by VERONICA GORDON
Buda Economic Development Corporation members hired a search firm Monday night to help find a new director. The firm chosen is also the same firm that helped recruit former Buda EDC director Warren Ketteman to Alice.
“The average length of directors is three to five years,” said Chloe Johnson, of Johnson & Associates. “Warren was here for nine years. So that’s pretty rare.”
Johnson, a certified economic developer, initially brought Ketteman, as well as two former city managers, to Buda.
Johnson presented the EDC with a plan this week to find a new leader that includes YouTube video interviews, Skyping, and a group outing with the prospects and their spouses.
The cost of the search is $15,000 plus expenses. As part of the fee, EDC will have to provide airfare and lodging for applicants.
Johnson will advertise the position nationally in her personal newsletter. She will cull the resumes and narrow the applicants to the top 10 or 12 candidates. She will help the board narrow down their top five picks through the use of YouTube interviews for a good sense of how they communicate, she said.
Johnson performs reference checks and credit checks, but allows the board to do their own criminal background check.
The Skype interviews are followed by a group interview of all the candidates and their spouses.
“We suggest that you take them on a tour of Buda,” Johnson said. “You can also involve the public or have an invitation- only event for community leaders. This way you’ll get lots of feedback.”
“Probably 99 percent of the time the magic is there and you find your director,” Johnson added. “But if not, then we’ll go back and do it all again.”
Johnson said the board needs to be in agreement about the type of candidate they are searching for and they need to be open with her about what the board is doing.
The board could have gone with Johnson’s “Plan B” that would have limited their search to one applicant named “Chuck” from Kentucky.
“Once in a blue moon you find someone whose leadership is just there,” Johnson said. “I think he’s a match for you guys.”
Johnson said Chuck was instrumental in bringing a company from China to his town that created 150 jobs.
“He has a burning passion and he’s doing things that no one else is doing,” she said. “He’s a good guy, he’s young and he’s not what you usually go after. He came up through marketing and insurance and he just loves being out there making things happen. He has the best track record in any state.”
Boardmember Renee Mauzy asked Johnson why this person would want to move to Buda.
Johnson told board members that Chuck is interested in making a name for himself and wants to find a place where he can make a difference.
“He said he is very interested in Buda and his wife is researching it,” Johnson said. “He has a lot of questions for the board and he said you might not be able to pay what he’s asking.”
The salary for the incoming director is expected to continue being $100,000, according to board members.
“On the downside, he doesn’t have a degree or certification. You’re going to have to trust me on this one,” Johnson said.
Mauzy said she was not comfortable with focusing on just one applicant.
“Especially one without credentials or a degree,” Mauzy said. “I think for the salary we are offering, we can attract good quality candidates. I’d like to know what’s out there.”
The board members voted to leave their options open by using the nationwide search. Johnson said the board risks missing out on Chuck.
“Someone else can snatch him up in the meantime,” she said. “But I understand, because when I go shopping, I like to go to every store to make sure I’m getting exactly what I want.”
EDC members will meet in executive session next week to discuss job descriptions and to come to agreement on what qualities they are seeking in a new director. They will meet with Johnson on August 6 to begin the search.
