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Going Forward

Four weeks ago I sat in public session before the County Commissioners alongside staff, colleagues, and community partners. We presented 3 important matters of official county business. Each Board member acknowledged us for the yeoman staff work done to advance the Joint Land Use Study for NAS Pax River, a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for Cedar Lane Apartments, and the introduction of the 2012 Technology Handbook, the annual flagship product of our department. A few hours later I was informed by the County Administrator and Human Resources Director that the will of the Commissioners was for me not to continue as Director of Economic and Community Development. Completely shocked, I chose to resign. Said another way, I was resigned to the fact that the County Administrator and the Commissioner President in particular wished that I no longer be part of the County’s management team. Neither has contacted me since my departure. I was the only native Countian on the team.

“With malice toward none” starts the last paragraph of President Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address. Only 700 words long, this is one of the most memorable addresses by any President. Considering the human condition at the time, our darkest hour as a nation, Lincoln conveyed in but a few words the shared sentiment of most. Anyone who has spent time in the Lincoln Memorial and read his First Inaugural and Gettysburg Addresses understands his ability to capture the essence of the moment. My family and I have used ‘with malice toward none’ the last 4 weeks to help us stay focused on the future.

Looking back for a moment I am very proud of my tenure as DECD Director the past almost 5 years. I comfortably leave the department and county in better shape than I found it. Considering the economic and fiscal realities of the last several years, both privately and publicly, this was no small task. Our department is now smaller in both headcount and operating budget than when I started. Yet the productivity, credibility, accessibility, and connectivity are greater than ever. Smart use of social media, electronic marketing, and reallocation of resources are some of the strategies employed. The recent co-location of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with DECD is further evidence of leveraging partnerships that add value to local business community support, both small and large. Most recently the department recommended – and received approval – to provide development assistance for county-owned and operated assets/enterprises including the Wicomico Golf Course. This type of involvement with sister departments opens new opportunities to maximize county-operated enterprise funds, the side of the budget that has yet to be fully considered.

The one thing I’m perhaps most proud of is the strong ethic we engendered in the community about caring for all businesses and organizations, most especially the small, local business that normally did not access our office and circle of services. While our Technology Handbook represented the important defense services sector, it represents 200-some businesses, most of which are small by SBA standards. But it was within the non-defense sector business community where we saw our contact list grow to well over a thousand. While we couldn’t answer every question or certainly solve every problem, we always took their calls or replied to their emails. Simply, we cared. How were we able to do this with reduced staffing and resources? Through teamwork. Blessed with a very capable staff, we worked even harder in-house to form Team DECD. Our small staff of 9 (now 8) covering 5 major divisions of agriculture, business development, community development, housing, and tourism, achieved so much through leverage and synergy of each other’s skills and talents. We were truly a family. We worked, played, argued, and faced diversity as a family. We grew closer and stronger with time.

Going forward, we plan to stay here in the County where we’re from. I plan to stay connected, keep writing, continue doing the things that we’ve done, only in a different capacity. I’ve applied for several jobs and will continue until successful. As insurance we’ve established our own business entity, Schaller LLC offering management consulting and business development counseling services. We’ve secured the domain name www.schallerllc.com (under construction) and you can contact us at schallerllc@gmail.com

Finally, I want to thank all the well-wishers who have come out so strongly on our behalf. While this sentiment cannot change what has happened, it has helped us greatly both emotionally and spiritually. As I’ve repeatedly said, this is a community that takes care of one another. I can honestly say we’ve felt that the last 4 weeks. For those interested and available, a few community friends have arranged for a reception with friends next week, Tuesday April 10 4-7pm at Lenny’s Restaurant. We’re looking forward to this gathering as not the end of something, but the start of something new and exciting. Happy Easter!

Bob Schaller

Leonardtown, MD