NCLM Volume 71, Issue 1, 2021

24 SOUTHERN CITY QUARTER 1 2021 departure of Philip Morris in 2009 took more than 1,000 additional jobs. “We had to start over again,” Dusch said. Then came the rebound. Over the past decade, it can be seen in the population numbers. Since 2010, Concord has grown more than 20 percent, and per estimates of the 2020 Census, will eclipse 100,000 residents once the count is official. It’s in this environment that Dusch oper- ates, always with a sense of unbreakable optimism. It’s an attitude that comes through in his stories and his actions, and he admits it’s been a source of teasing for him too, mostly from his longtime business partner. “He used to ride me all the time, because I'd beat my head against the wall until the wall broke,” Dusch said. When talking about flying, he says his favorite part is the challenge of it. When discussing his 5 am wake up calls to go run, every day for 40 consecutive years, he speaks only of the joy it brings him. It makes him a natural leader for Con- cord. The swift growth and the issues that arrive alongside it—these are neither a deterrent nor a drain on the mayor. They are issues because they are opportunities. And through his travels, he’s seen towns all over the world and has observed all of them from a perspective of possibil- ity. What are they doing here that can be implemented back home? “You constantly compare,” Dusch says. He recalls seeing a 20-mile multimodal path in Sioux Falls, South Dakota—how it served as such a great connector for the town—and has worked hard to bring a similar asset to Concord. On a different trip, he observed different types of parks, and brought the idea back home. Mostly, however, his experience in other places matches his experience in Concord. “That’s the nice part. I can see a lot of things going on in many communities around the country, that we’re doing the same thing.” With the current challenges, he employs a team approach. The key issue is manag- ing growth, and the solution often takes the form of infrastructure. “We really have to work hard with NCDOT and other organizations to keep the transportation able to support this,” Dusch said. “That’s one of the hardest things.” Towards that end, Concord and Dusch work diligently S ince 2010, Concord has grown more than 20 percent, and per estimates of the 2020 Census, will eclipse 100,000 residents once the count is official. T he membership of our council is very broad in background. Some are from different parts of the country, some are from the area, and we all work with the common goal of, ‘What is best for Concord?’” The Concord Traveler continued from page 23 “