Cordoni steps aside as economic manager

Patty Cordoni has terminated her contract with the City of Sisters as of March 1. In a letter to City Manager Eileen Stein and Mayor Brad Boyd giving 30 days notice, Cordoni said she plans to remain in Sisters and focus on her real estate business.

The city is transitioning the position to the supervision of Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO). Cordoni thinks that's a good move, though she will not throw her hat into the ring for the position.

"With a new economic development manager, committed funding, and EDCO direction, there will be more opportunities for growth and living-wage jobs in Sisters. EDCO will take this position to the next level and continue to bring focus to Sisters for entrepreneurs and traded-sector business," she wrote in her letter.

Cordoni emphasized that her decision not to pursue the EDCO position is strictly a career choice. She decided she needed to focus all her energies on a real estate career she has been building for 10 years, in a climate that requires full attention.

"I am busier the first of this year than I have been in maybe the last three-four years," she said. "I had to make a career decision."

Cordoni believes a great deal of groundwork has been laid since Lon Kellstrom and others founded SBART (Sisters Business Attraction and Retention Team) five years ago on a volunteer basis.

"We have visibility at the state level, recognition from U.S. governing officials, a growing presence within Central Oregon, and a network of individuals within our community who are willing to volunteer to support economic development activities," Cordoni noted.

She believes that the support infrastructure of EDCO will enable a new economic development manager to have success in landing businesses for Sisters.

"It will evolve into a different position than it is now," she said.

She noted that EDCO is currently developing a region-wide marketing program geared toward Silicon Valley companies. Sisters will be part of that program under the new structure.

One important aspect of Cordoni's work has been in educating and orienting potential small-business owners with the processes and pitfalls that confront someone looking to open a shop or other business in town. It is not clear how that "hand-holding" aspect of the position will be addressed as the position transitions.

Another potential challenge for the new position depends on where the economic development manager lives.

"If we hire someone who is not from Sisters, that person is going to have to learn about our community," she said.

Sisters may be a small town, but it has idiosyncrasies, both socially and economically. Cordoni said she would make herself available to make introductions and to help a new economic development manager to get oriented.

Patty Cordoni has terminated her contract with the City of Sisters as of March 1. In a letter to City Manager Eileen Stein and Mayor Brad Boyd giving 30 days notice, Cordoni said she plans to remain in Sisters and focus on her real estate business.

The city is transitioning the position to the supervision of Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO). Cordoni thinks that's a good move, though she will not throw her hat into the ring for the position.

"With a new economic development manager, committed funding, and EDCO direction, there will be more opportunities for growth and living-wage jobs in Sisters. EDCO will take this position to the next level and continue to bring focus to Sisters for entrepreneurs and traded-sector business," she wrote in her letter.

Cordoni emphasized that her decision not to pursue the EDCO position is strictly a career choice. She decided she needed to focus all her energies on a real estate career she has been building for 10 years, in a climate that requires full attention.

"I am busier the first of this year than I have been in maybe the last three-four years," she said. "I had to make a career decision."

Cordoni believes a great deal of groundwork has been laid since Lon Kellstrom and others founded SBART (Sisters Business Attraction and Retention Team) five years ago on a volunteer basis.

"We have visibility at the state level, recognition from U.S. governing officials, a growing presence within Central Oregon, and a network of individuals within our community who are willing to volunteer to support economic development activities," Cordoni noted.

She believes that the support infrastructure of EDCO will enable a new economic development manager to have success in landing businesses for Sisters.

"It will evolve into a different position than it is now," she said.

She noted that EDCO is currently developing a region-wide marketing program geared toward Silicon Valley companies. Sisters will be part of that program under the new structure.

One important aspect of Cordoni's work has been in educating and orienting potential small-business owners with the processes and pitfalls that confront someone looking to open a shop or other business in town. It is not clear how that "hand-holding" aspect of the position will be addressed as the position transitions.

Another potential challenge for the new position depends on where the economic development manager lives.

"If we hire someone who is not from Sisters, that person is going to have to learn about our community," she said.

Sisters may be a small town, but it has idiosyncrasies, both socially and economically. Cordoni said she would make herself available to make introductions and to help a new economic development manager to get oriented.