MBU Hosts Annual Economic Breakfast with Partnership Bank
For the fifth year in a row, Maranatha Baptist University’s Economic Breakfast united students, faculty, and around 100 guests from the Watertown community in the MBU Dining Complex. Each year the University and Watertown’s Partnership Bank sponsor this breakfast event that allows business professionals and students to connect and learn about pertinent topics from a guest speaker.
Victoria Pratt, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium and President of Glacial Heritage Development Partnership, spoke at this year’s breakfast. Nate Salas, President of Watertown’s Partnership Bank, introduced her as “an expert in her field” with twenty-five years of experience as an economic developer.
Finding a Job
Pratt began the main section of her presentation with a simple statement. She shared, “The greatest force for change is a job.” She centered the rest of her presentation around this statement, beginning with her journey toward her current career.
“I always felt that I was meant to do something that helped others,” Pratt shared. But her epiphany moment came when she heard a politician mention economic development. “I had never heard those words in my life,” she told the audience. “So I started investigating, and I learned something that changed my life. All those years that I worked with people in healthcare and human services convinced me of one simple truth. People really want to take care of themselves and their families by themselves.”
Economic development helps these people reach that independence. As Pratt explained, “Economic developers are professionals who work with businesses in a specific geographic area to manage and deliver programs and services that incite investment and job growth.” When she learned about this profession, Vicki decided to pursue it. “I found my job,” she said. “And my journey began 25 years ago to become a professional economic developer.”
Pratt worked in New York for thirteen years, Missouri for three, Kansas for another three, and Michigan for two more. In 2015 she moved to Wisconsin where the economic development leadership position opened in Jefferson County. Then in August of 2016, Pratt was appointed to her current positions as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.
Looking Ahead
“So now that I’m here,” she said, “what do I want to do?” For the next ten minutes, Pratt explained several aspects of the consortium and its partnership’s goals for the economic development of Jefferson and Dodge Counties. These individuals are working to grow capital investment from businesses and driver industries. They also plan to work with education providers to prepare students for the work force. Overall, they intend to increase employment opportunities in the community.
“To the students in this room today,” Vicki said, “the skills you’re learning in the classroom and the degree that you’re earning may open many doors for you. But the most important skill that you’re going to take from job to job throughout your work life is the skill and the motivation to learn new things.”
She concluded her presentation by returning to her opening statement. “I know that a job changes people’s lives,” she said. “I know my job has changed my life, and I consider it a privilege to do this work.”
After her presentation, Vicki answered several questions from the audience. University faculty member Steve Board dismissed the guests and invited them to the upcoming business events at MBU.