THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270519
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 49 lines
City Manager Myles E. Standish will announce today that Thomas A. O'Grady, director of development for Forward Hampton Roads, will become the city's economic development director on Oct. 15.
O'Grady, 39, replaces Thomas N. Waller, who had served in that position for 18 years. Waller, 65, resigned in July.
City officials conducted a national search to fill the position and interviewed 50 candidates.
Their search ended close to home.
``Our goal was to select a person who could very professionally lead our development activities into the next century,'' said Standish. ``I think we did a great job picking him.''
O'Grady, has been with Forward Hampton Roads, an economic development arm of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, for the past seven years. He's also worked as a leasing specialist for Read Commercial Properties in Virginia Beach and as an economic planner for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.
He holds a master's in business administration from Virginia Tech.
The new director said he plans to work closely with Standish in developing plans to spur industrial and commercial growth for the city. For years, city officials have expressed concern about the lack of industries and jobs moving here. O'Grady said he hopes to draw from his regional business experience to attract companies to Suffolk. ``You sell the city as part of the region. Companies do not know Suffolk apart from the other cities,'' explained O'Grady. ``But they will recognize an area of 1.5 million people, a good labor force and quality of life.''
While working with Forward Hampton Roads, O'Grady was responsible for helping attract businesses to the region. He was instrumental in helping the following companies locate to Suffolk:
Crown, Cork and Seal Co., which manufactures metal coffee cans, moved to Wilroy Industrial Park in 1990 in a 50,000-square-foot building. It then expanded to another 20,000-square-foot building and has provided 33 jobs.
Tom Wat Co., which distributes greeting cards, moved to northern Suffolk in 1995 and has provided 47 jobs.
FAG Bearings, which manufactures ball bearings, moved to a 100,000-square-foot building at the Lakeview Industrial Park in 1995. It has provided 25 jobs.
Hans J. Gant, president of Forward Hampton Roads, described O'Grady as aggressive and competitive.
``Mr. O'Grady is a great organizer. He keeps an eye on the target,'' Gant said. ``He will be missed.'' by CNB