Officials on track to hire New OEDC director

Jul 27, 2010 — Ottumwa Courier

Pat Shaver

Jul. 27, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- OTTUMWA -- Officials are one step closer to hiring an Ottumwa Economic Development Corporation executive director.

The deadline to apply for the position was Friday, July 23, said City Administrator Joe Helfenberger, who also sits on the OEDC board. Resumes are being compiled and looked over, and Helfenberger said the search committee plans to narrow it down to about five candidates to bring in for interviews.

"We'll be selecting candidates for interviews and then looking to finish this process up over the next month at the latest," Helfenberger said.

In May OEDC announced that Roger Jones, the director at the time, was retiring. He finished his duties on June 15 and is serving as a consultant until his retirement becomes effective on Nov. 30.

Cindy Woodbury, director of Ottumwa's Main Street program, is acting as interim director. She will continue in the position until someone is hired, but has said she is not interested in being considered for the job full time.

"I'm working longer hours, but everything that needs to get done is happening. It was a situation where economic development is what I do for downtown. I already know a lot of information from the Main Street district, it's just expanding it out," Woodbury said.

Helfenberger said since Woodbury is acting as interim director they were able to take their time in the hiring process.

"I think it's best to take our time and get the right person for the position," Helfenberger said.

Woodbury called the process thus far, "a fairly quick turnaround," and she is not worried about the pace moving forward.

"This is really a little over a month to get applications. I would imagine within another month at the longest, they would have interviewed and selected someone," Woodbury said.

The opening was advertised in the Courier, the Des Moines Register and several professional economic development publications. Helfenberger said having a knowledge of local issues is a plus, but the search committee will consider all qualifications.

"The person needs some experience in dealing with existing companies. We expect them to do a lot of their work with existing companies as well as some outside recruitment of anchor retail and industry," he said.

Basic qualifications listed in the job posting include a bachelor's degree in public or business administration or related field and more than three years of demonstrated work accomplishments in economic development. A master's degree and CEcD designation by the International Economic Development Council was listed as a plus.

"Demonstrated experience and knowledge of finance, budgeting, marketing, retention, expansion, recruitment and analytical and statistical skills are necessary," according to the job post.

A search committee containing members of the OEDC board will interview, select a candidate and recommend the hiring to the full board.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0395-47361378