Calvin Rinck was an international business grad with a background in advertising and public relations when he happened to pass the Foreign-Trade Zone sign at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. A foreign trade zone in Auburn? Intrigued, he did some research, tracking the sign back to the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council. He learned the story of the sign.

And, he learned, the LAEGC happened to need a new marketing director.

Name: Calvin Rinck

Age: 28

Town: Turner (purchased family property)

Single/relationship/married: Married with an 11-month-old daughter

Job: Marketing director (at the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council)

How would you describe what the LAEGC does? In a nutshell, we’re here to promote the Twin Cities, provide technical assistance and resources to area businesses, and provide low-interest loans to help local businesses reach that next level.

Your family owns Rinck Advertising. Is PR in your DNA? I suppose it’s guilty by association. Most everyone has seen or heard of the show “Madmen,” about advertising in New York. Well, my grandfather was an original mad man, having worked at Sperry & Hutchinson on Madison Avenue with S&H Green Stamps as one of their most famous clients. Now, my father and stepmother run an ad agency with over 20 employees, with clients all over the nation. Until I get a big win, I won’t be invited to pull up a chair to the big-boy table.

The LAEGC knows all when it comes to economic development in the Twin Cities. So. When are we getting an Olive Garden? I’d love an Olive Garden as much as the next person. But what you see recently are small entrepreneurs in this community making a go of it. Look at the Fire House Grille, 84 Court Pizza, Narals, Fuel, DaVinci’s, Marcos, Heidi’s, Fishbones, Marche, Niky’s, Mother India, Jasmine Cafe, She Doesn’t Like Guthries, Mac’s Grill, Thai Dish, Wei-Li, Taste of Three One Cafe and so many others. My wife and I love the small restaurants because the owners go above and beyond to give you the best, day in and day out. They are the ones that are making the difference in this community and that’s why we support them.

A little bird told me the “It’s Happening Here” campaign is going to get a fresh look. It’s not happening here anymore? It’s happening more than ever. We just need to open our eyes and find new ways of promoting the community. Look at all the businesses that have opened up in just the last few months. Then, go support them. Basically, show me any community that’s been immune to the global recession outside of Beverly Hills or Hollywood. We’d all love the next $100 million dollar business to walk through our doors, but statistically speaking, that’s probably a waste of your time. Small organizations are making a difference in L/A. If it’s two jobs here, one there, four here, so be it. To those four new employees, those jobs make a heck of a difference. Those small businesses, with support, turn into big things. Look at Bedard. With over 110 years in the community, they recently celebrated their nearly $4 million dollar investment and dozens of new jobs just a few weeks ago. That’s called a success story.

There’s a photo floating around the Web of you and your new wife jumping in a bouncy castle following your wedding ceremony. Best idea ever or don’t try this at home? Best investment ever. We had something like 30 kids at our wedding. Rather than make all of our friends leave their kids at home, we hired the staff at my little sister’s day care, provided arts and crafts, and bought a bounce house. The funny thing is, purchasing the bounce house was only a few dollars more expensive than renting it for the long weekend. Even better, we let Lewiston Auburn Magazine borrow it for last year’s Business to Business Trade Show as a promotional piece. It’s definitely earned its worth. Except for the Popsicle that melted in the corner. Not cool.