SCDC names new director

From Staff Reports
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 | 12 comment(s)

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A new executive director has taken command of the South Coast Development Council, just a month after her predecessor's death.

Sandra Geiser-Messerle, 55, started work this week as head of the regional organization aimed at creating and attracting jobs to the area. She previously headed a "Main Street" urban revitalization program in Elkhart, Ind.

"She came to us with a very strong background," said SCDC's chairman, Jon Barton. He said Messerle was one of six or seven people interviewed for the job, and an extensive background check revealed "quite remarkable" qualifications and experience.

"Her sound understanding of the need to bring the various factions in this community together is what sealed the deal," Barton said.

Messerle said she moved to the Bay Area about 18 months ago, after a long-distance courtship resulted in her marriage to a local man, Fred Messerle. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Ball State University.

Messerle replaces Ron Opitz, who had led SCDC since 2003 before dying of cancer in late February.
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really wrote on Apr 13, 2009 4:20 PM:

LOL! Okay that was funny...good one. And yes i do feel better!

Really A Hen wrote on Apr 10, 2009 8:58 AM:

Welcome to the HENS CLUB, sorry to have not included you. Feel better now?

Really wrote on Apr 9, 2009 12:05 PM:

To: make us look bad.. I don't know who you would be referring to as my "cronies". I do NOT think the town is populated with hillbillies, my remark was only pointed to the person that belittled the new director because she was a "hen". I love this community and the people who live here are the best part of it. I certainly don't need you to rewrite my meaning.
If you happen to think that he has a point because a woman can't do the job and is only good for baking cookies and mixing up party punch, well then I guess I would have to open up my comments to include you.
As a woman that's only lived here two years, seems to me I'm ruled out of the good ole boys club but perhaps you could be their new poster child.

Dont Like It wrote on Apr 4, 2009 3:35 PM:

If you have an issue with Sandy that is just too bad for you. There is a process the board uses and they have the authority to determine who they feel is appropriate for the position. It is not up to you and you should go back to the cave you crawled out of. We will make the decisions NOT the arm chair quarterbacks.

Return on Our Investment wrote on Apr 3, 2009 3:39 PM:

What have we received for our investment? Why are we paying a six figure salary to a Messerle housewife? Show me a fortune 500 company who will take us serious. You could have hired 4 individuals to write grants at the price you are paying for one. Grants will not help bring new jobs or businesses to our community. This is privatized welfare for the same circle of people who rotate from one government entity to the next. tell me how this is justified?

MAKE US LOOK BAD wrote on Apr 3, 2009 9:58 AM:

You make you look bad. Welcome has a valid point. You just spewed out of your mouth the reality of the matter. You and your cronies think this town is populated with, as you blatantly admit, "arrogant backwards hillbillies". I have news for you, people are starting to recognize the games being played within the good ole boy club and it isn't going to last much longer. Really!

Really wrote on Apr 2, 2009 11:49 PM:

To the World: I am appalled that you let the comments from "Welcome Sandy" be posted.
As for the person that posted that...you arrogant backwards hillbilly. Way to make us all look bad.

To Sandy: Welcome, and please don't let that chauvinistic idiot dampen your enthusiasm. I've heard great things about you, and am looking forward to your future success.

A Hen wrote on Apr 2, 2009 7:10 PM:

Call it for what it is.

Bored well to do ranchers wife pulls off backdoor deal at a time when qualified people looking for work are teetering on the edge of loosing everything.

You wonder why people are itching to raise taxes on the wealthy?

You bring class warfare on yourselves by pulling stunts like this.

George wrote on Apr 2, 2009 8:46 AM:

Seems to be quite hypocritical for SCDC to be head itself by an "outsider", and this hire is more than a little bit nepotistic to boot?

Then again, it really does show how things are ran around here.

Welcome Sandy wrote on Apr 2, 2009 8:05 AM:

I bet you bake a mean batch of cookies! I always say a way to a businessman's heart is... well in this case through his stomach. Now tell me, do you use 7 Up in your party punch? This is a Beautiful thing, a Hen going to bring big business to the coast. Well you all did build your city in the middle of a salt marsh, no different than a swamp! Not Surprised...

Interesting wrote on Apr 2, 2009 7:35 AM:

This is a Tax Payer funded entity that appears to have hired the family member of the Ports Lobbyist. Nice to see the money is staying in the family.

no more SCDC wrote on Apr 1, 2009 4:36 PM:

Doesnt the SCDC exist as a non-profit org., that gets its funding from the tax payers (property owners). Their objective seems to be to promote LNG in cahootz with the port. Non-profit means no money left at the end of the year, spent on their own payroll and junkets. hhhmm sounds like john bull to me.


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