(Community Matters 195) Remembering Dr. Joe Schwarz: CEO Joe Sobieralski, Battle Creek Unlimited

This discussion is part of a series of interviews remembering former Battle Creek mayor, lawmaker and statesman, Dr. Joe Schwarz who passed away in May, 2026. 

Battle Creek Unlimited CEO, Joe Sobieralski, discusses what Dr. Joe Schwarz's leadership meant for Battle Creek Unlimited and what any community can borrow from his playbook. 

ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

Transcript

Special Edition Tribute Introduction

Richard Piet 0:02

You're listening to a special edition of Community Matters. Remembering Dr. Joe Schwarz. Next on the program, Joe Sobieralski, CEO at Battle Creek Unlimited.

Meeting Dr. Joe Schwartz’s Influence

Richard Piet 0:14

Let's talk about Joe Schwarz. Although he may not have been a lawmaker by the time you came around, his influence was still around. I assume he called you up a few times.

Joe Sobieralski 0:26

Oh, absolutely.

The Phone Calls Before Board Meetings

Joe Sobieralski 0:28

I had the pleasure of of knowing Dr. Schwarz for my entire tenure here at BCU, which has been over 10 years, and uh he was a great person to know. He did call. He usually called the night before board meeting or a day or two before the board meeting. Specifically, if he saw anything on the agenda that I'm gonna imitate him here a little bit. Do you need me to do anything? Do you need me to say anything? Damn it, let's just get it done. You know, that kind of stuff.

Richard Piet 0:58

That might have been a direct quote, I would imagine. That was

Why Battle Creek Unlimited Matters

Richard Piet 1:02

the whole point for him, right? How do we get it done? Yes.

Joe Sobieralski 1:05

And even though he called me, he was a person of reason, but he also knew that he could speak up and people would listen. So he I would utilize him in that capacity as well. I would call him and say, I'm gonna need you to do this or say this in a board meeting, uh, not to give away too much secret sauce, but you know, he loved that.

Richard Piet 1:25

Yeah, I was just gonna say the phone line goes both ways, so uh you probably could have availed yourself of some assistance from him at some point. Absolutely. What did he tell you he thought was just the best thing ever in terms of the work that BCU was doing?

Joe Sobieralski 1:42

I think it's the get it done mentality, and I think that's something that if you look historically at the organization, I've only had the pleasure of being here for 10 years, but it's been around for 50 plus years in the things that this organization and it ebbs and flows, and you know, it really started with the industrial park. When you take a step back and you see what was created in a community of this size, that industrial park, and the magnitude of the companies that are there and the economic impact that is provided to this community, it's really a rarity nationally. And I would say it was that Battle Creek roll up your sleeves ahead of the curve and just get it done mentality.

Richard Piet 2:26

I would say is there something from the Joe Schwarz playbook that any of us could put into play that would follow his path in terms of promoting Battle Creek, doing good for Battle Creek?

The Playbook For Federal Assets

Richard Piet 2:42

What do you take from that?

Joe Sobieralski 2:43

I mean, he was a champion for all of our federal assets here. He was responsible for getting the runway extended and championing that at the time to save the A-10s is what we're working on with the UAS and where we were at nationally on the defense side. That airport is going to be extremely important. So I guess to answer your question, rallying the troops and yeah, I guess having a little chip on your shoulder and saying, you know, damn it, we need this, and and just keep beating the drum. I I think that would be out of the Joe Schwarz playbook. All right.

Final Thanks And Sign Off

Richard Piet 3:23

Joe Sobieralski, Battle Creek Unlimited. Thank you.

Joe Sobieralski 3:25

Thank you, Richard.