How nice is it when, in your last column in OV Magazine, you can conclude that 'things have come full circle'? When I started as park manager at Ondernemend Venlo in 2014, one of my first projects was to organise a seminar on waste and circularity. This year, exactly 10 years later, OV is organising another seminar on the same topic. While there were too few registrations back then because circularity was only in its infancy and not 'hot' enough at the time, now -in addition to the seminar- this theme issue of OV magazine is also entirely dedicated to circularity.
As outgoing park manager, I look back with great pleasure on ten wonderful years at an entrepreneurs' club 'that matters'. From the many good contacts with fellow park managers around the country, I know that Ondernemend Venlo is followed with great interest by other clubs. Not least because of the many successful projects we have realised here. Such as, among others, a fully-covering AED network on all 20 business parks, and certainly not forgetting the effective ice control on all connected business parks. I also keep fond memories of the study trip to Washington, where the projects visited led directly to the establishment of truck parking enforcement throughout the municipality of Venlo. Another example was the 'Water for Later' seminar that I had the honour of organising together with my colleague from Roermond, which was the starting point of the Sustainable Business Parks Foundation. And let me not forget the nominations for best BIZ plan 2016, and for the most climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive business park in the Netherlands. All examples of projects that came about through good cooperation with several parties, and I am proud to have been able to do my bit.
With a membership of more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, it is of course impossible to say goodbye to everyone personally. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the pleasant cooperation over the past ten years and for their contribution to my good memories at Ondernemend Venlo. Thank you and who knows, see you soon; all the best to you!
Lidy Rutten
Park manager
