Former local jobs official honored

   POCATELLO — Since Gynii Gilliam left the Bannock Economic Development office in Pocatello to become Idaho’s chief economic development officer, she misses two things about Pocatello.
   What she misses most is the people.
   “I miss the people of Pocatello,” Gilliam said, “This is just such a wonderful community.” What she misses second is the local airport.
   “I miss being able to walk into the airport 35 minutes before my flight, check my bags and get onto my flight without issue.”
   Gilliam has been at her new position in Boise since the first of the year and says that she is overlapping right now, but only through the month of February.
   “We’re finishing up some projects we already had in the works,” she added.
   Gilliam told Chubbuck Mayor Steven England that she is optimistic about the future of the state after being in Boise.
   “Everyone acted like I’ve been there for a long time,” she told England. She added that going from Los Angeles to Pocatello and the smaller communities, then back to a larger community like Boise has still been an adjustment.
   A steady group of wellwishers made their way into the Economic Development offices Friday afternoon to bid Gilliam farewell and good luck.  
   “I’m glad everyone was kind of coming in waves rather than all at once,” Gilliam said. “This way, I was able to talk and visit with everyone.”
   She is looking forward to being able to take the same mentality to Boise with her.
   “I’m looking forward to building the same partnership with the communities of Idaho as our office here in Pocatello has been able to build,” Gilliam said, “I’m very proud of the way our community has been able to come together and how coordinated we have become. I love that the people of Pocatello and Chubbuck are now seeing the larger vision and I look forward to trying to make that happen on a statewide level.”
   Gilliam believes that Bannock County has a great future and that the forward motion of technology and the growth of other sectors in the county will continue to strengthen.
   She offered some advice for whoever succeeds her in Pocatello.
   “Listen to all the wonderful people around you,” Gilliam said. “Process and filter what you come across, keep the community working together and you will be OK.” 

 
MICHEAL FARNWORTH/IDAHO STATE JOURNAL

   A steady group of well-wishers made their way into the local economic development offices Friday afternoon to bid Gynii Gilliam, right, the former executive director of Bannock Development Corp., farewell and good luck. Gilliam took an economic development job with the state.
 
 BY MICHAEL FARNWORTH
 mfarnworth@journalnet.com
January 21, 2012