Business people spend their lives mastering the art of assessing risk and reward.

So we posed this question to members of the 2015 Vision Group:

“What are the risks or consequences to Lincoln if it doesn’t pursue the group’s recommendations or something like them?”  

Kent Seacrest, local development attorney:

“If the trend is not reversed, Lincoln will become a graying community.

“Lincoln does a great job of graduating close to 90 percent of high school students. The vast majority are attending UNL, Wesleyan and other nearby colleges. Where we fall short is these bright young future leaders and entrepreneurs are leaving our community, not creating future wealth and prosperity here. We risk continuing that trend.”

Tom Henning, president and chief executive officer, Security Assurity Group of insurance companies:

“I selfishly think of this: I have two daughters, one at UNL and one in junior high.

“How do we create an environment where they stay here?  … We’ve got to provide them, No. 1, good jobs, and give them entertainment venues and an environment they’re going to want to be in.

“We can try to get some of these things done. If we don’t get them done, Lincoln will go on. If we don’t, we won’t be all we could be.”

Wendy Birdsall, president, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce:

“Mediocrity. Talking from my experience with the chamber and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, we have numerous events, conventions, Nebraska high school activities events (whose sponsors) have told us our facilities are either not adequate or not big enough.

“We are losing Nebraska state association business to Iowa. There will be more to come.

“We have a huge locally owned company that has their meeting here every year, and they are outgrowing lincoln.

Brad Korell, chief financial officer, Olsson Associates:

“In the near term, probably not great (consequences). In the longer term, I think it would be an opportunity lost. To be real honest, Lincoln’s still a great place to live, a great place to raise families. It’s working for people my age. I don’t think Lincoln is working for people who are young, and have their future ahead of them.”

Tom Smith, CEO, Smith Hayes, Financial:  

“There is a risk, obviously. Our credibility is on the line, the city’s is, too.

“In this case, the biggest way in which we lose if this doesn’t happen, we’ll continue to lose our best and brightest high school and college students.”

Larry Arth, chairman, Unifi  Mutual  Holding Co, which owns Ameritas Life and other insurers:

“Because of all the potential projects sitting out there — Antelope Valley, the convention center, State Fair, the challenges facing the university — it seemed like a good opportunity, because all these are in the discussion phase, to take a step back.

“The downside risk is to do these things piecemeal and not get the maximum benefit out of them for the community. You can’t put a number on that. It’s just an opportunity clearly presenting itself to really do some dreaming as to what might be.”

Tonn Ostergard, CEO, Crete Carrier Corp.:

“I don’t want to say: ‘Do this or else,’ and imply dire consequences. I think, personally,  Lincoln could continue to be left behind and not participate in some of the opportunities that continue to manifest themselves. I think we’re at risk of continuing to lose bits and pieces of the university.

“We don’t want to lose the personality I think everybody wants to protect in our community. But we’re either growing or shrinking. I’m concerned we’re going to slide backward ever so slightly, then in 10 years, you wake up and you’re way behind.”

Marc LeBaron, chairman and CEO, Lincoln Plating:

“I think the consequences of not following through is what happens when a community loses its vibrancy and its ability to attract and retain young people.

“I think that’s the risk: We become the kind of community that just isn’t desirable. We have so many great things going we don’t want to lose that.”