Five Years Down. It Has Been a Great Ride!

Five years ago today, I started my first day at the BIZ for the Greater Des Moines Partnership on Feb. 28, 2007. It is interesting to think about what has happened in those five years. Some clients have made it and are successful, while others did not. We lived through a Recession (capital R intended) and seem to be getting back to prosperity. The entrepreneurial environment in Greater Des Moines (DSM) has moved forward and shows some real promise.

A Heartfelt Thanks

I do not know where to begin in saying thank you to all of the people who have had a real hand in the success of the BIZ. There are too many to count, let alone mention. Having said that, I must thank Mary Bontrager and David Maahs of The Partnership. They were the ones who led the effort to fund the original project and had enough faith in me to turn me loose on the community. 

I suspect I have taken more from the experience than I have given in return. I have made some wonderful friends, some of my dearest friendships in my life. I have had the opportunity, for the first time, to get involved on a local level. I have been welcomed into the business and entrepreneurial community and been given more support than I could have ever imagined. 

Thank you all for the experiences. I appreciate it very much.

Square One DSM, an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, is formerly known as Business Innovation Zone (BIZ).