GILROY
– Robyn Lesnewsky may think she just answers phones, but Bill
Lindsteadt, Executive Director of the Gilroy Economic Development
Corporation, said she does much more and he will miss his
administrative assistant when she retires at the end of the
month.
GILROY – Robyn Lesnewsky may think she just answers phones, but Bill Lindsteadt, Executive Director of the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation, said she does much more and he will miss his administrative assistant when she retires at the end of the month.
“I was extremely lucky that she was able to come to work with the EDC,” Lindsteadt said praising her knowledge of business practices, computer skills and organization. ”She is an invaluable asset to the workings of this corporation.”
Lesnewsky and Lindsteadt have worked for the corporation since its inception in 1996. Although Lindsteadt is the director, he always considered Lesnewsky a co-worker rather than an employee and will miss her personally and professionally.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” Lesnewsky said. “I have enjoyed working with Bill tremendously and with everyone at the Chamber (of Commerce). It’s a family.”
Even though Lesnewsky is not employed with the Chamber of Commerce she has been an integral part of their team said Susan Valenta Executive Director of the Chamber.
“She is one of those people who is always doing 150 percent and more,” Valenta said. “She is very experienced in technology and the operations of any office and has been a tremendous help.”
Lesnewsky has enjoyed watching the development of Gilroy and is pleased with how the EDC coordinated their projects with the Chamber of Commerce.
“The city has done well keeping the industrial, commercial and residential developments separate,” she said. ”The growth patterns are excellent.”
The main lesson she learned from her time with the EDC is that everything is a process.
“A lot of people would like to see certain things, but they don’t happen overnight,” she said.
During her last month with the corporation she will work with her replacement, Debbie Smith, to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Both Lesnewsky and her husband are retiring and plan on moving out of the area.
“We will do what retired people do,” she said. ”We’ll travel.”
