Jan 4, 2016 | Uncategorized
Upstate, SC [January 4, 2016] –Ten at the Top (TATT), a non-profit organization created to foster collaboration and strategic planning in South Carolina’s Upstate region, recently completed the busiest year since the organization was incorporated in 2009. During 2015, TATT conducted 102 regional forums, meetings, presentations, workshops and programs with more than 3,250 participants from across the Upstate region.
Since 2010, TATT has conducted 520 regional engagements with more than 26,000 total participants. The previous high-mark for engagements during a year was 97 set in 2013.
Illustrating TATT’s role as the Upstate’s regional convener and connector, 372 different businesses and organizations had representatives participating on TATT committees or task forces and/or providing funding support in 2015.
“There are a lot of businesses and organizations doing great things to make the Upstate a leading place to live and do business,” said TATT Executive Director Dean Hybl. “Through Ten at the Top, organizations and leaders from across the region are connecting with others working on similar issues with the goals of minimizing duplication, increasing collective capacity and growing collaboration and regional networks.”
TATT currently leads 24 task forces and committees where stakeholders from across the region are working together on regional opportunities to address issues including workforce & skill development, transportation & infrastructure, senior needs, education, air quality, child well-being and community vibrancy.
Notably, the Child Well-Being Network was formed in 2015 to ensure every child in the Upstate has an optimal opportunity for success. Four regional work groups focused on specific elements of child well-being are starting work in 2016 with the ultimate goal of having eight different work groups focusing on building regional capacity around elements of child well-being.
Also, in partnership with Feed & Seed, local farmers and others focused on growing local food capacity in the Upstate, the Regional Food System group has been working to build capacity at the product, process and market stages.
For the first time in 2015, TATT hosted “The Upstate Bus Tour… Getting to Know Our Neighbors.” Participants spent a day learning about economic development, education, community revitalization efforts, and more in Greenwood, Union, Laurens, and Oconee counties. Each county included unique stops, presentations, and information to highlight the county. Spending a day immersed in each county provides participants from across the region the opportunity to learn more about the strengths and challenges in the other counties within the Upstate.
In addition, TATT hosted four regional forums and partnered with other regional organizations to host two Upstate Elected Officials Meetings and two other Shaping Our Future forums. These regular sessions provide an opportunity for city, county and state elected officials and business leaders to come together to discuss key regional issues.
In 2016, Ten at the Top will continue the Upstate Regional Forum Series with two forums, each focused on a key issue impacting the Upstate region. In addition, the second Upstate Regional Summit will be held on September 13th at the TD Convention Center. The first summit, held in 2014, included more than 800 participants from across the Upstate. The topic for the 2016 forum is “Creating a Leading Region.” TATT will also continue the Upstate Bus Tours and host the first regional young leaders summit.
Information about TATT task forces, committees, upcoming events and how to become involved is available at www.tenatthetop.org.
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Jan 6, 2015 | Uncategorized
Upstate, SC [January 5, 2015] –Ten at the Top (TATT), a non-profit organization created to foster collaboration and strategic planning in South Carolina’s Upstate region, conducted 96 regional forums, meetings, presentations and programs in 2014 with more than 4,000 participants from across the Upstate region.
Since 2010, TATT has conducted 418 regional engagements with more than 23,000 total participants.
Highlighting 2014 was the Upstate Regional Summit: Rechecking Our Reality, the largest event ever hosted by TATT, which was held on September 16th and included more than 800 Upstate residents looking at where we have been, where we are and where we are going as a region related to key issues impacting current and future growth in the region, especially as it relates to economic vitality and quality of life.
In addition, TATT hosted a pair of regional forums and partnered with other regional organizations to host two Upstate Elected Officials Meetings. These regular sessions provide an opportunity for city, county and state elected officials and business leaders to come together to discuss key regional issues.
During 2014, Ten at the Top also convened more than 50 committee and task force meetings where stakeholders from across the region came together to work on regional opportunities to address issues including workforce & skill development, transportation & infrastructure, senior needs, education, air quality, child well-being and community vibrancy.
“Ten at the Top has strived to elevate the conversation about how working collaboratively across the Upstate region isn’t just a ‘good idea’, but is crucial if our local communities are all going to reach their full potential,” said TATT Chairperson Carol Burdette. “With the successful Upstate Regional Summit as well as multiple initiatives bringing together key stakeholders, 2014 was another important year in growing collaboration across the Upstate.”
The Upstate Professional Planners Group, which TATT started in 2012, partnered with the graduate program in City & Regional Planning at Clemson University to conduct the first-ever regional analysis of the comprehensive plans for each county in the region. The results will be used in 2015 to continue discussions on how we are growing as a region.
In 2015, Ten at the Top will continue the Upstate Regional Forum Series with four forums, each focused on a key issue impacting the Upstate region. In addition, for the first time ever, TATT will conduct quarterly “Getting to Know the Upstate Bus Tours” where participants will spend a day traveling to a county within the region and meeting with community, business and education leaders from that county while also touring key locations within that area.
A full 2014 Ten at the Top program overview as well as information about the 2015 Forums and Regional Bus Trips is available on the TATT web site.
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Oct 27, 2014 | Community Vibrancy, Driver Areas, Forum, Shared Upstate Vision
Upstate, SC [October 27, 2014] – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, recently conducted the 400th regional engagement (presentations, forums, meetings, surveys) since the organization began its current phase in January 2010. The activities have included more than 22,500 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, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, senior issues, air quality attainment, water planning, transportation & infrastructure, workforce & skill development and local community vibrancy.
In September, Ten at the Top hosted its largest event, the Upstate Regional Forum, which brought together more than 800 leaders and interested residents from across the Upstate to look at where we have been as a region, where we are now and where we are going.
“Ten at the Top has strived to elevate the conversation about how working collaboratively across the Upstate region isn’t just a ‘good idea’, but is crucial if our local communities are all going to reach their full potential,” said current TATT Chairperson Carol Burdette. “Reaching 400 meetings and activities is significant because it illustrates that TATT is actively engaging stakeholders from across the Upstate to build regional trust and grow the capacity of the region to strategically address key issues that impact our economic vitality and quality of life.”
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.
In 2009, Upstate leaders identified a lack of regional collaboration as a barrier toward future growth and success for the region. Of respondents to a survey conducted in advance of the September 2014 Regional Summit, 94% said that they believe regional collaboration is stronger today than it was in 2009, though 60% said it is still a potential barrier if we do not continue working to build regional capacity and partnerships.
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, followed by Neal Workman for 2012-2013 and Burdette for the current two year term. The board of directors includes more than 50 leaders from across the ten counties of the Upstate region.
Outreach Highlights:
• TATT has hosted three Regional Summits and nine Regional Forums on topics including: regional communications, senior issues, workforce & skill development, transportation & infrastructure and natural resources. The most recent summit, in September 2014, included more than 800 participants from across the Upstate.
• In partnership with other regional organizations, TATT has convened eleven Upstate Elected Officials Meetings that bring together city, county and state elected officials as well as business and community leaders to discuss key regional issues. Among the topics that have been addressed are: economic development, transportation, city/county/state/federal communications and water resources.
• Within the five driver areas of the our Upstate Vision (Human Potential, Economic & Entrepreneurial Vitality, Sustainable Growth, Natural Beauty & Resources and Community Vibrancy), TATT has convened meetings of stakeholders from across the Upstate on many topics including: identifying barriers to educational success, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, senior issues, air quality attainment, water planning, workforce & skill development, tourism and preventive health care.
• TATT helped facilitate the development of the first long-term regional transportation partnership in the Upstate between GPATS (Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study) and SPATS (Spartanburg Area Transportation Study).
• TATT convened the seven United Ways in the region in an effort that has led to a region-wide messaging campaign around early childhood education. This marks the first-ever region-wide partnership by all the United Ways in the Upstate.
• In partnership with the Barbara Stone Foundation, TATT convened the first meeting of organizations that work with individuals with disabilities and special needs. The result has been a year-long effort to enhance communications amongst organizations and to increase programs available for individuals with disabilities and special needs.
• In 2010 TATT held a community workshop in every county in the region. In 2013 it held four Community Vibrancy Workshops across the region. Presentations have been made to organizations in every county in the region.
Sep 17, 2013 | Forum, Uncategorized
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.
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