New Discover Burien director says town is hidden gem

He only started his job on Nov. 1, but Steve Gilbert glows with optimism at the prospect of working in Burien.

The self-proclaimed optimist was hired as the new executive director for Discover Burien, an organization that works with the city of Burien, the local chamber and local businesses on issues concerning the local economy and business environment.

Discover Burien is in a small suite on Southwest 150th Street, equipped with a copy machine, a few tables, a cabinet and not much else.

Gilbert normally answers his own phone. Occasionally, volunteers come in to assist with administrative duties.

His main job is at the consulting firm, the Northwest Business Intelligence Group. Gilbert calls himself a "construction brat." His father was heavily involved in construction projects that moved Gilbert's family around the country during his childhood.

Gilbert has lived in Connecticut, North Dakota, Texas, Alaska and Ohio, but when he came to Washington, things were different.

"I absolutely fell in love with Puget Sound," he said. He first settled in the Western Washington area in the mid 1980s, attending the Evergreen State College in Olympia, where he graduated with a business and marketing degree.

From there, his background has spanned fields such as economic development, real estate brokerage and even running his own small business in the form of a wholesale pastry shop in Redmond in the early 1990s.

Even though Gilbert's position with Discover Burien is only on a part time basis, he still gushes as much enthusiasm as one would expect for a full time position.

"Discover Burien plays a very critical part...in making sure everybody has the same vision (in moving the city forward)," he said.

After seeing what Burien has to offer when he started his job, Gilbert has nothing but praise for the small town.

"The more I see and feel and touch and talk, the more I love it," he said. "It's a hidden gem (and) a tremendous melting pot. It's phenomenal," he said.

He said that the Discover Burien's role was to be a "catalyst" between groups who held a stake in Burien's progress.

This is something he has had past experience.

He worked with the Bellevue Economic Partnership, an organization that works "to recruit, retain and welcome vital businesses to Bellevue," according to its Web site.

During his time there, the owner of the Bellevue Harley-Davidson dealership directed by their corporate office to expand. This would involve buying and settling onto a new property.

"Their commercial real estate broker called me," Gilbert said. From there, Gilbert and the BEP went to the Bellevue City Council. He said that they told the council that the business did $23 million a year and losing it from Bellevue would be a huge blow.

After hearing the presentation, city council members said they would offer their help in finding a way for the Harley-Davidson dealership to stay in Bellevue.

"The owner, the commercial real estate broker, the city code people, the economic manager - we got them all in one room," Gilbert said.

Over a period of roughly 45 days that were fraught with difficulty - it had even been concluded at one point that nothing could be done - the Harley-Davidson dealership eventually did find a new property.

"It took an organization like BEP that wasn't the city and wasn't private, to act as a catalyst," Gilbert said.

He is aware of some challenges he might face in Burien, such as the development of Town Square and other problems that have come up as a result of the nation's economic recession.

But he refuses to drown in pessimism over them and would rather see the glass as half full.

He said the attitude in Burien is to start off with a "clean slate."

"This gives you an opportunity to pause and stand up from the huddle," he said. "There are a tremendous number of opportunities out there and the biggest challenge is getting everyone to understand the potential."