Big Sky EDA Interim Management Team. National Search for New Director Launched

The joint boards of the Big Sky Economic Development Authority http://www.bigskyeda.org/ and the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation http://bigskyedc.org/ approved an interim management team proposal on November 8, 2007, to take affect December 3, the date Joe McClure leaves the agency for his new position at Ernest Health.

The team is made up of Patty Nordlund, Director of Community and Workforce Development; Linda Beck, Director of Outreach and Business Recruitment; and Jim Tevlin, Chief Financial Officer. The management team will report to the two board’s joint executive committee.

Each of the seven departments, plus the SBA office, has a manager who will continue to run their individual operations. Nordlund will be responsible for day-to day operational decisions and serve as back up to Tevlin who will be responsible for finances. Beck will handle external relations with the Billings Chamber of Commerce, Celebrate Billings, Montana Economic Developers Association, Beartooth RC&D, Downtown Billings Partnership, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and other posts McClure held as executive director.

The executive director position is contracted with Big Sky EDA. A search – recruitment committee is currently being formed and will include members of the boards, including a county commissioner, affiliated community leaders and one member of the interim management team.

The nationwide search could take up to six months. The position will be advertised locally and statewide. The first task for the committee is to update the job description to current expectations as the position has expanded in the six years that McClure served as executive director. Research and market competition will determine the salary benchmark which will be adjusted depending on a candidate’s experience and accomplishments.