THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9608310660
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Interview
LENGTH: 118 lines
Robert B. Smithwick, the former director of Norfolk's development department, has branched out on his own. He recently opened his own consulting company, Branwick Co., on the ground floor of the Crestar Building in downtown Norfolk. For 10 years, Smithwick spearheaded the city's efforts to rejuvenate its downtown and attract new business. He was pivotal in establishing the Norfolk Waterside Marriott and Convention Center, the maritime tourist attraction Nauticus, Harbor Park and, most recently, the planned MacArthur Center mall.
Smithwick retired from city government in August. He took time to discuss with staff writer Mylene Mangalindan what he's doing now and to share his views on the direction that regionalism and economic development have taken in this area. The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
What does the region lack?
It lacks a cohesiveness by the public, private and administrative partnership, and political partnership to understand the value of the product and then be able to produce from that raw material a highly competitive, finished product. It's just not done.
There have been a lot of people talking about where the region is headed, especially with issues like light rail, water, the arena and public-private ventures like the Hampton Roads Partnership. Are we getting closer to cooperating as a region?
I think that regionalism in so many cases is just a word. I think a lot of people don't even understand the definition of it. . . . If you look out today in economic development, you find 15 jurisdictions, each of which has an economic development arm. Then you can look at the region as a whole. The Peninsula side has the Peninsula Economic Development Council. On the south side, they have Forward Hampton Roads, which is supposedly the marketing arm of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. Then you have now the Hampton Roads Partnership. It worries me when I think about it because I don't think we have a lot of time to bring things together.
What do you mean?
I would use as an example, the major league sports team. We made a lot of progress. The progress has stopped. There are other regions of the country that are moving full steam ahead. We can't afford to run that risk unless we're prepared to know the consequences. The consequence is that someone else wins.
Do you really think a major league sports team will unite the region to a much greater extent than it's been united already?
I think what unites the region is the realization that we are all one. There has to come a day when revenue sharing in some form comes into being because that's how people unite.
Are you satisfied with your efforts?
If you were to ask me, `Tell me what you wished you had accomplished but did not,' I would tell you the top of the list in big bold type would be my inability to have affected regionalism. I also would be less than honest if I didn't tell you how disappointed I am in my own effort as it relates to the dealings with the chamber and its marketing.
Companies still seem to be coming to this area. Why is that?
Because you have a great product. Companies don't come because of emotional attachment. Companies come because they're invited, because they find an environment that meets their needs and because they see they can enhance their bottom line profitability by being here. In addition, they want to ensure it's a good lifestyle for their employees. But companies don't come to the area and establish a presence unless there's a profit opportunity. It takes time.
What do you think about the direction that economic development has taken?
I think that the people in economic development in this region are as good at what they do as any place I've been. And I've seen economic development people all over the nation.
What about all the interest by high-tech companies? Will South Hampton Roads benefit from the Motorola, IBM/Toshiba and Gateway 2000 spinoff business? Sure. I think you need to be sure that when you invite a company to come, that it is a profitable opportunity to both parties.
What kind of consulting are you doing?
I've already agreed to do some consulting in the real-estate field. I'm doing some training in development. I'm working with the Center for Global Studies at Old Dominion University. I have done some guest lecturing on the international and domestic markets at Virginia Wesleyan College and Old Dominion.
Will you be doing consulting for the city of Norfolk?
Yes, I think so.
Are you going to work for other cities in the region?
My mission is to help public and private sector partners enhance their value, and if I can do that, I'll be glad to.
What's the history behind your company, Branwick?
We began by forming the Branwick Associates, a wholly-owned subsidiary. We developed some condominium/duplex units down at the Beach. I did a lot of consulting in the finance industry. We signed a contract to join the then E.F. Hutton company. For just a little less than a year, I did a lot of things in the real-estate business as a consultant back in the time frame 1983, after my retirement from Texaco, to 1986 when I joined the city. When I came to work for the city, I decided it was best to put Branwick aside so there would be no perceived conflict of interest. On retiring from the city in August, I had already decided that one of the things I wanted to do was activate the company.
What are the details regarding the company?
I am president, CEO and treasurer of the company. My wife is the secretary, which is a corporate title only. Perhaps my two sons will have an interest in participating.
Have you been contacted by former corporate clients that you've worked with before?
Yes, two of them have. Outside of the city. And there have been five cities outside of Virginia who have contacted me and asked me to consider working for them.
Have any of these other parties contacted you to try to get you to work for them full time?
In a couple cases, yes. We've talked about it. I really don't want to do that. I think my real interest is to be here and grow this company.
What's Plan B?
I don't know yet. This is Plan A. A lot of people have said to me why don't you just retire? But that's not what I want to do. I think I've learned so much through so many great people that I just want to be able to share that. In this case, I hope I can share it on a for-profit basis. If I can, a lot of people will benefit.
Aren't you interested in writing a book ?
The book I'm doing is called ``No is Never Acceptable.'' I've made a lot of progress with it, I just need to get in and close the door and finish it up. And I intend to do that. But I'm not going to publish that. I'm going to send the manuscript to somebody and see if I can't interest them in putting it together. by CNB