Gilroy
 – Jane Howard, the city’s interim economic development
director, is among the final pool of three candidates vying for a
permanent job as shepherd of the city’s economic sector.
Gilroy – Jane Howard, the city’s interim economic development director, is among the final pool of three candidates vying for a permanent job as shepherd of the city’s economic sector.
More than 30 hopefuls from across the country submitted applications to serve as executive director of the nonprofit Economic Development Corporation, a position that opened up in January following the sudden death of former director Bill Lindsteadt.
A recruitment committee made up of community representatives is targeting candidates who can build on the foundation laid by the former director, who is widely credited for igniting the commercial boom east of Highway 101 and laying the groundwork for technology and other high-income jobs to come to Gilroy.
Howard has served as the interim EDC head for three months.
“As I continued to do the job, I just was really loving it more and more,” she said. “There’s a lot to learn, but there’s a lot that I was up to speed on, especially in terms of history of the community and events. The more I did it, the more I thought I could fit into this position. To sell Gilroy is one of the best things I could do in my life.”
But it will not be the only responsibility for Howard, a former grand juror and school district board member. Last week she was sworn in as a new member of the county board of education.
She did not feel the role would interfere with her responsibilities as the city’s economic development director.
“There shouldn’t be a problem,” Howard said. “A majority of the county board members have full-time employment.”
Recruitment committee organizer Patti Hale declined to disclose the names of the other two candidates, but said they are both economic development directors each with a decade or more of experience in the industry. One hopeful currently works in Arizona, the other is a former Californian working in Kansas.
“All of these people have quite a bit of continuing education,” Hale added, “where they’ve attended a number of classes, including certifications as a community developer, economic development finance professional, grant administrator.”
The recruitment committee has received about 30 applications since putting out advertisements in February in two magazines geared for government workers and economic development professionals, Hale said. The majority of applicants were from California, some as close as San Jose, while the remainder came from other states.
By mid-May, the recruitment committee had winnowed down the applicant pool to the top three candidates, who are scheduled for a full-day interview in Gilroy on June 2.
The finalists will have to give a five minute presentation on how they plan to attract technology and other high-paying jobs to Gilroy, and will also have to interview with two separate panels of community leaders.
The interview committee includes Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Edwin Diaz, developers Jeff Martin and Mark Sanchez, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce president Susan Valenta, Dispatch Executive Editor Mark Derry and other civic and business leaders.
Howard has limited experience in the economic development field, but her deep roots in the community could strengthen her appeal as a candidate.
Mayor Al Pinheiro, also a member of the interview committee, said the ability to attract high-paying jobs is an important qualification, but far from the only factor under consideration.
“I think it’s important to have somebody that understands Gilroy and understands the dynamics and comes in with an ability to work with city government, and at the same time is able to work with the business community,” he said. “That to me is the key factor. You can’t do it all alone, so you have to be able to bring people to the table.”
