Great Falls Economic development fund-raiser McFadden moving to Arkansas

A woman who played a key role in helping raise more than $2.5 million for local economic development efforts is leaving Great Falls.

Patti McFadden, who worked with the Great Falls Development Authority’s Founding the Future campaign, is moving to Arkansas for family reasons. She will leave her job today.

By JAMES E. LARCOMBE
Tribune Business Editor

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040227/localnews/29556.html

The move is not a reflection of any dissatisfaction with the job.

"I absolutely loved it," McFadden said.

McFadden, who joined the development authority in June of 2002, worked closely with a hired fund-raiser during the initial campaign and continued to seek new donors and managed "investor" relations for the GFDA.

"I’m really going to miss her," said John Kramer, president of the development authority. "She just did a superb job."

McFadden has "a very unique personality" that helped her not to lose sight of her mission, Kramer said. "She has the ability to say, ‘Let’s get focused on what really needs to be done.’"

McFadden did presentations and speeches to potential investors and handled follow-up activities after financial commitments were made.

The Founding the Future fund stands at $2.5 million, mostly raised from private investors in the Great Falls area. The money pays for job recruitment activities at the development authority.

In addition to fund-raising, McFadden also played a valuable role in the GFDA’s Procurement and Technical Assistance program. When the head of the program, Karl Dehn, underwent heart surgery, McFadden proved a strong replacement, Kramer noted.

"She was very aggressive and very good at that," he said. "She stepped in and filled that void."

McFadden said she is moving to Perryville, Ark., and will seek employment in that area.

She said she will miss her work in Great Falls.

"I still believe John (Kramer) is going to be a great asset to Great Falls and everybody should believe in what he’s doing," McFadden said.