This column first ran over a year ago, but with the recent passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, I felt moved to share it once more. My brief encounter with him shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time, and it left me with three lessons that have guided every chapter of my career: 1.       Don’t judge first impressions. 2.       Always stand up for what you believe in. 3.       One person truly can make the world better — Rev. Jackson proved that. I was 19, working at

My favorite Christmas movie? Hands down — Elf with Will Ferrell. One year, I was watching it with my three daughters, and we got to the part where Buddy the Elf is heading to New York to meet his biological dad. Just before he leaves the North Pole, a deep-voiced Narwhal pops out of the icy water and says, “Buddy, I hope you find your dad!” I turned to my girls and said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if Narwhals were real?” Cue the laughter. “Uh, Mom… they ARE real.” I was defiant. “O

President Trump recently proposed a 50-year mortgage, and it’s already stirring up debate—from Wall Street boardrooms to coffee shops in Defiance County. Shared via Truth Social, the idea casts him as a modern-day FDR—who popularized the 30-year mortgage—suggesting this new term could unlock homeownership for more Americans. But is it a game-changer for rural communities, or just another headline? A 50-year mortgage would stretch payments over five decades, lowering monthly c

Executive Director Monthly Column: I was watching the morning news when a story came on about the rising trend of AI girlfriends and boyfriends—apparently, they’re becoming popular with both teens and adults. I glanced over at my 17-year-old daughter and asked if she’d heard of it. She gave me that classic teen side-eye and said, “Uh—yeah, that’s a thing,” like I’d just discovered texting. These AI boyfriends and girlfriends engage in personalized conversations, remember det

Whenever I walk into a local restaurant or business, people don’t recognize me as the Economic Development Director for Defiance County....

It could happen with the help of AI. Earlier this month, I was invited to attend the 2025 Jacket Summit at Defiance College. The Summit...

Economic development is the lifeblood of a thriving community, driving prosperity, job creation, and overall quality of life. I remember...

(By: Erika Willitzer – Defiance County Economic Development) In any community—be it a neighborhood, workplace, school, or...

(By Erika Willitzer, Defiance County Economic Development) Recently, a young woman contacted the Defiance County Economic Development...

Defiance County recently played host to a potential new business scouting our area for their next facility. But instead of coming in with...

When I interviewed for the role of Executive Director at Defiance County Economic Development, I was asked a pivotal question by the...

It will transform your company and employees By Erika Willitzer (Sponsored by OhioMeansJobs of Defiance County ) One of my friends...

By Erika Willitzer (Article Sponsored by OhioMeansJobs of Defiance County) I have three daughters, and all had a similar experience when...

(By Erika Willitzer, Executive Director of Defiance County Economic Development) Over the last two months, I’ve been asked over 100...

Defiance County Economic Development has been on a mission the last two years to raise enough funds to put up Four Mega American Flags,...

By Erika Willitzer with Defiance County Economic Development – Column sponsored by OhioMeansJobs of Defiance County. The landscape of...

Discovering the Heart and Soul of Defiance, Ohio – We’re More Than Just a Top 10 Micropolitan By Erika Willitzer – Executive Director of...

(By Executive Director - Erika Willitzer) Age is just a number! This age-old saying holds true for the young minds of today. Often,...

Lessons Learned from One Encounter with Rev. Jesse Jackson (By Erika Willitzer – Executive Director of Defiance County Economic...

Executive Director Lists Out Accomplishments 2021 has been a crazy year and that’s a good thing. This was my first full year at Defiance...