KJAM lets us know that the Lake Area Improvement Corporation has posted the opening for its executive director position.
The last LAIC exec, Dwaine Chapel, once told me that his job was, basically, to fix Madison. Having utterly failed, Chapel leaves that job description pretty much unchanged for the next exec. Interviewees, study for this essay question: Did Chapel fail because he lacked the skills or because the elites running Madison don't really want full-throttle economic development that might disrupt the established order?
The LAIC lists the following qualifications:
- A four-year degree in a relevant field of study to include Public or Business Administration, Economics, etc.
- A minimum 3 years management and economic development experience
- Clear understanding of marketing, business development, real estate and commercial development, sales and leases, strategic planning, and negotiation
- Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Familiarity with budgeting, financial and tax reporting
- A high degree of organization with the ability to deal with a variety of tasks and constituencies
- Experience in supervising staff
- Experience with personal computers and Microsoft Office products
- Valid South Dakota driver's license
- Volunteer governing board experience a plus
You know, aside from the second criterion, my résumé just might pass muster!
The posting does not list the salary, but for reference, job hunters, the last guy got six figures. Dicker hard, applicants!
If you're interested in taking the next big swing at fixing Madison, you have until March 31 to e-mail you application letter and résumé to Kari Blom: Kari@MadisonWorks.com. You can also send hard copies to Lake Area Improvement Corporation, Selection Committee, P.O. Box 32, Madison, SD 57042.
And applicants, if you have any questions about how the LAIC operates, just click here for the Madville Times LAIC dossier. Nowhere else will you find as complete an account of the economic and political challenges you will face in trying to fix Madison.
That town has not been right since I let it-30+ years ago.
:)
Most people feel it's in their best interest to support the current power structure. They won't flip until it's safe. Too bad Mitt Romney isn't more like his father: "As far as I am concerned, one of the greatest deficiencies we have in this country is the unwillingness of people to say what they think," he said in his first speech of that busy year, to the Executives Club of Chicago. "Too many people limit their expressions to those things that they think their groups think they ought to say. I believe this is one of the real problems in America. We are too concerned about what it will do to our business, what it will do to us socially or politically, and we are mouthing things we don't really believe, or not saying them at all." George seems like a pretty interesting guy: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/02/furious-george-the-rhetorical-might-that-mitt-is-missing/253723/
John, what an interesting link between the national dialogue and local issues in Madison! Well done!
Here's a sign that the LAIC board was a little bugged by complaints lodged here on the Madville Times: the LAIC is requiring that its next exec take up residence here in Lake County. What do we think of that requirement?
Hell, I got a 4 year in econ from Augie, an upcoming MPA from USD, and all the time in the world on my hands. Maybe I should apply, if only to perhaps fail in the end. But with grace of course :)
The underlying problem with this search is that the LAIC is looking for one person to do all of these jobs, and honestly, that's an approach that hasn't worked to its best in the past. Split these skill-sets into 3 positions, divide up the pay, maybe include some minimal bonus structure, and create a team atmosphere with a solid support structure.