TATT CONDUCTS 300TH REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, recently conducted the 300th regional engagement (presentations, forums, meetings, surveys) since the organization began its current phase in January 2010. The activities have included more than 18,000 participants from across the Upstate region.
Ranging from issue-based task force meetings to presentations for community organizations or gatherings of hundreds of elected officials, community & business leaders and Upstate residents discussing key issues around the economic vitality or quality of life in the Upstate, each session has helped grow the spirit of collaboration and partnerships across the Upstate region.
The issues on which TATT has convened regional meetings and encouraged collaboration focus around the five driver areas of the Our Upstate Vision (which TATT developed through feedback from more than 10,000 Upstate residents). The specific topics on which TATT has convened meetings and forums include the value of education, developing entrepreneurial friendly communities, senior issues, air quality attainment, water planning, transportation & infrastructure, workforce & skill development, community vibrancy and preventive health care.
“We can make better decisions on common issues which cross municipal and county lines by talking with each other,” said current TATT Chairman Neal Workman. “We can’t solve the types of things that Ten at the Top is involved with by ourselves.”
“Reaching 300 meetings and activities is significant because it illustrates that TATT is actively engaging stakeholders from across the Upstate to build regional trust and ensure that consistent discussions are occurring about how we can work together to strategically impact issues that are key to maintaining and enhancing our economic vitality and quality of life,” Workman added.
Ten at the Top was originally formed under the name Upstate Together in 2005 as an ad hoc regional committee with the goal of encouraging regional discussions on cross-jurisdictional issues. In 2009, the group hosted the Upstate Reality Check event that brought together more than 400 leaders from across the region. It was at that point that the name of the organization was changed to Ten at the Top and it was incorporated as a non-profit.
The current work plan of community activities, meetings, forums and presentations began in 2010 following the hiring of Dean Hybl as executive director. Irv Welling served as the chair of Ten at the Top through 2011 when he was succeeded by Neal Workman. The board of directors includes more than 60 leaders from across the ten counties of the Upstate region.