By Paige Gurgainers

Monday evening marked a new beginning for Minden as the city council voted to add Sarah Overall to the team. She is joining in the combined position of Executive Director of Economic Development and the Main Street Commission.  

Many have described Overall in various adjectives including but not limited to… powerhouse, organized, visionary, talented, creative, involved, a proven leader, go-getter and a dreamer. She is always on the move, planning an event (which makes sense because she owns an event planning business) and most of the time she is on to the next before she is finished with the first. Overall will be bringing those skills to her new position. She is never still because when “things” are still, they become stagnant.  

“The worst thing we can do is stay stagnant,” said Overall. “I am not one to do things just because they have always been done that way. I have worked in healthcare for 15 years and it is always evolving and becoming better than it was yesterday because of technology and research.” 

An important new duty for Overall will be to “make it easy” for those new investors and business owners that would like to make Minden home. “We do need to get a few things ready and in order behind the scenes before we can start attracting big business to invest here,” she said. “The mayor and council can attest to that.” 

But Overall is not just interested in recruiting new businesses, she wants to do the work required to get them to STAY here.  

“I will be listening ears at first so I can understand more about how our city works and what kind of workforce/businesses we can support,” she continued. “I want to be very strategic about how we grow here. I don’t want to see businesses investing here and then leave in 5-10 years. I want to see more longevity plans that will have lasting effects for many years to come.” 

Overall is excited to “get her feet wet” before narrowing down and setting any 3-month, 6-month or 1-year goals. “But trust me there will be several at each interval and I will be as transparent with the city of Minden as I can be on projects and plans.” 

Beyond drawing in new business, Overall is determined to be more of a resource with current business owners, as well. Like she mentioned before, it’s not just about getting new investors, it is also an extended goal in keeping the businesses that have already taken that plunge in Minden.  

The overall (no pun intended) goal that Overall has is to “spark conversations” that will lead to bigger things happening in Minden.  

“The more we talk about Minden and its fine qualities, the more likely we are to see those conversations turning into connections, which will lead to actions and those actions will lead to growth,” she said. “Whether to just come eat, play and shop on the weekends or make it a permanent home, I want to sell this town that I choose to make my home to others, too.” 

The current city council arguably has the youngest combined age of any council before and has been referred to as the “dream team” continually adding fresh perspective with hires such as Overall and that is why she will be “calling on her generation to step up.”

“Change isn’t just going to happen with just the current administration and myself in the realm. It’s going to take everyone to play apart,” she said. “Minden has embraced some of the nontraditional and traditional events I have helped create for the community. I know the citizens will embrace the change that will be coming soon.”

Overall welcomes community involvement and input. She said, “If you feel the desire to get involved more with your community, please don’t hesitate to reach out. There is a place for everyone that wants to be a part of this growth.”

Her first official day will be March 17.