Sattler stepping down as Tecumseh's economic development director

The city of Tecumseh soon will be looking for a new economic development director.

Jessica Sattler, who has led the city’s economic development for the last five years, announced Friday she will be taking a position with Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) of Toledo as senior project manager. Her last day with the city is yet to be determined, but she expects it to be around December 20.

“This was a very tough decision for me to make,” Sattler said Friday. “I love Tecumseh and I have loved working with Dan and the rest of the team. Everything I’ve learned here has helped me grow professionally and personally.”

Sattler, a Tecumseh native, said the RGP president and CEO approached her a few months ago about working for the Toledo-based company. At first, she said, she turned him down.

“I have been happy here — it’s like family,” she said. “But then RGP made me an offer that I just could not refuse. And it is a job that puts me into a position where I can still help the city — but on a regional level.”

The new position represents a significant upward move for Sattler in her economic development career. A 1999 graduate of Tecumseh High School, she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in marketing and management from Baker College and was director of the economic engagement and business development programs at the University of Toledo before taking over the economic development position in Tecumseh. In Toledo, she racked up an impressive resume of business development, including securing multi-million dollar grants to promote economic development in the Northwest Ohio area. It was that work which attracted RGP’s interest.

“I really enjoy economic development, all the aspects of growing the local and regional areas, finding businesses that fit communities,” Sattler said.

Dean Monske, president and CEO of RGP, said he is “thrilled” to have Sattler on board.

“Having worked with Jessica in various capacities over the years, we’re thrilled to have her join the RGP team,” Monske said. “For more than 15 years we have developed a close relationship with the economic development groups in Southeast Michigan, including the City of Tecumseh. Jessica’s addition to our team provides us the opportunity to strengthen ties and  further enhance that collaborative partnership.”

City Manager Dan Swallow said Sattler “has contributed not only a tremendous amount of knowledge, but also her heart and soul to the city’s economic development department over the last five years.

“While we are all sad she will be leaving the city, we look forward to working with her in this expanded regional role,” Swallow said. “The city has a great working relationship with others that have accepted new positions to develop their careers, and we have no doubt we will have a similar connection with Jessica.”

Mayor Jack Baker agreed.

“Any time someone can further their career, I will always be supportive of that,” Baker said.

Baker added that since the program was added in 1995, all four of the directors had their “own unique way of making the department what I hoped it would become,” and Sattler was no different.

“I wish Jessica the best in her new position and I know that she’ll excel in her new position as she did here with us,” Baker said.

Over her five-year tenure with the city, Sattler landed the first business in the Tecumseh Business and Technology Campus earlier this year, a goal she set when she was hired. She also created a new, customized marketing and attraction strategy for recruiting domestic and international companies to the city, assisted with the expansion of five businesses, and recruited several small businesses to Tecumseh. There have been a number of new events and programs Sattler launched to help promote downtown Tecumseh businesses, and she helped the city achieve State of Michigan Redevelopment Ready Community status. Under her leadership, more than  $2,500,000 has been invested in the downtown district. Her economic development accomplishments include raising more than $250,000 in grants and sponsorships, while she used her marketing savvy to rebrand the Adrian Tecumseh SmartZone logo and the Downtown Tecumseh logo, and assisted businesses with getting through the pandemic with grants, marketing ideas, reopening kits, and the “I Support Tecumseh” fundraiser. Sattler has served on the chamber board, the boards of the Lenawee County Land Bank and the Lenawee County Economic Development Committee, and the Raisin Township Parks and Rec Committee.

Sattler’s tenure on the Advisory Board for Launch Lenawee and Adrian Armory Board of Directors has boosted the county-wide effort to provide a place for new businesses to get a promising start, according to owner Mark Murray, who chairs both boards. He said Sattler has been an integral partner in the development and implementation of the Launch Lenawee program at the Adrian Armory.

“We could not have been as successful without Jessica’s involvement over the past fiveyears,” Murray said. “We will miss her terribly.”

While she’s sad to leave her colleagues at the city, Sattler also is excited for the challenges her new position will bring.

“Leaving the city will be tough,” she said. “But, I am not planning to move, I’ll just be driving a little further for work. I know that there will be many more opportunities for me to help Tecumseh through the Regional Economic Partnership and I am looking forward to that.”

Swallow said with Sattler’s help, the city soon will be seeking her replacement.

“We are already working on the recruitment profile to fill the position, and will start advertising and reaching out to economic development professionals in our area over the holidays,” he said.  “We anticipate welcoming a new person in early 2023, and in the interim will be communicating with our local businesses to make sure we don’t miss a beat.”