News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Representatives of Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and the City of Sisters were to conduct a second round of interviews this week of candidates for the position of Sisters Economic Development Manager.
The position will be under the auspices of EDCO, with the city committing $30,000 to fund the position. The manager will work out of Sisters City Hall.
A first round of interviews did not produce a successful candidate, City Manager Andrew Gorayeb told the city council in a workshop session on Thursday morning. He said there were several candidates for the current round of interviews.
The councilors discussed expectations for the position. Katherine Childress expressed the hope that résumés include business development experience and Gorayeb assured her that they do.
The council was united in a desire to see a proactive manager.
"What we don't want to do is have somebody sitting in that office waiting for the phone to ring," said Mayor Brad Boyd.
Childress said that the manager should produce "concrete plans of action for how (the manager is) going to go after this every day."
"Let's see a plan for the airport," she said, referring to the opportunities that are expected to arise to attract businesses with the annexation of an improved Sisters Eagle Airport.
Gorayeb said he wants the economic development manager to reach out to second-homeowners in Sisters Country, many of whom are business owners who might be interested in relocating or creating satellites for their business in a community in which they are putting down roots.
"These are people who are already connected to Sisters as a community," he said. "I think they're pre-qualified."
Gorayeb has expressed the desire to see a broad-based approach, rather than attempting to pick off one or two large businesses.
Clarity on the approach is important to the council as well.
"This person is going to be selling Sisters," Childress noted, "but we have to know who we are going to sell it to."
Childress also emphasized that the economic development manager can't be a business start-up coach for people who are trying to learn how to establish a business. Part-time economic development managers Mac Hay and Patty Cordoni both experienced demand for such services, which are really not in the portfolio of the position.
"I hope the person doesn't get distracted by that," Childress said.
Both Mayor Boyd and Councilor Wendy Holzman noted that there are other resources in Central Oregon, including Central Oregon Community College, that can fill those needs.
Gorayeb expressed confidence that a new economic development manager can be in place by the end of September.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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