Gilroy
– Larry F. Cope, a Kansas economic development director with a
decade of experience and roots in California, has been selected as
the new head of Gilroy’s nonprofit Economic Development
Corporation.
Cope, 36, currently serves as the economic development director
for Jefferson City and Geary County in Kansas.
He notified the EDC board of directors Thursday that he would
accept the position as the city’s new economic development
head.
Gilroy – Larry F. Cope, a Kansas economic development director with a decade of experience and roots in California, has been selected as the new head of Gilroy’s nonprofit Economic Development Corporation.
Cope, 36, currently serves as the economic development director for Jefferson City and Geary County in Kansas.
He notified the EDC board of directors Thursday that he would accept the position as the city’s new economic development head.
“I hope to be able to bring my facilitation and teamwork skills to Gilroy,” Cope said. “I’ve seen an excellent team (in Gilroy). I work very close with site location consultants and corporate real estate agents on a daily basis to bring business to Jefferson City and Geary County, and I hope to bring those same skills to Gilroy.”
Cope’s current position requires collaboration with multiple cities, as well as close contact with state and federal officials on affairs dealing with the Fort Riley Army base, a major force in the area’s economy.
The new EDC director plans to continue his strategy of developing close relationships with site locators and corporate decision-makers to build on the legacy of Bill Lindsteadt, the city’s former economic developer. Lindsteadt, who died in January, is generally credited for the vast retail expansion east of Hwy. 101 in the last decade, and for positioning Gilroy to obtain the high-tech and other corporate employers it craves.
“I’ve heard a lot about Bill and he laid great groundwork,” Cope said. “I just want to add more to that, to find ways to build really close ties. When site locators get contacted by Intel or Microsoft and are looking for places to locate their business, we want to make sure Gilroy comes up on the radar.”
An interview panel made up of about a dozen community and civic leaders overwhelmingly supported Cope, who came prepared for his interview with a bound booklet and Powerpoint presentation on how to create higher-paying jobs in Gilroy.
“Based on our screening process, he just rose to the top,” said Vic Vanni, president of the EDC board of directors. “It’s a community staff position really. It’s so great that the community was able to offer so much input and come to a decision that was so unanimous.”
Cope beat out two other candidates for the position, including interim EDC director Jane Howard, whose intimate knowledge of the community and close relationships with business and civic leaders helped her rise to the final pool of three candidates.
“It was a very, very tough decision, especially with all of us on the panel knowing Jane and having a lot of respect for her,” said Mayor Al Pinheiro, one of the interview committee members. “But the panel weighed all the different issues that we have to deal with, and the fact that this gentleman brings over 10 years of experience weighed heavily in the interview. It was probably one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever been a part of.”
Howard said that personally she was “disappointed, however, for the community I’m very proud.”
“The process was something this community can be very proud of,” she said. “Not only was it thorough but it really helped bring to the forefront each candidate’s strengths. I certainly knew from the perspective of not having the extensive background and experience, I had a hurdle there. But I also knew my relationships with (local leaders) would be a strength.”
In coming weeks, Howard said she will continue organizing the EDC office on Monterey Street to help smooth the transition for the new director.
“We’ll have everything prepared and ready to go for when Larry gets in,” Howard said. “We’ll make sure we don’t miss a beat.”
The new EDC director expects to take the reins by July 15.
Cope, who grew up in Southern California, said he and his wife Kimberley Teeter Cope have wanted to move back to California for several years. He said Gilroy presented the perfect opportunity.
“There was a sense of community and in addition to that there was a sense of partnership,” Cope said. “Those are things I look for in a community. The second thing was the climate, the views. I’ve been all over the United States and I’ve seen nothing that matches Gilroy.”
Following his interview several weeks ago, Cope and his wife spent three days visiting the Pinnacles, area beaches and lakes.
“If I’m representing a community, I should experience it all,” Cope said. “And there’s a lot to brag about in Gilroy.”
