Interviews Begin For New PCDC Director

The search is almost over for a new executive director to lead the Phelps County Development Corporation into the next season of growth.

So far, 19 candidates have applied for the position, including several local prospects and some from the east coast and northern states.

“I was happy to see that this position was regarded highly by so many with no direct ties to this area,” said Doug Stevenson, chairman of the search committee. “In the same breath, we have some great candidates locally and in the state that are very interested in Phelps County.”

Although the deadline for resumes is April 15, Stevenson said the committee has already identified and interviewed four candidates that have the qualities and abilities they are seeking.

The committee is searching for a leader with previous economic development experience, abilities in networking, planning and goal setting and strengths in leadership and management. Each candidate is scored and ranked in those five areas, and the four highest ranked candidates were brought in for interviews the first week of April.

Stevenson said the committee will meet again after the April 15 deadline to rank any additional candidates that may apply. The goal is to hire a new director by the end of April so he or she could start work by the end of May.

Current Executive Director Monica Boyken, who has led PCDC for nearly nine years, is planning to leave the position at the end of May to start a new business.

Stevenson said he is happy with the quality of the candidates who have applied for the position.

“I found it really refreshing that the candidates that were really interested did their homework on us and the position,” he said. “The quality of the candidates is really good to excellent.”

The search committee includes Stevenson and two other PCDC board members (Fred Diedrichsen and Tim Anderson) and community members Sherry McClymont and Brian Deakin.