And now the 419 with Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin from.

Welcome Inn to the 419 powered by CTE, presented by Row Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullen, alongside.

Gretchen Debacker.

Matt Killam.

It's time for the witty banter portion.

Where are.

You happy?

Yeah, I it's it's impressive.

Like, I've used some phrases that don't mean what I think they mean.

Like, Gretchen, you're terrible at.

All right.

Yeah.

I when I hear that, I think.

Right.

You're amazing and I think you're right.

Yeah.

That's exactly right.

That's exactly right.

We had a fun show today.

We got a couple of our friends on, Kelly.

Hearing from Destinatio Toledo is going to be with us.

Talking about their organization, also talking about, just different ways that you can be a tourist in Toledo, whether you whether you live here or not.

I think that's maybe the most interesting part to me is, certainly there's an opportunity for folks that live in the region to learn about great things they can do and come here and enjoy in Toledo.

But I also think there's more work that we can do as Toledo in to be a tourist in our own town.

Agreed.

And so we'll talk about, all of those things, some of the cool things they've got going on.

And then.

Against all odds, I think we might be breaking news on the show today.

With the help of our friend from the Community Foundation.

We're going to be announcing a major investment in arts and culture in our community.

Is that what was on the group text, you guys?

Oh, yeah.

Right.

We know if we told you you tell everyone.

That's right.

So that's why.

That's right.

I. I actually feel confident we can tell Matt everything.

If you want him to keep a secret put it in the group text.

Yeah.

He won't really.

Yeah.

I'm not listening.

She called yesterday and said I haven't been following any of the group text.

Is there any more information?

That's not what I said.

I said, do I have any action items that you need to be responsible?

Do I have any action items out of the text?

And I was like.

No, there's a couple things.

There's more than one person on a text message.

Or I, I believe you guys call group text, I ignore it.

Or if I see a single emoji in it or some heart or something.

Thankfully, me that we don't use emojis.

So no, my, no, my both my both.

My little brother and his wife.

Yes.

Have this really annoying habit.

And if you're watching, I' telling you now, knock it off.

That they do not like to talk to you.

Very healthy individuals.

Yes.

If they're not on their phone all the time.

And so when a family group text happens.

Yeah, they're not a part of it.

Typicall until like a day or two later.

Oh wow.

So you don't.

Get any input.

Then.

That which is fine okay.

Yeah.

So there there wil because most family group texts are not like relevant information.

Kevin how are you going to tell them that your father passed to your.

Yeah.

So they will find out by text.

Actually, they'll find out three days later and they'll do the same thing they do on everything which is proceed to heart avoid.

Yes, indeed.

That's what I'm talking about.

One of them.

Yes, I yeah.

When you did the last one.

Yeah I like I believe that people don't know when they go back through and heart that everybody gets that notification.

That's my.

Then why are they hurting it.

Like I don't do that.

That should not be an option.

You know you're not hurting for yourself.

Yeah.

And that is the theme of the show.

You're not hurting for your self yourself.

It's for others.

Oh my goodness.

All right.

When we come back, we're going to have Calli hearing from Destination Toledo join us.

Talk about all the great work that they're doing.

And they're a new partner on the show.

And so we'll talk about kind of her hopes and dreams for this show.

We're hoping that, she has them.

And gifts.

And gifts, but also require gifts.

And you know what?

We're probably going to put her through Gretchen's wacky quiz as well.

All of that.

And more coming up on a Tuesday edition of the 419.

Support for the 419 comes from which row wealth management, where we understand tha your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC, securities offer through Capital Investment Group member Finra and SIPC.

More information at Retro advisors.com.

The 419, powered by CTE is made possible in part by supporters like you.

Thank you.

Introducing the Local Thread, a community news series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with La Prensa, the Toledo Free Press, the Sojourner Truth, Toledo Public Schools, and veteran journalist Gerry Anderson.

The Local Thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community here at weeknights at seven on FM 91, with early access on podcast platforms.

Each morning, the local thread only on GTV.

Welcome back into the 419.

We're joined now by our good friend and new partner on the show, Callie.

Hearing from destination Toledo.

Kelly.

Thank you for your welcome.

Kelly.

What is your title at Destination Toledo?

Director of Marketing and Destination engagement.

That's new.

A new title?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I, fortunately have been able to, I like to say, like, grow and grow up, destination Toledo.

So I yes, that is a new title overseeing the marketing, communications, partnership, community engagement.

All of this.

The mission of Destination Toledo for people that don't know.

So basically in in very simple terms, it's to support the Toledo economy through tourism.

We do a lot of different things to accomplish that.

But that's kind of the crux of it, is we support Toledo through attracting people to Toledo.

And how is it funded?

So we're funded through, dollars from the county and through the hotel lodging tax.

Basically legally, tha always has to go to, to tourism.

So it funds our organizations and a number of other things.

In Toledo, when people stay in hotels in Lucas County, there is a tax collected.

We get a portion of that.

That's great.

So predominantly how work and partnerships as well.

Let's let's back up a little bit and talk about Kelly.

So what where'd you grew up?

Where how did you get into this line of work?

I'm from Toledo so I, you know, born and bred.

I went to senior slot for high school.

I know that that's, you guys often talk about the Catholic high school?

Yeah.

That's unfortunate.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

I went to, Right.

You did go to Notre Dame.

I didn't.

Really.

You guys just missed each other.

You were almost classmates.

Yeah.

Yes.

By 20 years.

And Gretchen played some of the brick for your school.

So, so, yeah, I went to stay there, so for high school and I, actually started at UT, and then, ended up transferring to beauty.

So graduated from Bgsu, and I actually have a degree in tourism, tourism, leisure and, and planning at the time, that kind of switch changed into more hospitality about management.

But I didn't know I was goin to go into tourism specifically.

I kind of always thought I was going to be like a corporate event planner.

That sounds awful.

Yeah.

Well, very different hours than what I absolutely.

Very different amount of time on your feet.

So I, I interned at the Mud Hens actually, that was one of my that was lik my first kind of out of college, experience and loved it.

And that was kind of how I, like, fell in love with everything that's happening downtown.

I've always loved Toledo.

I've always loved talking to people.

I've always loved connecting.

And this job kind of gets me to do all of that.

Your folks are out and about.

What?

How did you get this in your DNA?

Are they the proud Northwest Ohioans or would drag you out to, you know, monster truck shows and all kinds of stuff?

They're, they're both from here, actually.

They met.

They both work at Owens Corning when they met.

All right.

So that was.

Yeah, a very of Toledo.

And actually, now, I mean, my dad and I work in parallel spaces, and a lot of times we'll ru into each other in professional.

Come on.

What does your dad do?

He does, like, trade show design, okay.

And things like that.

He's also really involved with a lot of restaurants locally where he's helped with, like, interior design of restaurants.

So he's very, like, creatively minded and done a lot of different things in that.

Right.

Have you guys had that?

It's like I have not had that experience where I found myself in a public meeting.

With Kelly's dad.

With Kelly's dad?

Yeah.

Know with with with my parents.

And like, I mean, I've had them at, like, rotary meetings, bowling or other things, but they were my guest.

Yeah, right.

Which is, which is different.

Have you had the interactio where your parents are sitting across th the conference room table at a. My dad and mom are, successful, significan contributors to our community.

So I have worked events that they've eaten that like busing their tables and things.

So that is sort of been my plug in.

And they didn't mention that they knew you.

That's right.

Right, right, right.

I like bragging to their friends.

Yeah.

That guy that just picked up our three dishes.

I was on, Maury with my mom.

And, But we were paid to be there.

Yeah, yeah, and it was kind of a reveal.

I don't want to.

It's not.

It won't be aired later this year.

I used to go to the, My dad passed away, bu I would go to, like, the funds and fundraisers, you know, the professional legal stuff.

And we would both be there.

So that was always fun.

Yeah, I know that.

He was very proud of you.

Yes.

Yeah.

When we go out there, people come to your table, and I know that that.

Was a lot of people.

My girl.

Yep.

Anyway.

Trade shows.

Yeah.

As it is, it I, I obviously have studied this, so there is a desir to go into this space, but like, what was the what was the first kind of dream job for young Carly?

I as opposed to the old decrepit lady here.

Yeah.

I well, I mean, in, in as an adult, like when I was like, okay, what do I want to do?

What I want to go into, I always kind of thought I would maybe, you know, work for a creative agency or do something business marketing minded.

And I think that was kind of always in the realm was like, okay, I'm getting this degree and I really like what I'm studying.

And that was where school really clicked for me wa when I finally found something I was interested in and was pursuing that, but I was always like, but I can also do all this other stuff, and I don't know how to put all that together, but I'm sure I can figure it out.

Probably came from the fact that, like, my parents are both very entrepreneurial, have always kind of done their own thing.

So I didn't really have out like, oh, like, your dad's an accountant.

You become an accountant.

That's what you do.

My parents have always kind of done all sorts of different things.

What was your mom's path?

I know your dad a little bit, but your mom, other than Owens Corning, which you just mentioned.

What?

How what is her path?

So really, her, kind of calling, honestly, is she, works in elder care, so she.

Because, she's, like, an elder care consultant.

Helps families find what type of care is goin to be right for their loved one.

Next.

A lot of people don't have kids that lives locally.

She can kind of help you liaison for them to kind of say, hey, you know, maybe mom can't stay at home anymore, but like, what do we bring Karen?

Does she need to g to a facility once?

Complicated.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So really meaningful work.

And she's don that for a really long time, so, she's always kind of done.

And she also does, like, dog walking and cat sitting and all sorts of.

She's a busybody.

She is.

Yeah.

Both my parents are very busy.

Yeah.

So do you like to, be a tourist?

Other places.

Is travel one of your hobbies because of this kind of work that you do it.

It is when I get a chance to, I kind of fee like being in this job, though.

I viewed it from.

I view it from a very different lens than probably that normal person does.

Talk about the lens.

I think a lot of people don't realize what the destination marketing organizations are or that they're interacting with them or they maybe recognize a brand or something, or peopl don't realize that experience.

Columbus and Destination Cleveland and Pure Michigan and Ohio, the heart of it all.

Those are destination marketing organizations.

They probably see those brands, or they probably see a commercia or all these different things, or end up on their website and they don't realize it.

So me, I'm, I nerd out and I'm seeking the right.

Checking on what the resources.

Yeah.

I'm like, well we have to check the DMO website and find out what they recommend for brunch.

And I'm going to call the CVB and talk to them.

But I sure hope.

Yeah.

Me, because I know it's somebody like me on the other end who is going to say, oh yeah, you should do this.

This i these are the best brunch spots.

This is built like a great hotel for what you're looking for.

I know that there is sort of a and I can't tell if it's based on just proximit that everyone leans into this, but from an a national campaign or, you know, a state's branding, is there a favorite or a gold standard that you look at?

I always try to look a destinations larger than ours.

I think because Toledo's on that that cusp of like, we'r the smallest of the big cities, but we're also the biggest of the small cities.

In the same regard.

You are good at this.

Yes.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I have to earn my keep somewhere.

The allies kin of look at other destinations.

But when we go to conference and talk to other destinations, there's so many common threads.

I mean, whether your from, like, visit Long Beach or, you know, visit Mesa or all these different, entities across the country there's so many common threads.

We all have the same same struggles, the same things that we're good at, but we all have mayb a slightly different structure or a slightly different approach, and we really learn from each other.

So we look for different people, look at other organizations, in different spaces for different things.

Like for example, with all the accessibility wor that we've done visit Mesa, in Arizona is a great kind of, leader that we can look to for how how are they attacking us from the DMO standpoint?

And how could we learn from what they're doing?

We're all ultimately trying t improve the visitor experience and attract people to our destination.

And so.

Just be.

Collaborative.

A shameless plug I just a reminder, in 2020, we beat Mesa for the best parts list in the Unites States.

So just a little longer.

But I did it.

Yes.

Thank you on that.

I mean, I know that's like every time someone says Mesa.

Yeah, it's like, It's actually a it's a cool space.

We've we've been fortunate enough to.

Go out, so I don't want to.

Anything passive is amazing.

It's nothing.

No, no it's nothing.

Like so it' actually better for you, Matt, if Mesa is amazing and you beat them.

So, but, you know, the pure Michigan component, our campaign is obviously wildly successful, led by a Phelan's voice, which we need.

But I Nebraska many, many moons ago, had a campaign, that I thought was particularly compelling.

And it was Nebraska.

Not for everybody.

Like, I just I. Actually love.

That.

I've been talking about that for, like, 20 years.

Right.

So, that is a very it's an honest, effective, catchy, I mean, pure Michigan.

It's authentic.

That's.

Yes.

Michigan is an incredibly effective and powerful, campaign.

Not only is Michigan esthetically beautiful, right, but those stories are sort of weaved in.

And Tim Allen' voice is not only recognizable, but it's almost a perfect overlay to how they do it.

Really, to some extent.

I mean, th the name of your organization, right in and of itself, is a brand that was not alway the name of this organization.

Right now it.

Is your at your core, you are the convention and visitors bureau.

Creator, Toledo, Lucas Count Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Which action.

Name better?

Yeah.

Encompasses, it's a broader tent because there's there's other people that we're working in tandem with, like the Glass City Center and the Huntington Center that are county owned properties as well.

So that board oversees the funds, basically.

And where those funds go, can you.

Talk a little bit about that, about the communication and the collaboration with the city and the county?

Yeah, so we work heavily with both of them.

We have representatives from the city on our board.

We also have representative from the county with our board.

And what we do is only successful if we're working collaboratively because we have to be fair, we have to be unified on what we're actually like telling people.

And no matter where they end up, we want them to receive valuable information.

Because if you're putting Toledo out there, there's lots of different entities that are putting Toledo out there.

So we have to be unified in that.

But also we have a really common goa in attracting people to Toledo, maybe for different reasons.

But the first step of that is that our visitor, that that's the first date as you well, is you're always going to visit somewher before you do anything, before you start a business there, before you move there, before you do anything else.

It starts with the visit.

So that's where we come in.

What is the wackiest thing tha you had to promote or support?

That you ended up thinking was pretty cool?

Oh, I feel like there's so many things.

There's some unique things that we kind of encounter, especially on the group sales side, which are really interesting.

We always say there's like an association for everything.

It's maybe not wacky, but kind of just like a little funny.

Sure.

Not funny.

Haha.

But just answer the question.

Time we to say good morning.

Yeah.

But for example, like we bring in a group and it's the Ohio Association of the Ohio Society of Association Professionals.

And it's literally an association of people who belong to other associations.

Oh no way.

Sure.

Yeah.

And then they plan events for those associations.

So we we belong to that organization and brought them here because we want them to hos the event in Toledo of course.

But things like that, it's like, well there's an association for that.

Association of association.

I mean, it sounds like I. Mean, in this meeting.

Yes.

I was going to say like it sounds.

Yeah, I was trying to find the, the appropriate to say.

From this point right out a little bit.

Yeah.

A little bit.

More secret.

Yes.

Just not anonymous.

Oh.

That's, that's a little.

Bit more positive than that.

But I mean, there's some other really cool events too, that are happening in the city that we promote.

And we have like a pretty expensive calendar.

Yes.

And we have everything on there from, hey, let's star at the ribbon or, you know, this monster jam is this weeken at the Huntington Center, too.

Here's this really small workshop that you might be interested i that is taking place somewhere.

Or, you know, maybe there's an author reading or all sorts of different things.

So we we try to it's very curated.

It's always aimed at the visitor.

So we keep that in mind.

But by speaking to the visitor, we're assuming nobody has any information.

And we're trying to teach you everything you need to know in order to do that.

And in doing so we often teach locals to because maybe they assumed that they knew what was going on.

Sure.

Oh, there's nothing going on this weekend or oh, like I already have been everywhere to eat.

You have, you know.

We we had that experience as a family last summer.

I mean, I'm, I'm friends with, Kate Finn.

Ski the director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

I have been to the National Museum for meetings, but I never left that front room.

And so for the first time, we the famil went, and we did it, all right.

Did the, walked up on the ship and went into every room and had one of the, like, docents there kind of take us on a tour and give us all the inside.

It was so much fun.

It was so much.

Fun, you see.

Yeah.

And I and I think I sort of took it for granted.

And, and just there's like.

Yeah, it exists.

It's great.

That's for other people.

And I was like no, this is a really cool thing that we have in our community that I just totally miss.

And it's only at our only National museum.

Exactly.

Yeah.

So thank.

You for doing right.

That's right.

And so that is.

Yeah.

Thank you, thank you.

I'm glad you got this.

Yeah.

I'm we're we're talk a lot more about the kind of the partnership we're going to do on, this program.

I want to talk about your calendar a little bit.

As we wrap up this segment, I'm curious how you measure success on events, because I always hear them, like $3 figures.

And I have no idea where those come from.

Like you just like somebody just their job is to make that up and everybody just believes them.

Or for the dollars.

I tell you the math is not coming from me.

I'll let you know that there's a lot of skills.

It's not one of them.

We have like, an economic impact calculator that we use.

So a lot of times with attendance, we can, kind of deduce there certain amounts of, a dollar figures that are assigned to day travelers versus overnight travelers, peopl from outside a certain radius.

So basically, we have a tool that allows u to help create those as people.

Have a. What is the technical definition of a tourist?

Someone from more than 50 miles.

Away, 55 zero.

Got it.

Yep.

I'm pretending to write that down.

Okay.

Yeah, I'm coming.

In to be tested.

That's right.

All right, so I want when we come back, I want to talk about, your calendar every Thursday.

You know, we, we partner with, Tada and toledo.com to present kind of top five events of the weekend, I promise.

That's right.

Well so I want to talk about because, I mean, your calendars are a little bit different.

There's a few months there.

And so I want to talk about that difference.

And then I, I also, I feel I'm going to I'm going to admit something that I don't know that most people know that I'm, I might even if I'm ashamed of it.

Gretche is going to be ashamed for me.

But I already am.

Well, what?

Cliffhanger.

Yes.

That and more.

We'll be right back here on the 419.

To me, community means connecting to others.

I'm Danny Miller, and welcome to the point.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We just need to start.

I think we need to sell access to the commercial press.

Yeah, because, yeah, that.

Might be more entertaining.

It's much more juicy yet.

Net as we pump IV's and fluids into Gretchen and, to get her propped up for the next set.

We're talking with Kelly hearing from destination Lido.

We talked about the calendar.

So, tell me what what makes your calendar kind of unique and makes your calendar no pun intended, a destination for people.

And it's so easy to put together your words tragically populates itself.

Of course, that' exactly how everything happens.

No.

We have a super hardworking team.

That is, you know, taking events that have been submitted, events that we find, events that are taking place with partners that we have, and putting those on there, but it's curated.

So we are really looking to put out what, what a visitor is interested in what?

Somebody who's going to either travel here to do or, what they're going to be most interested in doing while they're here.

Obviously that's a little subjective, but we kind of use that lens to help kind of guide us as we decide what is a good fit for the calendar.

Versus there might be some things like, like a community card sale or some things that a lot of locals might really want to do.

But if you're looking at, oh, hey, I'm going to go to Chicag or I'm going to go to Cleveland, or I'm going to go to Columbus for the weekend, that's maybe not what you're looking for.

You may be looking for what's going on at the Toledo Museum of Art.

You know, there's an event going on at the zoo, or there's maybe, like a maker, fair things like that.

That's the stuff that the visitors are going to be interested in.

And a lot of times locals are to.

I think we've talked about this, like, at least for me, my behavior when I'm on vacation.

And that's a loose term because for me, I vacation about maybe that's, you know, 50 miles away from Toledo and anything like that.

I just act different.

Vacation cabin.

Yeah.

There's vacation cabin.

Exactly.

But like, I mean, my willingness to walk somewhere instead of have to park next to the building, you know, explore being being more adventurous with, you know, eating or, you know other experiences, more curious.

Yeah.

That versus like Toledo and I think I certainly I miss out on thing that are here because of that.

But your, you know, your calendar is, is a way for even folks that live here t sort of be a bit of a tourist.

Yeah.

And we, probably you know, against their wealth or maybe they want us to if they follow us on social media, we kind of then are like shoving all o those upcoming events at them.

Which they apparently like because they're watching the videos.

But those, we post like, every Thursday about what's going on this weekend.

So we try to also make it very easy for people to we understand a lot of times who's visiting Toledo.

A lot of times these are not people who are planning month in advance and or very far out to come here the way you might if you're going to like Hawaii or or a longer trip.

We're attracting people from the like 90 minute to 3 hour radius most often.

So we want to catch them ahead of what they're doing this weekend.

And if they could pivot their plans because the see something from our calendar that has then put on our social media, that's what we want to do.

We want to inspire them.

How much competition do you feel like you have?

Competing against the Seneca County Doll Museum?

The doll museum?

Well.

Any day you can travel to that place and have 200,000 there.

Legitimately at Seneca.

I don't know how to answer that, but there is a Seneca County Doll Museum, so you can head down ther or up there or wherever it is.

Why are you pretendin like you haven't been there yet?

Foreign.

Yeah.

You can have a set of 200,000 dead eyes staring at you anytime you want, but I do have a question for that here.

If you don't know right here, folks, if, what is the best day to have an event in Toledo, Ohio?

To have an event?

Yeah.

If you're bringing if you if you had your old life or old career path, if you're going to have an event, what's the best day to have i Toledo, Ohio, in your opinion?

I mean, probably obviously like a weekend day, that's when you're going to get the most amount of people.

And that' when the most things are open.

I mean, we have attractions open then we have, it kind of helps you round out the experience too.

So a lot of times people, you want people to go to your event.

But also then from a city perspective, we want people to go and do other stuff too.

So obviously weekends, but we have things going on every day.

That's Rick.

So there's Oh, I'm.

Well, thanks for coming on.

Yeah.

So tim to get up and take some steps.

That means the Seneca County Job Museum is open.

So I was on your website, and you have, I think up at the top of the website currently, is a is a list of brunch spots in the area.

And my confession is I have never had brunch in Toledo.

Well.

I highly recommend checking out our brunch blog.

That's a weird thing.

Just.

I never once.

Had a disappointing reveal.

It's disappointing.

Yeah.

It's.

That's what she brings to the show.

Yeah.

So you're saying disappointing.

Because it's underwhelming.

But I'm obsessed with the brunch.

Is the breakfast food period correct.

And then brunch knowing.

The right answer.

The best food in the world.

I wonder.

Hang on a second.

I've had breakfast in Toledo, but I've not.

Had the same day.

Man, that's what I know.

Have you ever was too busy by brunch?

Oh, come on, we're all busy.

Can't be.

I can't find parking for the fire trucks.

Yeah.

The brunch at the Seneca County Damn Museum is the best.

Stellar.

And I'll say right now, if you like Hot Pockets, which I do, and Dulce, not which.

I do.

Which everyone does.

Because I know about you.

It's like the marketing team from Nebraska took over.

The Derby's even like buckets.

They could never take it over.

Yeah.

That's what.

Yeah.

Welcome.

Yeah, but there is a brunch blog so I will check that out.

Well, what's your favorite brunch place?

Oh boy.

Not to put you on the spot.

I like Manhattans.

I that was good.

I was going to say if you haven't checked out, like, the brunch buffet at Manhattan, that's a great place to start.

There's also some other places that you might not think of for brunch like Adam Street cafe has a fantastic price.

Oh.

All right.

There's tons of differen restaurants and different places that people aren't even thinking of.

We have great, like, restaurants in our hotels.

We have great restaurants in every area of town.

So, check out the brunch blog as a place to start.

Or maybe we could go to brunch.

Maybe I'll take you to brunch That's.

That is a terrible idea.

That was your whole point.

Yeah.

Wow.

Yeah.

I've never.

Yeah, I was sure.

Get.

Yeah.

I'm not really.

Playing the long game.

I get that free brunch sponsor.

Lance.

I've never been a good match, so.

Yeah.

That's right.

Oh, God.

What's your favorite brunch place?

Or do you go to brunch every weekend?

No, not every weekend.

Sometime I actually make a good brunch as well, so.

So I can't if I'm traveling.

I know you can't.

But maybe I could.

You know, it's the BNB.

It could be a spot, right?

Yeah.

Yeah, mostly just to be.

With the band.

It's.

Just as much fun.

This is a big show.

Yeah, that's one of my, one of my favorite, Mitch Hedberg, jokes is the I don't want to bed breakfast.

I want a chair, lunch, dinner.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

All right, so coming up, boar partner here with us on the 419.

So.

Thank you.

It's still time to back out.

No.

It's not.

Oh, sorry.

Too late.

What what is kind of your your plans and hopes for for our partnership and some of the stories that that you want to bring to, northwest Ohio.

Yeah, we, you know, given this opportunity, especially with you guys, doing this show more often, it made a lot of sense to partner because you're reaching a lot of locals.

And I know that sounds counterintuitive to what my entire job is.

Stick with me.

So tourism data wise, we know that nearly half the the primary reason that people come her is to visit friends or family, like nearly half of the visitors who come here.

That's their main reason for coming.

So if we're educating the friends and family that live here, we're doing a lot by building local ambassadors, by reaching them and having them do the selling for us, essentially.

And I don't know why you're.

Giggling every time.

No.

I'm laughing.

Something that Matt thinks is stupid.

He puts a smirk on you.

Oh, I. Thought he was grading me.

No good things.

I see you're giving the guest anxiety.

We go through a lot of paper here.

I just as soon as the words came out, aggressions mouth like I knew it was coming.

And then Matt to slowly flip the paper over.

Yeah.

You know, pen on the tongue and mark that one down.

Thank you, thank you.

No, but we want to reach the locals, too, because they're the ones who are going to help be the best voices.

They're going to say they're going to hav the authentic take on, oh, hey, we should go here for brunch hour.

Hey, like, I had never been to the National Zoo, the Great Lakes that go, like, now you guys have to see it.

That's what we want to happen.

So we want to reach locals and partnering with you guys just made a lot of sense in that regard because, I mean, you're talking abou all the great things in Toledo.

We also have over 320 partners, a destination.

You know.

That sounds exhausting.

We we try very hard to provide them all of their benefits that they get by partnering with us.

Which is a lot of work, but it's it's it makes it easy because there's so much that they have to offer.

When we are a partner.

From the Metroparks perspective.

And I can tell you that we, you are one of our first calls or stops, you know, we're working in tandem, something together.

And, we couldn't be more pleased.

So partners are attractions, businesses.

Yeah.

And it's all sorts of small businesses.

Our major institutions, different organizations, different service providers, too.

We have transportation partners.

We have, people who provide services for different events, entertainment, and then a lot of the major attractions, like.

Who's the worst one, say, right into this camera.

I'm just trying to do what we do.

Have the county down.

We've got it.

But they're the best one.

Yeah.

We've got we're going to put you on the spot before we cut you loose here.

It's time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

That's not the.

Name.

We're getting pretty good at that.

Yeah.

All right, I'm going to ask you for rapid fire questions.

Okay?

Totally random.

Okay.

Gretchen is going to ask you for your favorite thing in the region, and then that's going to ask you describe Toledo in nine.

Words, your favorite child.

You can do that okay.

Okay, okay.

To be one of your children.

To be and.

To be a child.

You passed in the street.

All right, here we go.

What's been your favorite family holiday?

My favorite family holiday.

I can I make it a season?

Okay.

Christmas in Toledo is a fantastic time for us because we need rapid fire.

Do all the things.

Yes, we do children's wonderland.

We do.

Love it.

The manor house.

We do the zoo lights.

We try to do all the things.

We have alternative names like the Christmas house for them.

Or we'll go a place with the train.

I have young children, so we talk about these things in very broad terms.

These are not the searchable terms.

Yeah.

But that's our favorite holiday, I love it.

Yeah.

If your life was a story, what would it be?

Titled?

I'm making it up.

I love it, I like that.

That's really good.

All right, what's the first thing you notice about someone when you first meet them?

Probably.

Hi.

I like Gretchen and Mattel.

Woman.

So I usually notice people's height if I see eye to eye with them or if I, you know.

Or you're looking down on them.

Metaphorically.

Yeah.

All right.

Name something that's on your bucket list.

On my bucket list.

I would love to see all of our partner restaurants summit Kendall on our team does our savory sundaes.

And she has done it because she has done a savory sundae segment at every partner restaurant.

And I think that's a bucket list item.

Good for her, because I'm not quite as adventurous of an eater.

And I want to I want to experience.

I think you can do it.

What's your number one favorite or best thing about Toledo?

Or the region?

It's probably what people, other people say, but the people, and I know that's kind of an odd one from the visitor perspective because it's like, oh, how much do you get to kno people when you go on vacation?

But how welcoming everybody is here.

I kind of probably are like, you know, our Midwest friendliness that shows to visitors.

And I think that, like, sets us apart in a lot of ways.

And from my perspective, it makes what we do so much more fun because I love working with all the.

People when when I was on the team, with Jeep Fest, I would hear peopl that were in town for Jeep Fest talk about how amazing it is that, you know, they would go all over the country for these Jeep festivals, and Toledo was the only on that the entire city was all in.

Yeah, right.

You turn on the news, it's their front page, the paper that's, you know, out front of your, you know, hotel room that that, you know, the next morning front page is Jeep Fest.

Every restaurant, you know, welcome Jeep.

Yeah.

It was just, you know, everybody was all in on it.

So the people all came together.

So I mean, that makes sense.

And als makes you exceptional at this.

I mean you are a kind of warm person.

So, that being said, I'm.

When you up for the most challenging part of our quiz here, I need nine words to describe the region to you.

To the people are great.

We'll give you that one, people.

Yep.

You can start.

Authenticity, I. Love it.

Natural wonder.

Can I make.

Sure we're making that two words?

Natural wonders.

Two.

Surprising.

Surprising.

Good.

Yeah.

Three more.

Friendly.

Friendly.

Love it.

Seven.

You got two more.

Oh, gosh.

Okay.

Unique.

Unique.

Love it.

Diverse.

Diverse.

Done.

Tally.

It's almost like you do this for a living.

Kelly.

Thank you so much.

Thanks for everything you're doing.

Thank you for the support of the show.

You do?

Both.

We hear the 419, and we appreciate, having destination Toledo as a partner.

We're excited to tell stories of the great things people can do around the region.

When we come back we will be joined by Mark folk from the Arts Commission.

We've got a major announcement about a big investment in arts and culture in our region, from our friends at the Community Foundation.

I also want to ask Mark about, arts and culture and tourism and how those connect.

We'll talk about that and more here on the 408 day.

We'll be right back.

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Advisory services are offered through capital Investment Advisory Services LLC, securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra and SIPC.

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Welcome back in to the 419.

It's a Tuesday edition here of our show, powered by CTE.

We're joined now by friend of the program.

We've had you on the podcast.

This is your first time here on The Big Show powered by Mar folk from the Arts Commission.

Mark, thanks for being here.

Great to be here with you.

One of.

Our favorites.

Yes.

Yep, yep.

I hear you.

So we're going to have some breaking news, but I hear you hav breaking news all right.

Yeah.

The Seneca, County.

Yes.

Also known as Enchanted Moments, actually officially closed in 2000.

And now I'm disenchanted.

Yeah.

Well, not.

Didn't close to me Yeah, I can tell you that the.

Collection was auctioned off.

It may wrap up here at some point.

Kidding me.

At a metro Park.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

Head out to Secret Metro Park where you've hidden $6,000 there.

That is so distressing.

Yeah.

Let's dig for it all day.

Yeah.

It's distressing.

What?

What people do in Seneca County now.

Really?

Yeah.

We were talking with Kelly here.

We're just going to blow through that.

Yeah, just.

Yeah, I'm going to try.

All right.

I think I'd already like it too long.

Yeah, actually, yeah.

It's Gretchen's mom will tell us.

We talked about tourism, but obviously, you know, in in your seat, the director of the arts commission.

What what role does arts and culture play in tourism?

I mean, everything, right?

It's the reason people come.

You don't go to a place to stay in a hotel room.

You go to a plac to have a cultural experience.

You know, sporting events are included in that.

I think Jee Fest would be included in that.

But Toledo has a really rich, arts and culture fabric and infrastructure that boxes far above the weight in the community.

And people travel to Toledo for those events.

And when they come, you know, it's a well documented fact that cultural tourists spend twice as much as other folks when they visit the community.

So an investment in arts and culture is really an investment in our economy.

Across the region, arts and culture have about a $2.6 billion economic impact on Northwest Ohio.

Going to be billion with this.

Amazing.

So it's really big business.

And it's really intrinsic to who we are as people in northwest Ohio.

Let's make sure that everyone knows, even though we all know who you are.

Let's make sure everyone knows that you're the, head of president.

Is the.

President your.

President, presiden and CEO of the Arts.

Commission?

Chief bottle washer.

Can you, just briefly explain to our audience what the arts commission.

Yeah, we're we exist to inspire a vibrant Toledo.

We're the city's local arts agency.

In the three pillars that we work under is we believe artists work.

We do everything we can to provide, employment opportunities to artists.

We improve and activate th public space through the arts.

And then we do everything we can to suppor the broader cultural ecosystem, through advocacy, policy, funding when possible.

Excellent.

Is there a is there a, you know, metric on ROI for investment in arts and culture?

I mean, there are many, you know, there are there's so many different ways to talk about the return on investment for arts and cultur that I could be here for a whole nother hour and walking through those.

Let's do it.

Yeah.

So Community Foundation is aid.

We've got a big announcement today.

They are announcing a grant to make sure I get it right.

15 different organizations across northwest Ohio specifically focused on arts and culture.

It's all part of their inaugural arts and Culture grant.

Arts and culture fund.

Thank you.

Culture fund.

$567,000, going to 15 different organizations, one of which is the Arts Commission.

Yeah, and right on time.

At the moment tha they were planning this program and went forward with launching it with, the largest in my, three decades of doing this work.

Three decades.

Yeah.

I mean, as a young artist, until now, the largest unwindin of the cultural infrastructure in the United States starting at the federal level.

You know, obviously, we're at who's felt the, elimination of public broadcasting, funding throws at, the National Endowmen for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Imls on and on and on.

The community foundation stepped into that fold.

Launched this program for arts and culture initiatives.

But what's really special, it's between an artist and a community organization.

To really to really activate things on the ground here through the arts.

And, one of the phrases that I've been leaning on a lot over the last year is the power to make change is not lost.

It's local.

And this fun that the community Foundation, has launched has really empowered people to have conversations about their local identity and the multiple local identities, in our community, and then, to provide resources to express those, through the arts, whether that's, major work of public art or a community, you know, performance.

There's, storytelling, social cohesion, connection to the past, opportunities to vision the future.

So it's a really, really catalytic opportunity that I think will continue to, spaw investment into the future.

And, one of Toledo's unique advantages that, you know, helps feed the tourism here is our legacy of public art.

Founded in 1977 by Susan Reams, the city has the 1% for our program.

1% of the capita improvement budget is set aside for public art on City of Toledo property.

We're fortunate enough to manage that program that became the model for the state.

We've been models for cities all over the United States.

And it's something through its, longevity, that has, triggered millions of dollars of investment from sources outside the city.

And speaking of being a tourist in your own town you can go to your local library and you can get a book that for kids that talks through and explains a lot of the local art and takes, like a sort of walking tour of the public art.

Yeah.

To go one further, because of the, the the prestige of the collection, we were invited by, Bloomberg to upload, the public art collection.

Bloomberg connects.

So the same app you would explore, the Museum of Modern Art in in New York City, you can tour the City of Toledo's public art collection and all of the adjacent pieces that are here.

That's sort of interesting.

Segwa and Mark with some other guests, who we enjoye way more than this, of course.

You know, you.

Arose between two thoughts.

Yeah.

That's, so, you know, you're a small organization, so you're absolutely, still, passing out t shirts and selling out cones.

You know, because you're a boots on the ground, person, and you certainly get your hands dirty, but on a national level you know, where do you check in?

How do you sort of dream about?

Or are there gold standards or piers that you look.

Yeah, you have to be.

You're an explorer by nature.

So I'm interested in like who is in your news feed or who you follow to aspire to be more like, oh.

So I am, very lucky.

One of the seats I fill is vice chair of the board of Americans for the Arts, which is a national, arts advocacy organizatio that fights for funding across the United States.

So I get to be in the room when a lot of these conversations are happening.

And then I also serve I work with my colleague Sally Dix who runs Bravo, in Des Moines.

And the two of us are co-chairs of an organization.

And, well, it's an informa alliance of, local arts agency leaders called the United at the Urban Arts Coalition.

So the top populated 100 cities in the United States with local arts agencies, art directors get together and, meet in person twice a year and then on zoom every month.

So we check in with trends.

We just, you know, we just had a meeting on Wednesday, where we had an hou and a half long session about, you know, really supporting our colleague in Minneapolis at this moment, and understanding what's happening all over the United States.

So that's a well, for me, you know, there are think tanks and fuel tanks.

I really rely on my peers and colleagues as, as a fuel tank.

And then we've organized a set of, colleagues across the country under the, auspices of the concept of civic imagination, which you, have participated in, where we bring everyone from an artist to former arts administrator of the head of a national organization, foundations together to really take a minute to pause and, you know, think through imagination about the future and also to take care of each other.

It's it's hard work, to be in the public space.

It's a big responsibility.

It's a long way sometimes.

Yeah, yeah.

And, it's great to have peers that help you grow, you know, this.

This fund at Community Foundation.

You had said that it's pairin local artists and organizations, in the art and culture and community space.

Yeah.

What's the Arts Commission doing?

What's your what's your grant?

Yeah, I. Would add to that, it's helping, to reach places where other funding sources can't.

Right.

And, the stack of public funding that comes in, whether it's a hotel motel tax or a 1% for our tax, has restrictions on where that money can go.

The the city of Toledo, we're partnering with Housing and Community Development on a project at the Swain Field shopping center.

For those that don't know the corner of Monroe and Detroit was the home of the Mud Hens for 50 years.

Which is a buried history in our community.

Housing and community development had been really working to redevelop, the Inglewood neighborhood.

That area is the, heart of that area and has secured well over $3 million to do that work.

And as a target nurse, the area which is part of the city they have three neighborhoods.

It's neighborhood, revitalization strategy area.

And so but there was no funding there for art, and we couldn't implement the public art funding because it' private property at this point.

So this grant allows us to come in, put together a coalition of neighborhood leaders, you know, people who owned businesses in the area, residents, people who run neighborhood groups, artists, city planners, you know a really diverse group of folks, to engage the public around what they want to see, what futur they want to tell in that area, and then to launch a call to engage in artists, to tell that story through public ar and build upon that rich legacy.

We have some of the othe organizations receiving grants, issue box theater.

Incredible organization focusing on belonging.

Keeps a little Lucas County beautiful.

Mid story is on of the recipients of the grant, some great organizations.

And then even outside of th the greater Toledo area, right.

Fostoria vision 2020.

Yeah.

There's a Oak Harbor development group, that's working on a project.

So again, 15 diverse organizations.

Nothing to a damn museum.

Nothing.

Not a single.

County.

I will say, you know, and as you list off those folks that got funded which it's incredibly meaningful for all of them, the magic that you don't see in that lis is when the Community Foundation pulled together the public meeting, and there were well over 50 organizations, at the community building at the Metroparks, learning about this opportunity, thinking about how they can work outside of their box and collaborate with, artists or other organizations to tell the stories that make our region great, you know?

And art is very often a document of culture, and culture is what we do around here.

And what we do around here is find ways to work together to build and strengthen our community.

And in this instance, it wouldn't have happened without the leadership of the Community Foundation.

And frankly, Kate Summerfield vision to lead this forward.

Well, speaking of leadership, if I may, I serve on the Arts Commission board.

We just, last week.

This week.

Yeah.

Tuesday had a 20, 25 sort of recap and a report from Mark and the team of everything that they di last year and about a huge year.

And Mark is, the humble to not brag about truly his, dedication and strength and, leadership on a national level, serving at a number of these in a number of these national organization and bringing, his support and, and what the Arts Commission has been able to do in Toledo and the model that's been developed here, the 1% of the arts, among them to sort of the national stage.

I mean, he's a very well-respected, leader serving on these committees nationally.

I'm interested in you talked about Minnesota.

Yeah, about the why it's important for the arts communities and artist communities to be involved in response to some of the.

Things that many people woul characterize as terrible things happening in our community, in our world.

Why?

Why is it important for these voices to be part of the response?

I think the, artistic, experience or what our artists go inside, right?

And they, they cultivate something to bring out and share, with all of us.

And in the darkest times, they go i and and they can cultivate joy and hope and resiliency and share that outward.

And, you know, I it's a little bit broader.

But when we went into the pandemic, everybody went into their television, they went into Netflix, they started watching movies.

Those are artists, producers, creative people.

Yeah.

The makers who are connecting us with, the things that, frankly the life demands so much of us all, from taking care of kids to doing the jo to getting groceries, the bills, all those things that we stop to create, we stop producing those things for ourselves sometimes.

And I think that's just such a critical.

Role.

Of artists in our community.

And the elevation of imagination, you know, I can't I can't, I can't overstate the importance of imagination and, and civic life and, you know, a community is a civic body.

It's like a physical body.

And artists are, are one of the things that really help the health of that body.

Mark, I we're wrapping up here, but you are an artist.

And a molecular level also.

So where do you go in to create?

Where's your getaway?

I still have, artist studio in the basement of the old building downtown.

So I venture underground, mostly in the winter.

And then as I, I have an active practic as a DJ, I just had a great gig in Nashville two weeks ago at Third Man Records.

Celebrating a dear friend down there.

And I keep a studi in the Collingwood Arts Center.

Yeah.

Which is, at 100% occupancy with a waiting list of, many of the great artist and creatives that exist in our.

Community and haunted.

And haunted.

Yeah, yeah.

But they're cool if you're cool with that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's right.

That's smart folk saying right there.

They're cool with you if you're cool with them, you and I, every time we have a conversation, I leave with some other little, little nugget.

Something like I said, we had you on the podcast and you talked about, you know, kind of the the parallel between DJ and and your work in the community of kind of reading, the reading the room and then adjusting to it.

I love the concept of think tank and fuel tank.

And I think I, you know, certainly I see that in your work and what you're doing with the Arts Commission and with arts and culture, our community.

I think this, this new fund, this it's a tragic investment for the community Foundation is absolutely that right.

Is is going to the neighborhoods to say, hey, it's this idea of of a neighbor becoming an artist, right?

Coming a co-creator in the art, being having a voice in that, is really incredible.

So thank you for what you're doing.

And yeah, congratulations.

Thank you.

Excited to see the continued growth.

Obviously, the leadership, that you bring to the community, along with the folk from the Community Foundation.

Yeah, we appreciate it.

Thank you.

To honor and privilege to be here.

And, on behalf of all the cultural organizations, I just would like to honor and express our gratitude to the Community foundation, for their investment in the city specifically.

So thank you, guys.

You're amazing.

Incredible.

All right, when we come back, we'll wrap up this Tuesday edition of the 419.

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Welcome back in as we wrap up a Tuesday edition of the 419.

Man, just another.

Another fun program talking to some great people, friends before the show for sure.

But obviously I always learn more about what they're doing and get excited about, you know, certainly the idea of, being a tourist in Toledo, you know, I love I love when people keep.

Part of my hope for this program is that it's a reminder to our community of the great things that we have going on, and part of where at least you know, my Toledo ego or pride, comes to play is when, you know, I'm in some other community and I see somebody wearing a mud hens hat.

Right?

Or you hear about somebody that doesn't live in Toledo that comes i and has a positive experience.

It's just kind of a validation, or a reminder that, like, we've got things that we should be proud of.

Totally.

And it's just also day after day.

I mean, we've have been at this just about a month, but the leadership that that's come in and what wha these organizations are doing, these two are certainly fine examples of just dedicated leadership in this community that are that are doing great things.

Certainly appreciate community foundation, their support of arts and culture in the community, their support of this program and helping us talk to, impactful, visionary chang making leaders like Mark folk.

We're going to continue t do that, throughout this show.

Three opportunities to enjoy this.

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Of course, all of our pas episodes are online at wjhl.org.

Slash the 419 for Matt kill Gretchen the backer.

I'm Kevin Mullen, thanks for joining in for the 419 powered by CTE and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

We'll see you tomorrow for wellness Wednesday.

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