Dan Voelpel Leaving the TNT
Dan Voelpel, the News Tribune’s regular business columnist, is leaving the TNT to become the economic development director for the City of Puyallup. Dan has been the reporter that we most frequently see on the streets, and in the meetings, that we at Exit133 find so interesting. His writing has also sparked many of the debates that have occurred on this site over the years. His columns will be missed by many.
Dan – good luck in your new role.
Link to The News Tribune
Filed under: General
22 comments
T tacoma1 May 29, 2009
This is truly sad for Tacoma……………and the TNT. I will miss reading his columns.
N NSHDscott May 29, 2009
Nooooo…
E EK May 29, 2009
His column is BY FAR the best in the Tribune. That’s a big loss.
I think I’m done shelling out 75 cents to read the paper at lunch.
B broadweezy May 29, 2009
Damn, another one bites the dust. Ok well as long as Rob Carson doesn’t sticks around, the best police blotter reporter ever!
A Anne May 29, 2009
Dan’s was about the only thing worth reading in the Sunday business section! I’ll miss the column but at least he’ll be a little closer to home.
D dolly varden May 29, 2009
Voelpel had some very good columns (along with some snoozers), but he’s not irreplaceable. The key is that the TNT replace him — and with somebody who’s as good a reporter as Voelpel, as devoted to the community, and maybe more intererested in the role progressive urban planning and environmental policies can play in making Tacoma a better place.
D dave May 29, 2009
Great move Puyallup! You have now become the Mickey Mouse operation of Pierce County. I heard Gary Probst is looking for work, maybe he can be your Chief of Police. While you’re at it John McGrath might be a perfect fit for City Planner. Honestly, this is pathetic, Voelpel has no experience! Thank goodness T-Town is not this miss guided.
N NSHDscott May 29, 2009
TNT, hurry up and handcuff Peter Callaghan to his desk before some other city comes calling!
S snoopy May 29, 2009
It will be interesting to see how Dan does at his position in Puyallup.
Puyallup will be very vulnerable economically with the decline of the American auto industry. Additionally, the council is becoming more divided and an anti-growth regime may take effect resulting from the increased building heights downtown, construction of apartments on farmland and massive hospital expansion.
E Ed Adams May 30, 2009
Actually I found him to be an insufferable booster… Probably a good fit for the gaseous discipline of “economic development”, which to me seems to involve taking no risk yourself, but taking credit for any ec. devp. that happens, no matter how tenuous your connection.
N NorthEndMom May 30, 2009
Thank God he is leaving! A business writer needs to be objective and knowledgable not acting solely as PR for local businesses.
M Maria May 30, 2009
I think Dan Voelpel is a good fit for this position. Along with writing his TNT column, he previously worked for Tacoma in the city communications department. And he’s got a Communications degree from PLU.
Economic development requires a lot of networking, PR and developing of brand messages. Dan’s focus on business news, and his time with the city, surely provided insight into business administration and strategy.
The challenge will be working with a city that has great history, lots of open space, huge agricultural resources, areas of industry—but has allowed suburban sprawl without adequate transportation and infrastructure. Now that subdivision development has slowed down, what’s next for Puyallup?
Good luck to Dan! I’ll miss his columns. He wrote well, and he dug up some interesting ore from the mine we call Tacoma.
F Free Photo Guy May 31, 2009
He’ll do well…hope we hear again from him somehow?
A arugula June 1, 2009
Before he leaves, I’d like some clarification on the Goddess of Commerce issue.
Like, what do you think of the <a href=“http://i.feedtacoma.com/Erik/goddess-commerce-statute-grace-tollefson/”>current proposal</a>?
Is that what you meant, Dan?
E EW June 2, 2009
I will greatly miss reading your column, Dan. Best of luck to you.
E Erik B. June 2, 2009
T tacmac June 6, 2009
Sorry to see you leave the Trib. Your “aggressive” reporting of the business world is invaluable to Tacaoma/PC. Puyallup is the winner. Thanks for your outstanding writing.
How about applying to be one of the TNT’s community Op Ed authors in your spare time?
Good luck to the TNT in finding a worthy replacement.
A altered Chords June 6, 2009
I heard that the City of Tacoma was offering millions in tax incentives to Dan in order to stay. The state is kicking in unclaimed lottery money as well. In addition, the city is financing a special rennovation of the Elks lodge. It will be renamed Voelpel Lodge. It will be Dan’s new home.
M Mofo from the Hood June 6, 2009
Do the Puyallup!
D Dan Voelpel June 11, 2009
Thanks, Derek, Whitney & The Regulars for using Exit 133 as an educational, inspirational and critical incubator of civic betterment.
The healthy debate you promote is priceless. I always appreciated your links to my Tacoma-centric columns to read how right and wrong I was.
As a Tacoma fan, I can guarantee I’ll still pop in to keep up with what’s on your minds.
Dan Voelpel
Former Business Columnist
The News Tribune
M Mofo from the Hood June 11, 2009
Mofo from the Hood
C/O Exit133.com
June 11, 2009
Mr. Dan Voelpel
Economic Development Director
City of Puyallup
Dear Mr. Voelpel:
Your appointment as Economic Development Director for the City of Puyallup starting June 15 recently came to my attention.
I would welcome the chance to discuss with you the possibility of working as an Economic Development Specialist apprentice in a full time or part time schedule. I don’t own a car but maybe the City of Puyallup has a surplus vehicle that I could use.
I think I would be an asset to Puyallup because people and all kinds of animals like me.
Sincerely,
Mofo from the Hood
A altered Chords June 11, 2009
Mofo – Yes people like you…but not all kinds of people. Bloggers are a certain “kind” of person. I think that your comments overall are not obsequious enough to engender an outpouring of support from bloggers.
Work on that and I’m sure you’ll have a future in Puyallup or maybe even Tillicum.