After 18 years as president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Gary Toebben is taking a penchant for patience to his new job in northern Kentucky.
Gary Toebben left town Friday night, confident that his 18 years at the helm of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce helped improve the quality of life in Lawrence and Douglas County.
Even if the South Lawrence Trafficway still remains less than half done.
"The biggest disappointment, obviously, is not completing the South Lawrence Trafficway," said Toebben, who starts work Monday as president of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. "That's something our organization has been involved with for 15 years. Perhaps, with the governor's help, we can find a win-win solution for this community.
"I regret that we haven't put that package together."
The regret Toebben feels about the trafficway stalemate -- so far taxpayers have spent $50 million for a road that still needs from $50 million to more than $100 million to complete, and even then only if a consensus route can be found -- is tempered by his optimism for a new start.
In the tri-county area across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Toebben will take over a 1,875-member chamber that covers 39 cities with 5,500 businesses and 350,000 residents. The area is considered a distribution hub, with an international airport and three interstate highways to get people and products where they need to go.
He likens its development to that of Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas, ranging from the highly industrial to high-tech corporate and high-dollar residential.
"I've been impressed by the potential for the region," he said. "They have a great transportation system. " And I don't have to build any new roads. It feels great."
Toebben, 51, said his Lawrence experience will help shape his new career. He promises to listen often, ask plenty of questions and assess the established network of players before settling on any bold approaches.
In Lawrence -- through several school bond issues, creation of an industrial park, planning for a research park, passage of sales-tax increases and other matters -- Toebben found that adhering to accepted processes remains essential.
"You have a much better chance of success when you have people involved up front," he said. "I'll always err on the side of patience and involving people in the process."
He'll get his first test in the coming months, as Boon County, Ky., continues its site search for a new sewer plant. Potential neighbors are raising a collective stink over the deal, and Toebben already smells conflict.
Not that it'll be anything new for him, having left a trafficway debate that involves environmental groups, cultural issues, federal courts and countless other roadblocks.
"I don't think I'll be surprised," Toebben said, with knowing grin.
-- Mark Fagan's phone message number is 832-7188. His e-mail address is mfagan@ljworld.com.
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