Leadership Allen Happenings, January 16, 2004
 
Friday, January 16, 2004 was “Economic Growth Day” for Leadership Allen Class XV.   Class members converged at the colonial-styled headquarters building of the Allen Economic Development Corporation, to begin what would be a most intriguing short-course in city growth and development.  
 
The first order of business however, was an inspirational repeat visit from Mike Mirau, President of Personnelity Performance Solutions, Inc.
 
After a brief introduction to AEDC staff, namely Charisse Reaume, Executive Director and Jennifer Grimm, Marketing Director, the class participated in a “case study” adventure.  The classes formed teams and became instant real estate and economic growth “professionals” and were charged with deciding whether several real but nonetheless anonymous office, industrial, and retail development prospects would be viable and good for Allen, and where each proposed development would be best located.   Each team was given the basic requirements of the potential business, including space requirements, parking needs, general utility demands.
 
To reinforce each team’s evaluation of the case studies, the AEDC took the class on a windshield tour of Allen’s various business parks, office parks and key retail development areas.  Following the tour, the class ate lunch at Cliff’s restaurant (inside the Stacy Furniture complex), where they were given development broker perspectives from Dave Noble of the Trammell Crow Company and Robin Barrow of the Weitzman Group.
 
Back at the AEDC office, Jimmy Knipp, the Assistant Director of Community Services for the City of Allen presented an overview of the city’s utility and transportation networks.  From his presentation the class was better informed about infrastructure considerations that prospective developers undertake when making decisions about locating in Allen.
 
Each team presented their evaluation of their own prospective development.  Not surprisingly, each team demonstrated a keen ability to think things through appropriately, responding in each case with a verdict roughly identical to what actually happened between the AEDC and the various businesses when the real cases were being considered.
 
Class XV extends a grateful thanks to Charisse, Jennifer, Jimmy, Dave and Robin for an informative and interesting Leadership Allen session.
 

 
Members of the Leadership Class XV enjoy lunch at Cliff’s Restaurant in the Stacy Furniture complex.
 
 

 
Leadership class members discuss case studies.
 
 
The next Leadership Class will meet on February 20, 2004 and will discuss education.