MORE THAN A PIECE OF DIRT

In January, the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) welcomed Everett Butzine, CEcD, as its new vice president of business expansion and attraction. Newly relocated from Madison, Wisconsin, where he served as the interim president and CEO of the Madison Region Economic Partnership, Everett brings a heart for community and a passion for economic development to his new role at the Chamber.

What made you decide to go into economic development?
I earned two undergrad degrees—urban planning and geography—but I really didn’t know what economic development was. Luckily, I kind of fell into it in my first job out of college, and I fell in love with it.

I realized that the things I was passionate about when I was younger are what economic development is all about; I just didn’t know the terminology for it. I had an infatuation with old river cities, old industrial cities, old architecture. I saw how my hometown went into recession after a large manufacturing corporation left. And I was obsessed with Detroit, for whatever reason, and its history and struggles. One of my undergrad professors was from Detroit, and he told us stories of seeing houses and entire city blocks demolished by bulldozers. That had an impact on me.

What does the CEcD after your name stand for?
The International Economic Development Council is the gold standard for economic development, best practices, and advocacy, and they have an economic development certification, the CEcD.

Early on in my career, I was very aware that I wanted to hold leadership positions in economic development. I knew getting my master’s degree and getting certified were a part of that. The IEDC certification process is extremely difficult. It has a 33% success rate of passing the exam on your first try. Fortunately, I was among the 33%. You have to take a plethora of courses and sit for three days of testing. It’s pretty intensive but worth it to be part of this network of economic development professionals. It’s a symbol of credibility, integrity, and the standard I operate at as a practitioner.

What are some of your early impressions of the Rockford Region?
I actually have past experience with Rockford. My stepfather’s family is from here, and I’ve been coming here since I was nine years old. I think there’s a renewed excitement that people have about the community and the region as a whole. I’ve noticed a positive energy, whether it’s a simple hello or a thank you for holding the door open, whatever it may be. People seem a lot happier to be a part of the community.

Rockford has a lot of potential, and the collaboration is strong. I believe it’s at a tipping point to skyrocket.

What are some of your immediate goals in your new role?
Moving to Rockford was obviously a big priority. Being a part of the community is important to me. I look forward to getting better acquainted with local businesses and key stakeholders.

I’m also focused on implementing the strategies that GRCC laid out in its economic roadmap prior to me joining the team. And I’ll be making sure there are no gaps in the work that we should be doing.

What would you say is the biggest challenge for the Rockford Region when it comes to economic development?
I think fighting past perspectives is one of the biggest things, which is a challenge everywhere, not just here. If people have an outdated or narrow perspective, it can limit ambitions.

The role of the Chamber is to be the driver and the motivator. We’re making economic development big and impressive and exciting so people want to be a part of it and we’re all moving in the same direction.

What would you say is the Rockford Region’s biggest asset?
The people. First and foremost, economic development is all about people and collaboration—employers, employees, civic leaders, educators, all working together.

I believe perspectives are changing and people have a real sense of pride. There’s a growing collective willing to cooperate to make things happen.

You can have all the land in the world with utilities, infrastructure, and more. But if you don’t have people in the community working together, that piece of land is just dirt, and it’s just going to stay dirt. But if people are willing to collaborate and show mutual respect, that piece of dirt will actually become something.