Collaboration may just be the key to the economic vitality of the Monadnock region.
Twenty years ago, Steve Walker was looking for a new place to move his business. Through collaboration on a number of fronts, Walker was able transform New England Wood Pellets from a small one man business to Jaffrey’s third largest taxpayer, employing dozens of employees.
“It was all done through collaboration,” said Walker. “There were a number of organizations involved and they really rolled out the red carpet for us.”
About two dozen guests attended the final Community Conversations at Bass Hall on Tuesday, a collaboration of the Monadnock Center for History and Culture and the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript.
The focus of the discussion was collaboration and how it can Uenrich the community.
The evening’s four speakers can from different walks of life, but all used collaboration to get to where they are today.
Nancy O’Brien, coordinator of The People’s Service Exchange, a time bank project wherein people trade skills for needs.
“Collaboration isn’t easy,” said O’Brien. “We open ourselves up to the possibility that we might not get what we want. But the rewards can be phenomenal.”
Jason Garland, founder and CEO of qaZING, a Peterborough-based On Demand Economy start-up said that without collaboration, his business could not exist.
“We provide a connection of service between people who need and people who have,” said Garland. “With technology, we can now collaborate with people across the globe.”
Gordon Peery, president of the board of directors of the Monadnock Center, said that many of his endeavors in life would not have been successful without collaboration.
“Any new connection made should be seen as a potential for collaboration,” said Peery. “Collaboration opens our minds and hearts, and allows us to learn new things.”
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com.