Tuesday, August 17, 1999

N. Ky. chamber chief comes with list

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He says regional cooperation key

BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        FORT MITCHELL — Gary L. Toebben feels he has a good grasp of the issues facing the region's business community.

        Mr. Toebben, incoming president of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, easily listed topics such as work force development, business and job recruitment, regional cooperation, tourism and sprawl when asked Monday about the top issues in the region.

        “This is a dynamic, exciting community where there is a lot going on and where there is a great deal of potential for even more to happen,” Mr. Toebben said.

        Mr. Toebben, 51, is head of the Lawrence, Kan., chamber of commerce. He and his wife, Janice, a banking executive, plan to move to Northern Kentucky later this year. He officially takes over as head of the largest regional business organization on Sept. 20, replacing former president John Garman, who resigned last year.

        “Gary has a good understanding of what it means to bring businesses in, and what challenges that brings to a community,” said Juanita Mills, the chairwoman of the chamber's board of directors.

        Mr. Toebben said one of his priorities will be fostering the relationships among cities, governmental bodies and organizations in Northern Kentucky, as well as building more cooperation between this region and the Cincinnati area.

        “As I look around this area, it is clear to me that this is an area that will continue to grow if we do it in the right way,” he said. “But it is important that all of these governmental entities try to work together in planning for growth.

        “Because what happens if you don't work together ... then you get the reactions of a number of different groups in the community who say "I don't want that.'”

        The chamber will be involved in issues dealing with growth and planning, including future planning for highways and roads, Mr. Toebben said.

        “The first thing that will get people's attentions about growing too fast is traffic,” he said. “So we have to plan for traffic and (the chamber) needs to be involved with these public initiatives on public transportation.”

        Mr. Toebben has experience in dealing with a controversy Northern Kentucky is going through — the proposed changing of the region's telephone area code.

        Business and political leaders, as well as Cincinnati Bell, are trying to persuade Kentucky state regulators not to change the 606 area code to 859 next year.

        Opponents say the change will cost businesses money and inconvenience customers.

        Mr. Toebben said the region of Kansas where he lives and works just went through an area-code change.

        “It's a pain,” he said.

        Mr. Toebben has already met with the leaders of key organizations that work closely with the chamber, including Danny Fore, president of the Tri-County Economic Development Corp.; Mike Hammons of Forward Quest, the group of local leaders trying to charge the region's growth and planning; and Tom Caradonio, president of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau.

        “Gary brings some new views and new perspectives to what we are trying to do here with the chamber and in the community,” said Chamber President-elect Jim Willman, vice president of the Drawbridge Estates hotel complex in Fort Mitchell.

        “But he also knows the value of a community working together, and that's something we try to foster and develop as a chamber,” he said.

       

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