{"id":72213,"date":"2019-08-20T10:46:52","date_gmt":"2019-08-20T14:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=72213"},"modified":"2022-09-27T11:26:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T15:26:56","slug":"a-city-of-gems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2019\/08\/20\/a-city-of-gems\/","title":{"rendered":"A city of gems"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Andrew Call, Nicole Craw, Jim Hannah and Bob Mihalek<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2008, the recession hit downtown Dayton hard. However, this presented an opportunity for the city to reinvent itself. In 2009, a group of business and community leaders came together to create a local, community-wide effort to build a real future for Dayton\u2019s urban core. More than 200 leaders \u2014 many of them Wright State alumni \u2014 gathered to create a plan to bring downtown Dayton back.<\/p>\n

Now, downtown Dayton is thriving and hundreds of alumni have contributed immensely to downtown\u2019s success. Nearly 5,200 alumni work or live within downtown Dayton\u2019s urban landscape. They are taking leading roles in transforming Dayton back into the spearhead of industry and innovation it once was. Downtown Dayton is alive again.<\/p>\n

Here is just \u2028a small cross-section of \u2028Dayton\u2019s change-makers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Yevetta Hawley \u201909<\/p><\/div>\n

Yevetta Hawley \u201909<\/strong>
\nDirector of Nursing
\nPublic Health\u2013Dayton & Montgomery County<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s the best-kept secret in the city. That\u2019s the word from Yevetta Hawley \u201909, director of nursing for Public Health\u2013Dayton & Montgomery County. \u201cThere are so many services \u2014 60-plus services and programs that are under our umbrella,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s meant to be the safety net that is there to help the community when needed. Public Health workers are silent stewards. They are so committed to what they do.\u201d Hawley joined Public Health in 2013 after a 38-year career with Premier Health. As director of nursing, she oversees nurses who work in the immunization, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease clinics, as well as the clinics for refugees and children with medical disabilities. Hawley and Public Health work to improve the health and safety of downtown Dayton by educating residents about disease, providing free health testing, and monitoring environmental and climate conditions. She is also part of the Community Overdose Action Team and interacts regularly with downtown residents and workers. She has participated in downtown walks and helped organize Not a Single Pound, a weight-loss initiative over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for employees of downtown businesses. \u201cWe try to take the pulse of downtown,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jeff Hoagland \u201900<\/p><\/div>\n

Jeff Hoagland \u201900<\/strong>
\nPresident and CEO
\nDayton Development Coalition<\/h4>\n

As president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition (DDC), Jeff Hoagland \u201900 is one of the driving forces in the economic revival of downtown Dayton, something he\u2019s incredibly committed to. The DDC coordinates the interests of private industry, developers, the state, the city and the 12 counties surrounding Dayton. Although the DDC also helps encourage projects at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, downtown Dayton has become a larger part of its focus in recent years. \u201cI remember going through Wright State\u2019s Master of Public Administration program when it was [called] urban administration and hearing [professor] Jack Dustin talk about the importance of the central city,\u201d Hoagland said. \u201cI have seen what he told us play out 100 percent accurately. Around 2010, we started coming up with strategies to build a greater downtown. And, once downtown started getting a few wins, you could see how success breeds success.\u201d Working with JobsOhio, the DDC helped bring Taylor Communications, CareSource and General Electric downtown \u2014 and more than 2,000 jobs. \u201cThe new companies get the headlines, but 75 to 80 percent of our region\u2019s growth has come from existing companies, so our focus will be on how we can help them continue to grow,\u201d Hoagland said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Alex Wilker \u201916<\/p><\/div>\n

Alex Wilker \u201916<\/strong>
\nManager, Corporate Partnerships
\nDayton Dragons Professional Baseball Team<\/h4>\n

Since 2000, the Dayton Dragons Professional Baseball Team has sold out every home game at Fifth Third Field, an all-time record for U.S. pro sports. Forbes magazine in 2016 ranked the franchise\u2019s overall value No. 3 in all of minor league baseball. The Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliate has grown right along with downtown, and no one could be happier about it than Alex Wilker \u201916, manager of corporate partnerships for the team. \u201cI have witnessed a hotel, multiple apartment complexes, restaurants and new business buildings being developed around Fifth Third Field,\u201d Wilker said. \u201cJust walking into work each day, I have had the unique experience of observing these new buildings from the groundbreaking stage to the official opening.\u201d Wilker, who interned with the team during his senior year, is now the manager for more than 10 corporate partners. He also manages the Dragons\u2019 social media accounts and helps coordinate educational and community outreach programs. \u201cOne career goal I have always had is to be part of something bigger than myself, and I have fulfilled it by being part of the Dragons organization,\u201d Wilker said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dave Dickerson \u201984<\/p><\/div>\n

Dave Dickerson \u201984<\/strong>
\nPresident
\nDayton Construction Sales and Development
\nMiller-Valentine Group<\/h4>\n

As market president and partner of the Miller-Valentine Group, a nationally recognized development and construction company, Dave Dickerson \u201984 has had a big hand in molding downtown Dayton and the surrounding areas into what you see today. \u201cWe have been excited to be part of the renaissance that\u2019s occurring downtown. I have worked downtown my whole career and love the optimism and energy,\u201d said Dickerson. With more than 25 years in real estate, Dickerson has worked with several Fortune 500 clients, organizations and corporations. In the past few years, Miller-Valentine has taken on projects that have shaped the downtown landscape, including the renovation of Wheelhouse Lofts, a 150-year-old historic building located near the Oregon District, and renovation of the old Post Office building. Current projects the group has under way include restoration of the iconic Dayton Motor Car Company building and converting the historic Barclay Building into a 10-story boutique hotel. \u201cMiller-Valentine is thrilled to be part of this excitement and has committed to be part of this future growth,\u201d he said. The group and Dickerson himself are also active in philanthropy, having a hand in fundraising for the new outdoor music venue, Levitt Pavilion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Richard Kaiser \u201908<\/p><\/div>\n

Richard Kaiser \u201908<\/strong>
\nFounder
\nWilderness Agency<\/h4>\n

If you don\u2019t know Richard Kaiser \u201908, you\u2019ve probably never been to downtown Dayton. Kaiser, founder of creative firm Wilderness Agency, came to a crossroads in 2018 when his business needed to relocate. But Kaiser knew exactly where to go. \u201cWe felt a strong pull to be in the urban core of Dayton,\u201d he said. \u201cWe thought it would be a path to both celebrate our uniqueness and tap into the strong vitality of this urban market.\u201d But perhaps the most impressive thing is the space itself \u2014 a converted 100-year-old factory, where their current main office space was formerly a dark garage. Kaiser and his team put more than 400 hours into renovating that space, from sandblasting the walls to expose the original brick to installing subflooring. They\u2019ve crafted it into an urban oasis that\u2019s modern and open, where traditional desk spaces are combined with soft seating and coffee tables curated to support however their employees work best. \u201cOne of the main reasons we moved downtown was to be in the middle of this very collaborative side of Dayton where we\u2019re seeing a lot of creativity,\u201d he said. \u201cWe really wanted to use that as fuel to our fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jeffrey Mims \u201975<\/p><\/div>\n

Jeffrey Mims \u201975<\/strong>
\nCity Commissioner
\nCity of Dayton<\/h4>\n

Serving his second term on Dayton City Commission, alumnus Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr. \u201975, has been a mover and shaker when it comes to helping increase the vitality of downtown Dayton. Elected in 2013, he decided to run to serve his community. He and other commissioners have helped entice investors to construct housing and fill building vacancies, most recently to reopen the historic Dayton Arcade. The building is expected to become home to the Arcade Innovation Hub, shops, restaurants, and other businesses. He and the city have also paved the way for the new outdoor music venue Levitt Pavilion, which provides 50 free concerts each summer. Mims said it\u2019s one of his favorite things about downtown. \u201cYou cannot imagine the joy of providing high-quality entertainment in downtown Dayton for free,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are really enjoying the Levitt.\u201d Mims, an Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War, earned a master\u2019s degree in education from Wright State in 1975. \u201cIt was a great experience,\u201d Mims said. \u201cBeing an adult and having worked and been experienced in life made me see a higher value for education.\u201d Mims worked in Dayton Public Schools for 35 years and served as president of the Dayton Board of Education.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Eric Feltner \u201911<\/p><\/div>\n

Eric Feltner \u201911<\/strong>
\nAssistant Principal
\nDayton Early College Academy\u2013DECA Middle<\/h4>\n

As the middle school assistant principal at the Dayton Early College Academy (DECA), Eric Feltner \u201911 helps lead the downtown location of a network of three charter school campuses. Founded in 2003, DECA was Dayton\u2019s first early college high school. DECA\u2019s graduation requirements include 100 hours of community service and three college courses. \u201cWe exist because we are trying to get more kids from the city of Dayton to college and help them succeed there,\u201d Feltner said. Educational options like DECA have helped make Dayton even more attractive to incoming businesses and residents \u2014 all residents. \u201cOne of the myths we have actively worked to dispel is that we hand-select students,\u201d Feltner said. \u201cNot true. It is first-come, first-served to fill any open spots we have.\u201d DECA earned the Ohio School Innovation Award in 2017 and has earned a Best High School bronze medal from U.S. News & World Report six times. The school is featured on the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Doing What Works website, and its model was recently replicated by Indianapolis. \u201cThe classes I took at Wright State included learning how leadership style impacts how you work with people,\u201d Feltner said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a one-size-fits-all approach at DECA, which I think people appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sandy Gudorf \u201985<\/p><\/div>\n

Sandy Gudorf \u201985<\/strong>
\nPresident
\nDowntown Dayton Partnership<\/h4>\n

Ten years ago, Sandy Gudorf \u201985 wanted to see change. After the economic downturn of the late 2000s, downtown Dayton was hit hard. Gudorf and her team at the Downtown Dayton Partnership \u2014 where she has worked for more than 25 years \u2014 put together a group of leaders to build a plan to drive progress in downtown Dayton. The Greater Downtown Plan was born. Implemented in May 2010, it quickly laid the roadmap for how the community would rally together to strengthen downtown. \u201cWe didn\u2019t call in a lot of out-of-town consultants,\u201d said Gudorf. \u201cWe created a true public\/private partnership, understanding that a healthy and vibrant downtown is not only important to the city of Dayton, but the entire region.\u201d Gudorf said there were several key factors that drove the plan initially, but two of the most vital were keeping young talent from area universities like Wright State living and working downtown, and the rise in entrepreneurship and small business, especially the influx of independently owned restaurants and breweries. \u201cI\u2019ve seen the ups and downs of downtown,\u201d Gudorf said. \u201cTo see all this investment now, from large companies and investors to small mom-and-pop businesses who\u2019ve decided this is where they want to fulfill their dream \u2026 it\u2019s just been incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Judy Dodge \u201985<\/p><\/div>\n

Judy Dodge \u201985<\/strong>
\nCounty Commissioner
\nMontgomery County<\/h4>\n

After a nearly 35-year career in politics, Judy Dodge \u201985 has found her niche. First elected to the Montgomery County Commission in 2006, her biggest passion project came after an event she attended for elected officials in 2010. She was given a benefits card and asked to buy food for a family for one week using the limited funds. \u201cI was absolutely stunned that I couldn\u2019t do it,\u201d Dodge said. \u201cI thought to myself, \u2018How do people do this?\u2019 So I started getting more involved in food insecurity.\u201d She formed a committee on food access and created the Market at Wright Stop Plaza, a location within the bus hub downtown where fresh fruits and vegetables are available for the bus riders throughout the week. In a partnership with local farmers, locally sourced produce is available to the public at market rate. Dodge has also been a strong supporter of other food-related initiatives, like the Gem City Market, the first full-service grocery store planned to open in the Salem Avenue corridor. \u201cIt makes me incredibly happy that we\u2019ve been able to do positive things in Dayton,\u201d she said. \u201cI will continue to educate, advocate, and build new partnerships to create a community that is free of food inequity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Shaun Hamilton \u201913<\/p><\/div>\n

Shaun Hamilton \u201913<\/strong>
\nSystem Director for Community Benefits
\nPremier Health<\/h4>\n

Courthouse Square is his favorite part of downtown Dayton. \u201cThere is a vibrant energy there,\u201d said Shaun Hamilton \u201913, Premier Health\u2019s system director for community benefits. \u201cDuring the work week, you can go to the square and there are food trucks and entertainment on stage. This is what it feels like to be in a happening city. It gives you a sense of normalcy and decency that people can sit and be together.\u201d In his role with Premier Health, which operates a network of hospitals and health centers, Hamilton works closely with members of the downtown Dayton community, overseeing Premier Health\u2019s community benefits and its goal of increasing physical activity to stave off chronic disease. \u201cWhere you live, work and play has more to do with your health than what your hospital or doctor will do,\u201d Hamilton said. Premier has played no small part in the growing vibrancy of downtown. When Premier moved its corporate headquarters to North Main Street, it brought more than 1,000 employees. The company also helps sponsor Link, Dayton\u2019s bike-share program. And it is supporting the Gem City Market, a grocery co-op in west Dayton near downtown that is in the works. Hamilton believes the market will encourage more people to move downtown.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chris Kershner \u201900<\/p><\/div>\n

Chris Kershner \u201900<\/strong>
\nExecutive Vice President
\nDayton Area Chamber of Commerce<\/h4>\n

Growth in downtown Dayton is one thing, but another is developing the workforce to sustain it. That\u2019s where Wright State comes in, says Chris Kershner \u201900, executive vice president for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. \u201cAttracting and retaining a skilled workforce is the No. 1 issue for the business community,\u201d Kershner said. \u201cWe have higher education pathways here that are producing the people our workforce needs.\u201d The chamber represents more than 2,400 businesses in the 10-county region. Kershner\u2019s responsibilities include lobbying for the chamber on public policy, government affairs and economic development initiatives. \u201cDowntown Dayton is experiencing a renaissance right now,\u201d Kershner said. \u201cThe pendulum is definitely on the upswing.\u201d Among the projects Kershner points to as evidence are the $30 million in planned renovations to a staple of downtown, the Kettering Tower; the more than $90 million planned redevelopment of the Dayton Arcade; the $100 million revitalization of the Fire Blocks District; and the opening of the RiverScape RiverRun kayak park. \u201cTo see the private involvement shows economic confidence,\u201d Kershner said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Nan Whaley \u201909<\/p><\/div>\n

Nan Whaley \u201909<\/strong>
\nMayor
\nCity of Dayton<\/h4>\n

For Nan Whaley \u201909, it\u2019s an exciting time to be mayor of Dayton. Over the last decade, downtown Dayton has seen a resurgence of development, with more than $1 billion invested in dozens of projects, including commercial, entertainment and residential uses. \u201cIt\u2019s great to be a steward during this time and continue to build,\u201d said Whaley, who graduated in 2009 with a master\u2019s degree in public administration. Whaley was elected to the Dayton City Commission in 2005 and successfully ran for mayor in 2013. She is now in her second term. A major goal for Whaley, other community leaders and Dayton residents was reached in the spring of 2019 when developers completed financing for a $90 million overhaul of the historic Dayton Arcade. The project includes $10 million from the city, Dayton\u2019s largest economic investment since the construction of the Schuster Center in the early 2000s, the Dayton Daily News reported. Longtime Daytonians have fond memories of the Arcade and its stunning rotunda, while those who are new to the area or too young to remember it are excited about its potential. \u201cThe Arcade is the most emotional building in the city of Dayton,\u201d Whaley said. The Arcade, which closed in 1991, will offer new housing, offices, restaurants, retail shops and space for public events. The complex\u2019s anchor will be the Arcade Innovation Hub, which will provide space for entrepreneurship and education programs. \u201cFor us to really invest around entrepreneurship and to make sure we\u2019re trying to support those with ideas is the key for the future of this economy,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a great juxtaposition of an old building with a lot of history that will bring new life and rebirth into Dayton\u2019s economy.\u201d Other projects that have increased the development of downtown include the new downtown Dayton Metro Library; Levitt Pavilion, which hosts free concerts in the heart of downtown; the Water Street District, which features commercial space, housing and a hotel near RiverScape and Fifth Third Field; and numerous residential developments. She credits the use of different tools like tax credits and state and federal grants, along with renewed interest in urban living and shopping locally, especially by young people, for downtown\u2019s resurgence. \u201cThey want local experiences that are unique, and downtown offers that,\u201d she said. \u201cI think all of these trends bode well for us in the core \u2014 and that\u2019s a really new feeling \u2014 for the first time in 50 years.\u201d That\u2019s one reason Whaley says downtown is the hottest housing market in the region, with close to 98 percent current rental occupancy. \u201cIf we want to attract and retain the talent of our young people, we have to have a strong urban core, not just for Dayton but for the entire region,\u201d Whaley said. The diversity found in downtown Dayton is not only something the community values but also helps attract people to the city. \u201cWe know that young people and folks who have new ideas value that diversity of thought because it helps new ideas come out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Public Health\u2013Dayton & Montgomery County | phdmc.org<\/a>
\nDayton Development Coalition | daytonregion.com<\/a>
\nDayton Dragons | milb.com\/dayton<\/a>
\nMiller-Valentine Group | mvg.com<\/a>
\nWilderness Agency | wildernessagency.com<\/a>
\nCity of Dayton | daytonohio.gov<\/a>
\nDECA Schools | deca.org<\/a>
\nDowntown Dayton Partnership | downtowndayton.org<\/a>
\nMontgomery County | mcohio.org<\/a>
\nPremier Health | premierhealth.com<\/a>
\nDayton Area Chamber of Commerce | daytonchamber.org<\/a><\/p>\n

This article was originally published in the fall 2019 Wright State Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wright State alumni are taking leading roles in transforming Dayton back into the spearhead of industry and innovation it once was. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":72345,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722,733,4309,748,2060,2017,744,725,747,4827,2016,715,4855],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-alumni","category-alumni-association","category-business","category-graduate","category-nursing-health","category-education-human-services","category-home-news-sidebar","category-liberal-arts","category-magazine","category-medicine","category-news","category-social-sciences-and-international-studies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72213"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73523,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72213\/revisions\/73523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}