is going to change traffic patterns, impact tourism and likely will have a big impact on consumer behaviors on both sides of the bridge.
“We want this (bridge reconstruction project) to happen,” Meyer said. “It will have an impact over the next five to six years. Our role is to see what the business needs are, not just for the first year, but for the years to follow.”
During her time with the Development Association this year, Meyer has been optimistic about the future. She is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team and make an impact in her hometown.
“Superior is a gritty, come-together community,” Meyer added. “I am used to building the plane while flying it and I look forward to helping local businesses during this bridge reconstruction project not only keep the doors open, but continue to grow and prosper for many years to come.”
Wade Petrich is a freelance writer and English/Journalism teacher at Duluth Denfeld High School.
