A revolution is brewing

Maybe the planning was pure genius. Maybe they just didn’t know any better.

Whatever the stimulus, a group of young entrepreneurs heading up local tech companies began brainstorming in a way they know best: after hours over cold beer. When their planning and work reach fruition, though, it will be North Idaho’s competitors who wake up with an economic hangover.

Getting to know young guns like Nick Smoot, Cody Peterson and Ryan Arnold is like jumping in a cool, invigorating pond after months of muggy weather. CEOs of the companies they created, these and other outstanding citizens of both corporate and community cultures are blazing new trails that could lead to generations of jobs for your children and their children.

With mentoring from veteran entrepreneurs and tech specialists like Doug Schust of Hagadone Digital and Barb and Marty Mueller of IMAX fame as well as the new nonprofit called Gizmo-CDA, the young leaders envision a burgeoning local economy. It will not supplant manufacturing, which has strong roots in the area; nor is it likely to do anything but augment the region’s healthy tourism trade.

Smoot, Peterson, Arnold & Co. are pooling the best tech brains locally and even internationally to put Coeur d’Alene at the forefront of the global robotics revolution. Other tech startups, related to robotics or not, are likely to join the fun. Result: High tech companies every community dreams about either launching here or moving here.

The August issue of North Idaho Business Journal, which will be inserted in The Press on July 28 and be distributed elsewhere throughout the region, will put a spotlight on the efforts of these young stars, and others. In the meantime, we encourage the community at large to participate in important discussions that ultimately will set the stage for strong, enriching technology-sector growth.

Many of us cringe at the thought of robots on the rise, spurred by early science fiction writers and movies like “I, Robot” and the Terminator series. Getting past the fear takes a little internal fortitude and more education. We ask that you open your mind to the possibilities without forsaking common sense and ethics.

In our view, the greatest danger to the robotics movement and other forward-thinking local initiatives is entangling them in bureaucratic webs. Vigorous community discussion and debate is imperative. Barriers built on misunderstanding or more traditional ways of doing things are not.

We strongly encourage citizens to be part of this educational and economic revolution. Take advantage of numerous upcoming public opportunities to learn what’s happening and, by all means, ask questions — the tougher, the better.

And if none of this is “your thing,” that’s perfectly OK. Simply get out of the way or hop on for an exciting ride.