Announcements

July 2010, David Powell, former Vice President, Corporate & Government Affairs of NetJets Inc. in Columbus, Oh has accepted the position of President and CEO for the Piedmont Triad Partnership, Greensboro, NC. The Piedmont Triad is a dynamic region of more than 1.5 million residents and a labor force of approximately 820,000 workers. Geographically, it is located in the northern Piedmont section of North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and North Carolina’s Atlantic coast. The region is comprised of twelve central North Carolina counties: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin. The largest cities in the region are Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem.

July 2010, James N. Hizer, former President and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Bowling Green, KY has accepted the position of President and CEO for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Pensacola, FL. For more than 116 years the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has served as an integral part of what makes Escambia County a great place to work and live. More than 30 Chamber employees work for the betterment of the Pensacola region and its 1202 member organization. The Chamber’s mission is to be a catalyst for change in the pursuit of excellence for the Pensacola Bay Area business community, programs and services are created to specifically provide a positive result that translates directly to the Chamber’s members and community. The Chamber manages contracts for both economic development and tourism promotion for the county. To support the drive for continued economic growth, the Chamber retained NCDS to initiate a five-year capital campaign. The new investment will bring more public sector support to the Chamber and allow the Chamber to fund the new focus on economic development activities; job creation, capital investment and recruitment.

June, 2010 Mike Fitzgerald, former President and CEO of Enterprise Honolulu, Inc. has accepted the position of President and CEO of the Southeast Business Partnership in South Metro Denver CO. The SEBP is an organization of government and business leaders committed to the economic vitality and sustainability of the South Metro Denver region. This goal is achieved through a comprehensive strategy focused on business retention, expansion and attraction; active advocacy of transportation, and water infrastructure improvement; direct, proactive support for education and workforce development; and encouragement of business-friendly public policy. SEBP represents businesses in Douglas County, Arapahoe County and south Denver County.

May, 2010 Robert Reynolds, former Executive Director of the Development Authority of Douglas County has accepted the position of CEO for the newly formed Washington County Economic Development Council in Johnson City, TN. The Washington County Economic Development Council (WCEDC) is the culmination of years of consideration on how to best coordinate the individual effort of groups such as the Economic Development Board, Johnson City Development Authority, Public Building Authority, ETSU Innovation Lab (incubator), and the Chamber of Commerce. The WCEDC is a start-up umbrella economic development organization established to lead and bring together the different economic development organizations into one shared effort.

April, 2010 Brian Walters, former President of the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation has accepted the position of Executive Vice President for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission in Orlando, FL. The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) is recognized among the top economic development groups. This commission recruits and serves businesses in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando. With the support of the community partners, the EDC, since its inception in 1977, has successfully assisted hundreds of companies relocate, expand and grow in Metro Orlando. This has led to the creation of more than 158,000 jobs; over $8.8 billion in capital investment; and almost 75 million square feet of office and industrial space leased or constructed. More than 2,000 film and television production projects have been filmed there during the past 10 years.

February, 2010 Brandon Talbert, former Manager, Marketing and Client Services for the Regional Alliance for Economic Development in Kingsport, TN has accepted the position of Director, Business Recruitment for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. The NEIRP supports the ten-county region of northeast Indiana by partnering with local northeast Indiana economic development organizations to discover and develop opportunities for new business investment and growth in northeast Indiana. The Partnership is funded in their regional economic development efforts by private investors, local foundations, and public sector partners who understand the value of the services they provide. It is only through the generous commitments of these investors that their team is able to provide economic development support that their counties need and the vital information site selectors are seeking.

January, 2010 David E. Wood, has accepted the position of President & CEO for the Bartlesville Development Corporation. The Bartlesville Development Corporation is to further the economic development of Bartlesville and its environs, by planning, implementing, promoting, assisting and enhancing business development and convention and visitor development activities and efforts. The corporation is charged with maintaining existing jobs, encouraging the expansion of existing employers, attracting new employers and increasing investment in the community.

September, 2009 Thomas E. Cooley, has accepted the position of President & CEO the newly formed Radius Indiana. Mr. Cooley has over 30 years experience with city, county, multi-county organizations and private Fortune 500 companies. Radius Indiana is a regional economic development organization born out of Indiana State legislation enacted when the 11th riverboat license was moved from Patoka Lake to French Lick, Indiana. The legislation provides that 25% of the French Lick casino admission tax be sent to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) expressly for regional economic development in Orange, Crawford, Dubois, Lawrence, Martin, Daviess, Greene and Washington counties. This organization is also in formal partnership with IEDC and NSWC Crane, and its board leadership includes several prominent members of the Region’s business community. Through this arrangement, South Central Indiana will receive financial support, operate a creative incentive program, and have joint state-local assistance otherwise unavailable. With operating funding in hand, Radius Indiana can now commence the process of growing South Central Indiana’s economy and tax base.

August, 2009 Frank B. Gray, former Vice President of Business Development for the Adams County Economic Development has accepted the position of President & CEO for the Castle Rock Economic Development Council. As the former Vice President of Business Development with Adams County (CO) Economic Development, Frank was responsible for all aspects of the Business Retention Program, Manufacturing Taskforce, Enterprise Zone Administration, Business Attraction, and Regional Economic Gardening program. CREDCO is a 501C6 non-profit public/private corporation that works in close cooperation with the area’s many government and non-profit entities by attracting new business and assisting existing businesses with expansion.

June, 2009 Larry Henson, former Business Intelligence Officer for the Tampa Bay Partnership has accepted the position of Director of Business Intelligence for the Louisiana Economic Development in Baton Rouge, LA. LED is charged with executing the most far-reaching objective of any Louisiana state government agency: creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy. To achieve this objective, LED provides aggressive leadership in two broad areas of activity: product development and business development.

May, 2009 Andis Udris, former President and CEO for Union Station Kansas City Inc. has accepted the position of President for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance located in Fort, Wayne, IN. The Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance is an organization that furthers the base employment of Allen County. It is supported by Allen County, the City of Fort Wayne, the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. The Alliance is also an advocate for the entire community that is comprised of foundations, organizations, companies and individuals.

May, 2009 Eric Basinger, former Executive Director for Elmore County Economic Development Authority in Wetumpka, AL has accepted the position of Executive Director of Economic Development for the Manatee Economic Development Council located in Bradenton, FL. The Economic Development Council, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, is the lead organization in Manatee County responsible for attracting and retaining "value-added" business within the community. Through a collaborative effort between "value-added" business, education, and workforce-related agencies, the EDC is able to promote linkages of resources and implementation of innovative workforce programs designed to help local employers maintain a viable, skilled workforce.

March, 2009 Robert Rohrlack, Jr., former Senior Vice President of Business Retention and Recruitment of Enterprise Florida, Inc. has accepted the position of President and CEO of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The Greater Tampa Chamber is a not-for-profit business membership organization with a mission is to serve its members and enhance the community by building business success. Through strong volunteer leadership and unique partnership with cities, counties and members, the Chamber has had a tremendous impact on the Tampa business community for more than 120 years. The Tampa Chamber is an accredited organization recognized by business, government, education and community leaders.

March, 2009 Melissa Dailey, former Director of Transportation and Planning for Downtown Fort Worth Inc in Fort Worth, TX has accepted the position of CEO for the newly formed Downtown Amarillo Inc (DAI) in Amarillo, TX. The DAI will provide oversight of various disciplines (finance, real estate, design, engineering, parking, legal, etc.) relating to Downtown real estate initiatives and projects that include those dealing with the Tax Increment Financing Project. The organization works closely with Center City of Amarillo, Inc., who is dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Amarillo, by focusing community, social, recreational and economic interests in a historic core area and the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.

For immediate release: January 23, 2009
JORGENSON CONSULTING OPENS COLORADO OFFICE
Jorgenson Consulting Inc., a premier Executive Search firm specializing in Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Organizations has opened its first office in the western region of the United States.