Jerry Bologna, the deputy director of the Jefferson Economic Development Commission, is the JEDCO search committee's top choice for the No. 1 job of executive director, Chairman Jim Garvey said Tuesday. The full commission will consider the recommendation Nov. 29, the Parish Council probably in December. (See update.) The search committee's decision was made after it interviewed Bologna and two...
Jerry Bologna, the deputy director of the Jefferson Economic Development Commission, is the JEDCO search committee's top choice for the No. 1 job of executive director, Chairman Jim Garvey said Tuesday. The full commission will consider the recommendation Nov. 29, the Parish Council probably in December. (See update.)
The search committee's decision was made after it interviewed Bologna and two other finalists, both from out of town, on Monday.
"He had a resume just as strong as them," Garvey said. "His connections in the community put him over the top."
Bologna has been a JEDCO staffer since 2000. He is a former residential loan
officer at Eustis Mortgage Corp. (Read Bologna's resume.)
The other finalists were:
- Ernest Broussard, who has spent 35 years in urban planning,
teaching, marketing and economic development in the Lake Charles area.
Since January, he has been president of the Colt Group consulting firm.
(Read Broussard's resume.)
- Karl
Kalbacher, who has worked the past 21 years in environmental programs,
project management and economic development in Delaware and Maryland. He
is a former Newark, Del., City Council member and currently directs
economic redevelopment efforts for New Castle County, Del. (Read Kalbacher's resume.)
Jerry Bologna
Garvey said the search committee, which included Parish President John Young and Parish Council Chairman Elton Lagasse, recommended a $120,000 annual salary for Bologna. Gunter makes $166,930.
"We are feeling the pressure of the economy, trying to be cautious with our money," Garvey said.
Other members of the search committee were Garvey, JEDCO Vice Chairman Stan Salathe, Treasurer
Lynda Nugent-Smith, Secretary Greg Jordan, board member Manny Blanco and David Andignac, executive director of the Jefferson Business Council.
(An earlier version of this story, attributing the information to Garvey, said Gunter's salary is about $150,000.)