Battelle given keys to CompeteColumbus

CompeteColumbus, an organization focused on regional economic-development strategy, will be under the day-to-day direction of Columbus-based Battelle starting this month through the end of 2008. Battelle spokeswoman Katey Delaney said Battelle and the CompeteColumbus board are still working out specific goals to be achieved. 

The move is a departure from the organization's original plan, which called for a single executive to act as head of the group, managing jobs contracted out to consultants. Still, it's a step that those who oversee CompeteColumbus say makes perfect sense.

"Anytime that you have Battelle engaged, it's a tremendous advantage," said ColumbusChamber President Ty Marsh.

CompeteColumbus was established in September 2005 by the chamber and the Columbus Partnership, an economic development organization of CEOs from some of the region's largest companies.

Columbus Partnership CEO Robert Milbourne, a CompeteColumbus board member, said Battelle became involved on a contract basis while the board was looking for a successor to CompeteColumbus' first president, David Powell.

"The question popped up of what is the best way of managing the work of CompeteColumbus and are we doing the right thing by hiring a single executive," Milbourne said. "It dawned on us that we have Battelle and (its) whole team of people that do this work and do it around the world."

Team on hand

CompeteColumbus was charged with devising strategies for the region based on an economic development study completed by Harvard University professor Michael Porter. Porter's study identified seven industry clusters as Central Ohio's economic strengths, such as transportation and logistics, automotive and entertainment and arts.

Powell, then vice president of economic development at the chamber, was hired to become CompeteColumbus' president and to develop a strategy based on Porter's study. Powell was charged with passing on the strategies to the ColumbusChamber.

As president, Powell oversaw a $1.7 million budget provided by regional public and private entities, and answered to CompeteColumbus' 21-member board of business and government leaders.

But since the organization started, it's had some difficulty gaining traction. In September 2006, a year after becoming president, Powell left to run SZD Economic Development Advisors LLC, an economic-development division of law firm Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co. LPA.

When Powell left, he continued some CompeteColumbus contract work, while other work was contracted to Battelle.

Some of the best work that has come out of CompeteColumbus was done by Battelle, Milbourne said, so the board is confident it made the right decision. Hiring Battelle makes financial sense, he said, because CompeteColumbus doesn't have to pay for a highly compensated executive while still hiring consultants.

Walt Plosila, vice president of Battelle's technology partnership practice, is the point person for CompeteColumbus. He was not available for comment.

The contract requires the 21-member CompeteColumbus board to pay Battelle monthly based on the amount of services provided, said CompeteColumbus Treasurer Larry Hilsheimer, chief financial officer at Nationwide. He would not disclose other details of the contract.