CDC director to pursue new endeavor
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
William Valentine, executive director of the Presque Isle County Development Commission (CDC) since January 2006, is leaving his position at the end of the month. Valentine submitted his resignation during an executive session of last Thursday?s CDC meeting, his last with the board.
?I am deeply grateful to the people I have come to know and love in this community,? said Valentine. He said the decision was partly economic and partly wanderlust. CDC chair Andy Hayhoe said the reasons were ?personal reasons and that he has an opportunity to go back to the Middle East and do what he was doing in the past. We were in executive session for the purpose of keeping it between the commissioners and himself.?
Valentine said it was a decision he pondered back before Christmas. ?I WILL KEEP Michigan in mind as I am working. My Arab friends used to call me the ?Ambassador from Michigan? when I worked there before. This was because I was always looking for ways to insert Michigan products, recommend Michigan colleges, and arrange Michigan holidays for my colleagues. I will continue doing that. It?s my way of repatriating those petrodollars,? said Valentine.
CDC board member Tom Sobeck said Valentine was a strong and capable advocate for economic development in our area during these very trying times. ?It is unfortunate that he likely will have to read about the future rewards of his efforts rather than be here to experience them first hand,? said Sobeck.
Valentine purchased property in 1972 on Presque Isle Harbor and vacationed there for many years before coming home in April 2004. He was a staff writer for Presque Isle Newspaper before his appointment by the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners in January 2006.
SHORTLY AFTER coming on board and establishing an office on the third floor of the courthouse, Wolverine Power Cooperative announced their proposal to construct a power plant in the quarry south of Rogers City. He worked closely with Wolverine officials, served on the local advisory board and recently took the trip to tour the plant in Louisiana.
Valentine steered the CDC board through a time when there was a high turnover rate. Under his leadership, there has been more continuity. ?They have some very talented people on the board right now,? said Dave Nadolsky, who retired from the board in January. ?Bill is largely responsible for rebuilding the CDC/EDC (Economic Development Commission) over the past couple of years. It was really challenging for him, but with good leadership and through recruitment, along with the support of the county board, the CDC/EDC was able to restore its creditability.? Valentine believes the board will be left in good hands with Hayhoe as its chair and a solid working relationship with the county board.
He is especially proud of the youth entrepreneurship program started two years ago. ?WE CALL IT Business Oriented $uccess $trategies for Youth (BO$$Y) because kids may not know what entrepreneurship is but they know what it means to be their own boss,? said Valentine.
The program benefits school kids from Rogers City, Onaway and Posen with funding coming fr
?It is very hard for me to leave the only real home I have ever known but I?ll return again someday. In the meantime, I will be coming home for visits,? said Valentine. ?We?ll all really miss Bill for all he has done,? said Nadolsky. ?He?ll be tough to replace.? Hayhoe is disappointed with the turnover with the director?s position. He said one of Valentine last duties will be laying the groundwork to bring in a new director. Nadolsky?s assistance has been sought as well.
Valentine will be the guest of honor at a farewell dinner and benefit for the BO$$Y program on Tuesday March 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Rogers City Area Senior Center. Those interested in attending are invited to contact the Presque Isle CDC office at 734-8446 for more information.