Economic Development Focus of Town Hall

On Tuesday, July 23, at Governor Mark Gordon’s town hall, at Sheridan College, economic development was one topic of the discussion.

Governor Gordon talked some of the development in Sheridan.

He also talked the multiplier effect, as every dollar of payroll gets spent in the community and, in turn creates more jobs and opportunities. He added that keeping the dollars in Wyoming and in Sheridan is important. He also mentioned that private sector is very important to Wyoming and Sheridan.

He introduced Michelle Wilson, EMIT Technologies, and some about her background, including the fact that she once worked for Senator John Barrasso.

Gordon said that in 2000, Wyoming was broke, and one thing that helped the state balance the books was the advent of coal bed methane. He said that Apache Corporation, where he once worked, helped to fund research at University of Wyoming on water discharge from the coal bed methane wells.

He added that one of the key players in finding solutions was EMIT. He talked about how EMIT has been able to pivot to keep up the changing times and he introduced Michelle Wilson of EMIT.

Wilson said it was an honor to talk about EMIT. She said that job creation, talent acquisition and employee retention are what she keeps in mind every day when she walks into EMIT.

She added that job creation isn’t just about numbers. “It is about creating roles that offer, growth, stability and fulfillment. We strive to ensure that every job at EMIT is a step toward a rewarding career.”

She also mentioned that activities such as athletics, FFA, and We the People provide students opportunities to develop skills and be a part of something big, not because it was handed to them but because they earned it.

Wilson also talked about employee retention, she said they realize retention is more than just a competitive wage. It is about creating a positive work environment and fostering a culture of respect and recognition.

She added that EMIT was thankful to be working alongside the University of Wyoming, Sheridan College and Sheridan K-12 school districts.

Holly Krutka, UW School of Energy, also talked about energy and the coal bed methane industry, and that story will be posted later.