By Susan Gibbs
Published: March 13, 2008

In a move meant to strengthen Greene’s financial base, the County has hired an associate project manager from a state agency to head an economic development department here.

Tony Williams, of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, becomes director of the first Department of Economic Development in Greene County.

Williams, 44, will be taking charge of “a newly created department of the (County’s) administration,” explains Matthew Woodson, vice-chairman of Greene’s Economic Development Authority Board of Directors. “Most localities use their economic development authorities strictly as bonding authorities. They do not typically have a director under administration.”

But Greene has been growing so much in recent years that “we need somebody out there every day in constant communication with the (County’s) administrator and board of supervisors,” Woodson continues.

Williams will report directly to County Administrator Barry Clark.

In addition to helping existing businesses with expansion, Williams will be helping Greene “sell our existing commercial spaces, and utilize our commercial locations,” says Clark. “He will be a liaison, meeting with (prospects), finding out what their needs are, and serving as a guide through the process (of getting them settled in Greene).”

“In my current position, I … serve as a liaison between project managers, marketing managers, prospects, allies and outside sources … I have assisted over 80 companies from all kinds of industries with expansions or relocations to various parts of the Commonwealth” says Williams.

Greene has had two previous directors of economic development. The first, Andrew Hagy, worked part-time from 2002 until 2005. The second, Dennis Jarvis, was a fulltime employee who worked in that capacity from November of 2005 through December of 2006, when he resigned.

Local officials did not elaborate as to the reason for Jarvis’ resignation.
Since then, the EDA Board has been attempting to carry out the responsibilities that will now fall to Williams.

“As a volunteer board we didn’t have checks and balances in place,” Woodson explains. “We have a very talented board, but the (explosion of growth in the County) became more than a voluntary board can handle … (the work) was requiring more and more time and more and more expertise.”
Woodson says that so much time was taken to replace Jarvis because “we were creating the position within the (County) administration. We were happy to do so.”

Clark believes that Williams, who has held his current position with the state for seven years, is “a good fit” for that newly-created position.

Prior to going to work for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Williams worked with computers, budgets and procedures for the Virginia Department of Transportation. Then, he helped implement the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s domestic marketing campaign, and after that, managed daily general operations of the Virginia Department of Aviation.

Williams will be working the County’s Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development Authority Board to make things happen in Greene. “My background will be very helpful in making a collaborative effort to help the County progress,” he says.

“The Board members and I will focus on what the vision (for the County) is and then develop a strategy to work toward its fulfillment,” Williams continues. Then: “My first step will be to work closely with those boards to develop a business retention and expansion program to serve the needs of the business community that is in Greene already”.

During his first 30 days on the job Williams will be identifying Greene’s workforce - even at the school level - to make sure the County has a “trained workforce ready to go.”

But, “what really is important,” Williams says, “is meeting with existing businesses (and) seeing what their concerns are because they can be ambassadors for Greene County. If the County’s business community is being cared for and they’re satisfied this will speak volumes to future corporate partners.”

Williams also plans to get together with area real estate developers to “put together a process” for incoming leads that would involve what builders, as well as the County, can offer.

“This job,” says Williams, “is about people; developing relationships and finding solutions to help businesses operate more efficiently and connect the right people with each other so everyone benefits in the long run.”

Economic Development Authority Board Chairman Willis Logan, who is out of the country, stated via e-mail, “We are very excited and fortunate to have a person with (of Williams’) caliber take this position.”

In other Economic Development Authority news: The Board of Supervisors has appointed two people to the Authority’s Board.

Jane Capone, manager of a RE/MAX office in Charlottesville, is replacing Angela “Chrissie” Bruce, and Marianne Shepard, a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments in Ruckersville, is replacing Tom Zakielarz.

Capone, who says she has “extensive business management background,”
has been a part of several family-owned and corporate businesses.

“We moved here a few years ago and have just fallen in love with Greene,” says Capone. “I already belong to the Ruritans and the Ruckersville Citizens Council. When (this) position came up I thought what better way to get more involved.”

Shepard says she sees an opportunity to help combine Greene’s sense of tradition and beauty with vibrant growth.

“I believe we are in a perfect position to attract skilled technical jobs and at the same time protect what makes us a perfect tourist hub,” adds Shepard.  “I, like many before me, moved to this area and then wished I could nail the door shut to any other newcomers.  We know that’s not practical, however, this is paradise, and I am committed to doing my best to keep it paradise.”