Interim Director outlines search process for a permanent EDA executive

John Anzivino, right, is greeted by EDA Board Treasurer Tom Patteson at the Jan. 10 meeting at which his contract as interim executive director was approved. Royal Examiner File Photo/Roger Bianchini
Front Royal-Warren County Interim Executive Director John Anzivino presented an outline and timeframe for finding a permanent replacement for departed EDA Executive Director Jennifer McDonald at the January 30 EDA Board meeting. Anzivino’s schedule would see new executive leadership in place by the second week of May “or sooner” and an announcement and introduction of that new leadership the first week of April.

Anzivino’s outline included an overview of the job responsibilities in recruiting and promoting economic development in the community and recommended levels of experience and qualifications for applicants. Anzivino noted that he was working with fairly-recently retired Warren County Finance Director Carolyn Stimmel and current County Human Resources Director Jodi Saffelle in developing the application process.

Anzivino suggested posting the job through multiple economic development agencies and their websites, in addition to the County website. In addition to the County, the recommended job availability distribution network would include the Virginia Economic Development Association (VEDA), the Virginia Municipal League (VML), Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) and possibly the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He also suggested the board consider an economic development agency posting across state lines in North Carolina, which he observed has municipal areas similar developmentally to the Northern Shenandoah Valley and Warren County.

After noting that a salary range was not included in his proposed job posting in order to give the board leeway in negotiations, the interim executive director suggested the EDA Board consider a range between $90,000 and $115,000 for qualified applicants.  He also described the target group of applicants as being “younger professionals and some mid-range folks” experience-wise.

EDA Board Chairman Gray Blanton listens as Interim Executive Director John Anzivino outlines his plan to find a permanent replacement for former Director Jennifer McDonald. Royal Examiner Photo/Roger Bianchini

EDA Board member Mark Baker questioned the absence of a professional recruitment consultant in Anzivino’s proposal. Anzivino pointed to his own experience in job recruitment noted in his proposal: “The job specifications have been developed from my observations and short-term knowledge of the Authority and its needs, my knowledge of similar positions and my experience as a professional recruiter for a variety of positions, including those in the economic development field,” Anzivino wrote in the introduction of his proposal in the meeting agenda packet.

“So you’re our recruiter,” Baker responded.

“I guess so,” Anzivino said.

As noted in the press release announcing approval of his contract for the interim position, Anzivino brings a wealth of municipal experience to his interim assignment.

“He was most recently the interim Town Manager in the Town of Purcellville after working for Springsted Incorporated for 16 years. He has over 30 years of experience in local government including such chief executive roles as the Town Manager of the Town of Warrenton, the County Administrator for Caroline County and the County Administrator for Amelia County,” the press release stated of Anzivino’s qualifications to head the EDA through this transition period.

Anzivino was upbeat in assessing the board’s ability to attract qualified candidates. He said that he had been impressed at a distance as he worked around Virginia in seeing Warren County’s success in attracting new business and expanding its commercial tax base.

“So there’s success here and people want to be a part of that,” he told the EDA Board of Directors.