COLUMBIA: Ellis settles into new role
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So when he stepped into the politically charged environment of Columbia as the city's new Economic Development Coordinator earlier this year, Ellis was prepared.
His predecessor, Mike Hemmer, retired from the post because of the nature of the city's political backbiting."They didn't hide anything from me and I knew exactly what I was getting myself into," Ellis said. "So far, I have enjoyed working with everyone and am looking forward to the future."
To understand how Ellis came from Washington State to the Midwest, one must go back in time over hundreds of miles. As the Metropolitan Development Director for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis was responsible for promoting a region vastly larger than Columbia at more than 200,000 people.
Born in Spokane, Wash., Ellis knew of the area in which he worked, extolling the virtues of a strong Main Street and working with large companies to further this vision.
It was during this time Ellis received an opportunity to see things on a worldwide level, accepting a trip in 1985 as a guest of the Chinese Communist Party to establish a Sister City arrangement in the western provinces of the country.
"It was definitely an eye opening experience," Ellis said. "We spent 10 days in Beijing and stayed in the foothills of the Himalayas so it wasn't just a business trip but a vacation as well."
Sightseeing aside, Ellis said he learned some valuable lessons while in the Land of the Rising Sun.
"I really started to understand the potential of China and how they would play a role in the future," Ellis said. "It is always valuable to have these experiences because they might show you something you can use in your own daily life."
Ellis surely did this, working in Tacoma for the next 22 years before family concerns and rising costs got to him.
"Tacoma is an up and coming area and it got to the point where the cost was prohibitive and the traffic congestion was just unbearable," Ellis said.
Add to this the fact that one of his three daughters had recently moved to the area and Ellis was sensing a move might be in order.
"We were in town and my wife noticed an ad for the position in Columbia," Ellis said. "She said I should apply for it just to see what would happen."
Soon after, Ellis was flown to Columbia for two days and given the grand tour.
"(Columbia Mayor) Kevin Hutchinson took me to lunch and introduced me to all the aldermen and said to just be myself," Ellis said.
It seems the meeting was enough, as Ellis was quickly offered the job.
So now what?
Well, Ellis has his sights set mainly on Main Street because he said he feels this is the beating heart of any town.
"My current efforts are focused on assisting local businesses to grow," Ellis said.
One of these efforts is trying to get Columbia named as a Certified Local Government, which improves the city's chances of receiving grants like the one they recently received from the Illinois Department of Transportation. This money will be used in Phase 1 of the Main Street beautification program.
Ellis also has other ideas he has gained from decades of experience.
"One approach that I am going to try and bring into play is called 'economic gardening'-it started in Littleton, Colo.-and it really comes down to assisting local firms so that they grow where they are planted with resulting benefits to the community," Ellis said.
