Bannock Development tabs interim director
POCATELLO — Darlene Gerry came to Pocatello to work for what was then AMI Semiconductor with a fiveyear plan that basically was to end with her getting back to her native state of Maine.
Eight years later, she’s at Idaho State University where she’s the associate general counsel.
“I’ve lived in nine different states and I have never found a place I just didn’t want to leave like I found in Pocatello,” Gerry said Tuesday. “I just fell in love with this area. The people are so amazing. It’s just such a welcoming place.”
Gerry (pronounced like Gary) says she also enjoys taking advantage of the outdoor opportunities so closely available.
“I like to hike and cross country ski,” she said.
When ON Semiconductor completed its acquisition of AMI in 2008, Gerry said she was offered a similar position, that of general counsel,for ON, but it required her to move to Phoenix, where the company is headquartered.
She didn’t want to go.
Another opportunity arose,however. A longtime adjunct professor for ISU in its College of Business,she was offered a full-time position that opened at roughly the same time. Later,an associate general counsel position opened up and that’s where Gerry’s been for the past 18 months.
Clearly having abandoned her five-year plan, Gerry further entrenched herself in the community last week — with the blessing of her employer, of course — when she agreed to be Bannock Development Corp.’s interim executive director.
“I’ve (worked with) Gynii Gilliam many times over the years, different things from ISU, and I have always been impressed with what she does,” Gerry said. “Tim (Forhan) asked me if I could help out. I jumped at the chance.”
Gilliam was executive director of Bannock Development for more than five years when she left at the end of 2011 and moved to Boise to take over as Idaho’s chief economic development officer on Jan. 1.
Forhan, who knew Gerry from their days working at AMI, is currently chair of Bannock Development’s board of directors.
Gerry, excited at the prospects of selling Pocatello as the place to relocate or establish potential businesses, said it was just a matter of getting the OK from her employer.
ISU officials, she said, didn’t hesitate. She said Kent Tingey, ISU’s vice president for university advancement, was very supportive.
“Kent saw it as a very positive move,” Gerry said. “It will mean some extra work for me, but that will be OK.”
Gerry won’t be alone, however, in trying to fill the void left by Gilliam’s departure. Others, who already have a long history with Bannock Development, are stepping up to take on some of Gilliam’s many former roles as part of a collective effort.
It’s something Gerry looks at a microcosm of how Pocatellans typically behave.
“This is really illustrative of how this whole community works,” she said. There are so many projects here that come together through collaborative efforts.”
Among those taking on a piece of Gilliam’s former responsibilities is Mark Lupo, regional community relations representative for Idaho Power in Pocatello.
A member of Bannock Development’s board of directors, Lupo has frequently attended many of the same regional economic development meetings Gilliam attended. Now, he will attend those meetings representing both Idaho Power and Bannock Development.
He typically meets with officials from companies considering a move to Pocatello in his capacity with Idaho Power, but Lupo says he will likely take a more significant role in that regard, showing those same officials around town as well.
“I am so pro-Pocatello that I enjoy doing it,” Lupo said. “I enjoy showing people the town and what we have to offer to a new business.”
Lupo said he’s also excited to have Gerry on board.
“I think Darlene will be great,” he said. “I think she will be a real asset to us in the interim.”
Matt Hunter, in Boise for meetings this week, has also been a longtime member of Bannock Development’s board. In a news release from Bannock Development, Hunter is listed as the one who will help Gerry with the day-to-day community-related activities.
Hunter said his role is to help link Gerry to the existing business community, but beyond that, he admitted, it’s a little less defined.
“My role is helping out with things that come up,” he said. “Some have really clearly defined roles and mine is whatever comes up. If it’s companies that come into town, I will help with that. I will be there to fill in wherever needed.”
Rounding out the list as set out in the release is Tim Forhan, who will continue as chairman and leader in the search for Gilliam’s replacement ; Arlen Wittrock, who will assist with external communications; and Gilliam, who will work with Gerry on a regular basis to ensure continuity on existing projects.
Gerry declined to comment on any of those existing projects.
Another person on that list set out in the new release is Angie Callaway, who has been executive assistant at Bannock Development for several years. Hunter, Lupo and Gerry all praised Callaway’s skills and each commented on how vital she is to the continued continuity of the economic development entity.
“We are all really relying on Angie quite a bit to take over some of the responsibilities in there as well,” Lupo said. “We are thankful to have her here.”
Bannock Development stopped taking resumes for its open position on Jan. 6, saying in the release that more than 40 people, both locally and from around the country, had applied.
They project a new executive director could be selected by mid-February, with the hopes of that person starting by the end of March.
Gerry, having just agreed late last week to take on the role, is doing what she calls “homework.”
“A lot of the stuff I have been doing is preparing myself,” she said, “reading some of the prior reports and proposals to get an understanding of how it’s all put together.”
Gerry, who says she has not applied for the position, describes her role as the one who will work to coordinate efforts.
“If new proposals or requests comes in, I will be the one trying to bring all the pieces together to get it done,” she said
BY JIMMY HANCOCK
jhancock@journalnet.com
January 11, 2012