A Note from Bob Geiger

Watch for more Ski companies to come

By Bob Geiger

Do you remember a little while back when all the discussions were going on about what to do downtown…a guy on your blog went on and on about how we should be pursuing the Medical and Technology industries rather than the Ski and Recreation industry?

Do you remember me responding that the Medical and Technology industries will not pioneer the rebirth of Ogden that the pioneering would have to be done by smaller industries that create an appealing environment for the bigger Medical and Technology industries to follow?

Do you remember me telling your readers to watch closely….they might see a move by the medical community in downtown Ogden if the Rec Center, Hub Concept, and Gondola continue to move forward?

The Hospital that is on the front cover of today’s paper is the project that I was referencing…and it happened in response to the approval of the Rec Center and to mounting evidence that the other components (Chris Peterson, Scott USA, Larry Miller, Others) would become reality. The evidence presented itself, and not more than a couple of weeks later, there is serious discussion of a Hospital downtown…IN WALKS THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY…

More is happening and coming every day. I wish I were at liberty to tell everyone. The companies in question want to be discrete, but they came this week because the Rec Center provided sufficient proof that the Gondola and other components are going to be a reality.

I read how your readers think, and I don’t believe that they are giving sufficient credit to the efforts of our elected officials and our business community. I wonder at what point they will assess the mounting evidence and say: “Good Job”. It may come after it is all said and done, but what does that say for your readers. They certainly aren’t the people to listen to when you’re trying to move forward.

For almost a year, your readers tried to sell the Mayor as a Crazy, Stupid, Dishonest Man because he thought that a bowling alley and a Gold’s Gym would revitalize Ogden. They refused to acknowledge that the plans were bigger and broader than a bowling alley and a Gold’s Gym. They kept calling for “written proof” from Larry Miller, and the like. Well, written proof is no longer necessary, and even in the face of all that is happening, they have refused to soften their rhetoric and at least acknowledge that the plan seems to be delivering some valid momentum and have a scale and scope that would make sense to a lot of sane people, including 5 of the 7 city councilmen.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to hi-lite that what the business leaders and elected leaders are saying isn’t just rhetoric. It is information that materializes with tangible results that occur over time-lines that preclude some observers from connecting the dots and recalling the facts and statements that they are given.

Watch for more Ski companies to come. Hollywood has been visiting with WSU….Why? because of all of these projects….watch for results there….they’ve been working with Chris Peterson.

It’s not the critic who counts. It’s the man who is actually in the arena. We need positive thinkers who get things done.

Sincerely,

Bob Geiger

--------------

Bob Geiger is a corporate executive with Ogden-based Descente, N.A, an Ogden community pro-development activist, and semi-regular contributor to Weber County Forum.