(Posted March 17,
2011 06:43 am))
Wanted in Columbia County - A real economic
development dir job description
After reviewing the Director - Economic Development
job description from Columbia County's County Manager,
Dale Williams, I'm appalled.
After watching the economic underdevelopment game in
Columbia County for the past eleven years, I
suspect that this job description is primarily the
handy work IDA (EDA) Executive Director, Jim Poole, who
has been grossly inadequate in growing economic
development in Columbia County for over eighteen years.
On Thursday, March 10, 2011, Mr. Poole gave a half
hour radio interview on the Jet, 96.5 on the dial. He
stated that 400 jobs have been created within the past 6
years. This is an unacceptable return on investment.
The job description presented by the County Manager
is vague and amateurish. It misses important points that
must be mandated to avoid an instant replay of the
current amateur economic development we have had, fully
funded by the working families of Columbia County, for
the past 18 years.
These are my minimum recommendations for any
individual who wishes to be considered for the job of
Columbia County's Director of Economic Development:
- A minimum of a Masters Degree in Business (MBA)
from an accredited college or university.
.
- A minimum of five (5) years hands on experience
as a Manager or Director of Economic Development
with tractable and substantiated ROI (Return On
Investment).
.
- Hands on experience in preparing a five
year marketing plan and the ability to review and
amend such a plan semi-annulally to stay current
with changing trends and economy, along with the
ability analyze statistics provided by the State or
other entities. The candidate must provide samples
of Marketing Plans prepared to substantiate
experience and proficiency.
.
- Hands on experience in preparing a detailed
advertising plan and public relations plan,
inclusive of what and where advertising is placed,
along with a spread sheet of such costs to coincide
with the plan. Samples of advertising and or public
relations campaigns developed and implemented to
substantiate experience and proficiency.
.
- The ability to communicate in an articulate
manner both written and oral.
.
- Provide samples of reports, power points, e
mails, professional communications, etc., to
substantiate the candidate's computer skills and the
ability to prepare such documents using Microsoft
Office Suite.
.
- Document the ability to update information on
the existing web-site in real time.
.
- At the barest minimum the successful candidate
must be offered a salary equal to the current
Executive Director.
If the County Commission does not implement the above
specific points into the job Description, Columbia
County will end up with more of the same.
Columbia County does not need to repeat the mistakes
of the past 18 years and create a job which requires on
the job training.
Eighteen years ago there were many qualified
applicants for the IDA slot, whose resumes were
outstanding and showed high skill levels for the time.
The only resume which has been impossible to obtain is
that of the current Executive Director, Jim Poole. The
reason - I can only suspect that Mr. Poole was the least
qualified.
If Columbia County is really serious about economic
development, incorporating the above suggestions and
then hiring the best that Columbia County's money can
buy would be a good way to prove it.
Commentary