To say the least, the man now in charge of improving Houston’s economic environment is passionate about being the city’s new director of economic development.
Travis Witzemann began working in the position June 9.
“I’ve hit the ground running,” Witzemann said. “That’s what I keep hearing, but that’s how I am.”
Witzemann, who will be 46 on July 9, is a native of Farmington, New Mexico, where he attended high school for two years and was home-schooled for two years. He attended college for a short time with intentions of being in graphic design but decided that wasn’t for him and changed direction.
Witzemann and his wife, Stephanie Helfer, came to Texas County close to five years ago and live on a 50-acre tract in the Elk Creek area where they have plans to build a new house.
Prior to moving here, he worked for a large company in Denver, Colorado, and became familiar with real estate development and overseeing several sizable projects at once. He also worked in management with a large plumbing company, again heading up multiple projects at once.
After arriving here, Witzemann continued with his own construction work until applying for the economic developer position and being hired this year. He is also Houston’s assistant city administrator.
“My main job is to promote business and get industry here,” Witzemann said, “and to solve some of the city’s problems when it comes to the economy.”
The city council has given Witzemann several tasks to look into and he has already compiled a list of projects he intends to tackle.
“I’m used to running many different things all at the same time,” he said. “That’s who I am, and I love the challenge of that.”
Some of what’s on Witzemann’s radar:
•Bringing in a grocery store.
“That’s always one of the first things I hear about.”
•The sports quadplex.
“We’re pretty close to having a solid plan to get started on that. I know the community has been a little concerned with the lack of progress on that, but I think their perspective on that will change in the next month or two.”
•Housing.
“We’re working with some local guys to maybe make some affordable apartments downtown.”
•Having the Piney River Technical Center offer trades training for people other than high school students.
“I’d like to see it be more for everyone.”
•Fixing up the downtown area in general.
“It’s really important to me to get that revitalized, and I think we can do that here.”
•Improving local child care options.
“I think if we can solve the child care thing, it will help people be able to go to work, which is going to attract more businesses and amplify what we already have here.”
•Creating an “after school idea lab” for students at the Visitor Center, where his office is located.
“It would be about things they don’t necessarily teach in school. Like maybe they could meet with an accountant and learn how to do their taxes, or we could bring in a small business owner who could discuss starting and running a business.
“If we’re developing the economy, I want the kids to be involved.”
•Fixing up the Lynch-Tweed Civil War era house.
•Giving the Visitor Center a bit of a facelift.
“So we can sort of make it look like someone’s here now. We started with power washing it, and I want to put some marketing in the windows – work, grow, play, stay, dine and shop. There will be a picture in each of them and QR codes that lead people to the city’s website.”
Witzemann is also working with the director of the Tech Hub project at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, with hopes of creating interest for tech firms to come to Houston. He also hopes to restart the small business incubator project that began in Houston but fell apart.
“I’m an entrepreneur by nature,” Witzemann said. “This is the first government job I’ve had, and I’m looking at solving a lot of things from a private perspective.
Witzemann said he intends to be a familiar presence all over town.
“I’m going to get out at least once a week and go to businesses and talk with the business owners,” he said. “I’m not going to just sit in the office all day every day.”
Volunteers to work at the Visitor Center will be sought.
“I’d like to have someone here from 10 to 2 every day,” Witzemann said, “just to answer questions and that kind of thing.”
Witzemann’s vision for Houston is to grow, but not too much, so to speak.
“I’m super passionate about this job,” he said. “Houston is a small town, and it has its struggles, but I would like to keep the small town spirit and for everybody to work together to make it better. I love the small town, and I chose to live here for a reason. I came from big cities, and I don’t want to turn it into that.
“But there are things they do in the cities that are good economic ideas. It’s about finding a balance and finding the passionate people in town to do these things – and there are plenty of them, I’ve met them.
“This is a people job, because if I don’t have the peoples’ support, it doesn’t matter what ideas I have.”
After a couple of weeks on the job, Witzemann has gained an impression of Houston’s city council and other government officials.
“I feel like they’re engaged with the people,” he said. “Whenever I visit and talk with people, I hear the same information, so I think they’re engaged with what’s going on. I feel like they’re directing the right things, and I also think they’re pragmatic and they understand some things will take some time and take some work.
“But I’m excited that they’re excited, and that they’re working together.”
Witzemann can be reached by phone at 417-217-4225 or by email at twitzemann@houstonmo.org.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. “Let’s get to it – together.”
