THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100381
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
HELP WANTED: Community poised for greatness seeking special, yet aggressive, individual for economic development director.
Sound ambitious? It should.
Nothing's too good for the jewel of the mid-Atlantic, as Norfolk officials sometimes call their city.
Norfolk launched a national search for an economic development director this week. In Monday's Wall Street Journal, the city ran an ad in ``The Mart,'' a section for international, national and regional promotions.
It read: ``The city of Norfolk, Virginia, a dynamic Hampton Roads community poised for greatness, seeks that special individual who can aggressively advance, implement and direct the multidimensional strategies required to ensure the city's continued economic development success.''
Robert B. Smithwick, the director who had last occupied the position full time, stepped down on May 1 to become special assistant to the city manager. It was learned later that City Manager James B. Oliver reassigned him after several women accused Smithwick of sexual harassment.
Smithwick later announced his retirement from city government, scheduled to occur Aug. 1.
Judy Begland, formerly deputy development director, is acting as interim director of the department and interim executive director of the Industrial Development Authority.
However, the city wanted to open the search for a successor to Smithwick nationally.
``We wanted to do the best for our citizens so we're opening that job line,'' said Charles Fearing, Norfolk director of human resources.
Atlanta-based Mercer Group Inc., an executive search firm that has worked with the city, may be called in as a consultant, but it is not formally spearheading the search, Fearing said.
Some members of the local economic development community expressed surprise that the city wasn't enlisting the help of a ``headhunter,'' or an executive recruiter, to oversee the entire operation.
Executive search firms have been used to fill vacancies for the president of Forward Hampton Roads (Hans Gant) and the economic development director of Virginia Beach (Don Maxwell), as well as other positions.
Norfolk is seeking a candidate with at least 15 years experience in economic development or in the private sector. It will pay a salary up to $91,260, depending on the candidate's background.
Based on past experience with these types of high-level positions, Fearing expects more than 300 applicants. And a lot of interest.
``The public sector is becoming a good second career, especially with corporate downsizing,'' Fearing said. ``We expect many people who are very qualified who will become known to the search firm or come forth because of the ad.''
City officials probably won't start reviewing applications until mid-August, Fearing said. by CNB