When Dan Bish was looking for a new location to build some roots, Northeast Indiana stood out for a multitude of reasons. More than anything, the way everyone worked together stood out to him and made him want to be part of it.
Bish came with over a decade of experience in economic development. Previously, he worked for the Allegheny County Economic Development organization as the Business Development Manager. Before that, he was the Community & Economic Development Specialist for over five years at the economic development corporation in Montgomery County, Ohio.
He also saw it as an opportunity for growth, personally, and for our region.
“Having worked in other communities that are almost at capacity. There are just a lot fewer new things that you can do, and it’s a lot of reshaping existing things. Here, there’s so much opportunity for new growth and expansion and new areas to develop,” Bish said.
Another piece was already knowing that there was such a strong partnership between NEI and area leaders, and the fact that there’s so much open communication.
“It just makes the job so much easier to do, knowing that’s already in place,” Bish said.
Bish has been in the position for almost two years now, and what he saw before he came in has lived up to the billing.
“I think it’s all played out kind of true. Again, coming in, trying to establish myself and build relationships with the leaders, has been a key for me, and I think it has gone very well, just to let them know that I’m here to help them, help support them, help build on their ideas and strategies,” Bish said.
Since Dan joined NEI in 2024, the record-breaking years have not only continued for the business development team, but they’ve set new marks to go even further.
“I think it’s building on past processes and efforts and building new structures around that, so learning from past mistakes and then trying new things. Not being afraid to change messaging or get creative and use what tools we have, because we have such a strong, built-out marketing and communications team that if we underutilize that, that’s our fault,” Bish said.
A lot of other places around the country don’t have that strength that we do. So, capitalizing on that and their creativity and ability to help us formulate messages and, you know, perfect the wording, and try to try new things, to get in front of people, to help raise regional awareness, is huge.
Additionally, Dan believes consistency within the business development team and the relationship with the marketing team is key to aligning the message so that the message is getting through to the site consultants and that they are hearing the same thing. Because NEI is along with them the entire way, even in the handoff to the local economic development organizations (LEDOs).
NEI works with a strong group of LEDOs, who oversee the 11 counties individually. They’re a professional group, and Bish has confidence in them to get the job done.
“When we’re all working together and on the same page and understand the roles and responsibilities of who does what, when, and where, it really helps make it smooth for the company, for the consultant, and to help land the project,” Bish said.
The messaging has gotten through to the site consultants and makes NEI’s presence a known quantity in the room. Again, getting our AEDO has been helpful as well.
NEI is the first regional economic development organization in Indiana to earn the IEDC accreditation.
“We don’t want site consultants to be afraid to bring us a project because something is going to go wrong, and we have, you know, all these accolades and a consistent team that they know how to deal with and have a good working relationship with and are friends with. It helps them feel more comfortable and feel less risk in bringing a project to us!” Bish said.
Partnership isn’t anything new. However, for one of NEI’s most recent announcements, it truly took a team effort among all levels. It took partners, including at the LEDO level, the county, city, and state entities, as well as the colleges, to bring in a difference-making company to the region. It was a cohesive effort and a showcase of what the region is capable of.
“The state is very business-friendly. There is a good tax structure, and it can be a blend of state-level taxes that is very competitive against the rest of the 49 states. The manufacturing workforce is second to none in the country. It’s a place where we’ve been making things for a very long time and are experts in that field. Anybody across the country who needs something developed, researched, or made, this is the place to do that.”
“I think finding specific great opportunities, connecting partners, working within our existing businesses in the region to build their supply chain up and down around them to help keep them strong and keep them here and keep them growing,” Bish said.
Bish continued to say that managing that growth in a smart, sustainable way, and then also advocating for, you know, the communities that are around Fort Wayne and their opportunities that they have to supplement.
“There’s so much opportunity for manufacturing and quality of life and selling that opportunity everywhere,” Bish said. “I think continuing to build on that is going to be very important.”
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