Business and organization leaders have enough to worry about: managing people, coping with finances and dealing with their marketing environment. Who has time to worry about whether your region is going to attract the next generation of workers?
But that last question might be the most important issue a CEO can face.
Don’t expect younger workers to sign on with you just because of wages or the reputation of your company. They also look, perhaps primarily, at quality of life issues – a “cool” community and a chance for personal commitment.
Economist Richard Florida describes “cool” as “quality of place.” Great places to live and work attract creative people, who generate fresh ideas and economic growth. This generation — 20- to 34-year-olds — wants diversity, low-cost living and entertainment and outdoor recreation. These amenities all are present in our region.
How can CEOs help nurture that kind of community in Northeast Ohio? And what should they expect from local universities and other catalysts for “cool”?
We shouldn’t be distracted by economic news. For instance, Ohio ranked 43rd in job satisfaction out of 47 states in a recent survey by TINYpulse. Job unhappiness affects the bottom line — through issues of productivity, absenteeism and morale.
Upward trend
A better vision comes from the Brookings Institution, which projects Northeast Ohio as trending upward based on potential technology growth from the region’s research institutions.
The Cleveland-Akron-Canton corridor is poised to take advantage of this trend. High-tech development, coupled with our other amenities, creates a “cool community.”
One example is health care/biosciences. There are more than 60 hospitals in the region, from world-renowned facilities such as the Cleveland Clinic and Akron Children’s Hospital to respected local hospitals and affiliates.
The area’s universities partner with them to provide a talented workforce and sophisticated research that has everyday applications.
Northeast Ohio Medical, Akron and Kent State universities, for instance, have formed a consortium that not only produces graduates for the region, but also promotes this futuristic research.
One regional initiative, bioFLEX, is working on a flexible device, smaller than a human hair, implanted to monitor tumors, deliver medicines right to tumor cells and communicate progress to medical staff.
This kind of creative, meaningful work will draw the next generation of talent to our region.
There is a key role for CEOs if future progress is to become routine:
■ Expect area college graduates to have the required career preparation. But also take an active part in ensuring job skills for the 21st century by partnering with colleges and universities on needed advanced courses and training.
■ Take advantage of joint research opportunities, especially in emerging technologies. BioFLEX development uses liquid crystal expertise at Kent State and polymer research at Akron.
Nothing is certain. But everybody wins by creating a collaborative environment between the private sector and the major research universities found in Northeast Ohio. We can bring about our own renaissance moment. ●
Beverly Warren is president at Kent State University
