Rob Miller is no stranger to the Merritt region.
“My grandparents lived in Westbank,” the new general manager of Community Futures Nicola Valley says, “so we came up for the fishing.”
Now, he’s hoping to reel in new business and jobs for the region.
“I have ideas,” he says. “Some of them I presented at my interview, a couple I have already talked to the Chamber about. We’re looking at possibilities in co-op marketing and setting up a community-regional web portal. These are things which are partnerships with other groups in the community, not just Community Futures.”
Miller took on the new job on Aug. 15, so he’s still very much in the early stages of settling in.
“The important thing to do when you come into a new position like this is to assess what’s going. Look at what’s working, and at what’s been tried and didn’t work.
“I’m also holding meetings with our partner agencies, and working with our staff and board of directors. We have to find our fit with our partners.”
Miller has nearly 20 years of experience in economic development, tourism marketing and organization development, including some in out-of-the-way places.
“I spent most of 2010 and the first part of 2011 in Costa Rica, working with a self-sustaining yoga community. I’ve had a longtime interest in yoga, so this was sort of a personal goal as well.
“It’s a community which is aiming for total independence and self-sufficiency for a community of about 500 people, with some visitors coming to stay for short periods. It was a great fit for my background.”
That background includes a stint as the manager of community development for Golden/Rural Golden and as marketing director for the Calgary and Area Tourism Destination Region.
“I’m from Calgary, but I grew up in the Yukon. I worked a small ranchette, about five acres, near Okotoks.
“I find I prefer the smaller community to the big city.”
He also knows that small communities sometimes need to work harder to attract investors and business.
“One of the most important things we have to do is put our best face forward and make the information accessible to people looking to invest or move to the region.”
Miller says some aspects of Community Futures’ work in the city can be quantified, while others can’t.
“Our latest report showed 92 jobs in the last quarter, ending in August, which could be attributed to this office. That’s a number we can present as something verifiable.
“If a business has talks with us and then, a year later, decides to locate in Merritt, how much of that decision can be attributed to us? There’s really no way to put a number on it.”
