University of Wisconsin - Extension

Madison, Wis.--Whether it’s getting residents to view their community in a different light, preparing a downtown business district for a new bypass or helping identify a regional economy, it’s all in a day’s work for UW-Extension community development specialist Andy Lewis. For nearly 25 years, Lewis has worked to improve the quality of life for Wisconsin communities.

Throughout his career, giving people meaningful information they can use easily has been a priority for Lewis. For example, as a Burnett County community resource development agent in 1984, Lewis found himself working with a large report that contained detailed information about area lakes. “I thought it had a lot of information that anglers would like. So I used it to create a fact sheet that we could print out for them,” he says.

The “First Impressions” program, developed by Lewis and James Schneider, Executive Director of the Grant County Economic Development Corporation in 1991, is a prime example of knowing how to share information in a way that makes a difference to people.

Lewis and Schneider were working on strategies to help communities attract new businesses and residents. After hearing a negative report from a company interested in moving to Grant County, the two realized the county needed something to make it more appealing to new business owners and residents.

The result was the “First Impressions” program, in which volunteers agree to make unannounced visits to neighboring communities and report on their findings, or impressions. The volunteers basically become “secret shoppers” for the day to discover what they can about a community.

“People aren’t too receptive to having an ‘expert’ show them the ‘warts’ in their town; but they will believe information coming from other people like themselves,” says Lewis.

The volunteers’ final report of their “first impressions” provides a snapshot of the community and serves as a basis for action.

Since it started nearly 20 years ago, hundreds of communities around the United States and Canada have conducted “First Impressions” programs.

One of the most significant changes Lewis has seen in his years with UW-Extension is the organization’s growing use of technology and distance learning techniques to deliver educational programs. Starting with satellite programs held in Extension county offices in the late ‘90s to today’s “webinars”--interactive presentations, lectures, workshops or seminars transmitted over the Web--technology has allowed Extension to greatly expand its reach.

Lewis’ colleagues recognized his lifetime achievements by presenting him with the 2008 National Distinguished Service Award—the highest honor conferred by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP)--at the group’s national convention in Indiana in September.

“This is a great award and one that Andy has earned over many years of service to Extension and the communities of Wisconsin,” says Tom Blewett, director of Extension’s Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development program.

Greg Wise, director of the Extension Center for Community and Economic Development where Lewis is now based, believes that Lewis has had a significant impact on many Wisconsin community leaders and their resulting successes. “His prolific applied research agenda has been most impressive. I’m certain his work has had a far greater impact in communities across the nation and internationally than we will ever truly know,” he says.

So what’s next for Lewis? Currently, he’s compiling data about the numbers of foreclosures in the state with the goal of identifying troubled areas that could be targeted for help. As he’s done throughout his career, Lewis will be supplying information that makes a positive difference for Wisconsin communities.