Spring 2006 issue of Horizons

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

RCGA Launches Bold

With each issue, Horizons inter- views a client to discuss his/her organization and to share his/her successes. For this issue, which is focused on economic development, we thought it only appropriate to invite our client, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, to share with us what's new at the RCGA.

HORIZONS had an opportunity to sit down with Richard C.D. Fleming, President and Chief Executive Officer of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. The discussion centered on St. Louis, the RCGA's new brand platform and the area's invigorating new economic development campaign.

Q :

What role did research play in developing the new brand platform?

A : It all started with some broad research presented by the Council on Competitiveness in conjunction with Washington University. There was a February 2005 summit where several competitors were represented, including Denver and Austin, Texas, and it marked the launch of our own brand research. We recruited The Wilson Agency from Washington, D.C., to conduct more than 300 30- to 45-minute interviews

13 • spring 2006 issue