New careers beckons to Cullison

Friday, July 12, 2013
Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo Macy Cullison, the outgoing director of economic development for the city, is leaving her position with the city to attend law school at Vanderbilt University next month. Cullison has worked with the city since 2011.

It wasn't an easy decision, but Macy Cullison is leaving her position with the city of Fort Scott to pursue other endeavors.

Cullison, the city's outgoing director of economic development, will serve her last day with the city today. She plans to attend law school at Vanderbilt University next month.

Cullison said the decision to leave her current job was not an easy one to make and was at times emotional, given that she had grown so close with her colleagues at City Hall since coming on board in 2011.

"It wasn't a situation where I wanted to leave Fort Scott," Cullison said Thursday. "I had wanted to go to law school. This was just the right time to do it."

Cullison discussed some of the goals she had set when taking over the position and accomplishments she is proud of during her time as director of economic development.

"My main goal coming in was to build programs," she said.

Prior to resigning, she served as economic development director since late last year, when she was promoted from her former job as economic development recruitment and retention manager, which was more of an assistant role.

That change came with a new job title, new responsibilities as part of the city's administrative team and a pay increase.

When she came on board two years ago, Cullison said the idea of what economic development means in Fort Scott, as well as the duties of an economic development director, were still being discussed by city officials and she basically had a blank slate to work with. She said there were some "growing pains" during the learning process.

"There were no guidelines and no specific incentives (concerning economic development) and we wanted to fix that," she said. "I wanted to build a strong foundation and I think I've done that."

Cullison said she thinks she's given her replacement, Heather Griffith, who started June 10, a good foundation to build on and that the city is headed in the right direction regarding economic development. Cullison added she thinks Griffith will do fine steering the economic development ship.

"I think I've helped give her something to sell when selling Fort Scott," she said. "That was something I didn't have when I got here."

Cullison said the job of a director of economic development, especially for a small town, is often difficult and one that often requires working with the city's other departments, such as public works and codes.

"In a town the size of Fort Scott, you can't wait; you have to be proactive," she said. "And I don't mean in just recruiting big companies; that's a small portion of the job. (The position) has fingers in everything else the city does."

Cullison said some economic development projects have already been accomplished and even more are planned for the future.

"I'm excited to see how things go," she said. "There are some potentially really exciting things on the horizon."

Although she couldn't provide details at this stage, Cullison said the city has plans for the former Western Insurance building and is "on the cusp of getting something done."

Other projects in progress include drawing a new hotel to town, moving forward with fiber optics broadband internet service which she said is "still ongoing," helping form a downtown action team, and building a program with the high school for workforce development. She has also been part of the formation of of various loan and grant programs targeted at economic development, and has also helped with public relations.

"Things take time. I think the cogs are in the right place," she said, adding she can hardly take all the credit for progress that has already been made. "We have a management team that works extremely well together."

Cullison has also been involved in the recruitment or expansion of several local businesses.

"I think most employers are really growing," she said.

Cullison has been working with Griffith in recent weeks and said she is "excited about her taking the role."

"When you do something for awhile it becomes your baby," Cullison said. "I'm excited and have full confidence that she will do even bigger and better things."

Among clubs and organizations that Cullison has been part of during her time in Fort Scott include Fort Scott Rotary, the Riverfront Committee, the Chamber Board, the Visioning Committee and the Young Professionals League.