Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1182 (date undetermined) — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: December 3, 2013 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Kay Godwin SUBJECT: Confirm Hiring of Tourist Development Director DEPARTMENT: Human Resources BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request confirmation of the County Administrator’s recommendation to hire Mr. Ed Schroeder as Tourist Development Director. BACKGROUND: The recruitment process for the Tourist Development Director included extensive advertising both nationally and locally, resulting in 89 applicants. In accordance with current HR Policy, the Board of County Commissioners appointed a screening committee to review all qualified employment applications, consisting of Kelly Windes, Okaloosa County Commissioner; Ernie Padgett, County Administrator; Kay Godwin, Human Resources Director; Susan Shaw, University of West Florida Emerald Coast; and Joe Guidry, Ramada Plaza/Destin West RV. Upon review, the committee selected ten candidates, including two internal candidates, for telephone interviews. Of those, the committee selected four candidates for personal interviews held on November 19, 2013. In addition, the public, members of the Tourist Development Council, employees, and tourism stakeholders were invited to attend an evening “meet and greet” with the candidates at the Emerald Coast Convention Center later that evening. The screening committee chose Mr. Ed Schroeder as the top candidate. County Administrator Ernie Padgett agreed and remarked, “The committee process works.” Mr. Schroeder was employed by Visit Pensacola from December 1999 to August 2011 as Director, Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and VP, Tourism Development, Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Schroeder served previously as Director, Jekyll Island Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1996 to 1999. Prior, Mr. Schroeder served as Director of Sales, Macon Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1993 to 1996; and Director of Sales, Columbus Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1988 to 1992. Mr. Schroeder holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Columbus State University (Georgia), and served in the U.S. Army from 1977 to 1982, being honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. A copy of Mr. Schroeder’s resume is attached. (Note: Salary negotiations were not complete as of the deadline for this agenda request.) OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove RECOMMENDATIONS: Confirm the County Administrator’s recommendation to hire Mr. Ed Schroeder as Tourist Development Director, subject to satisfactory completion of all pre- employment background requirements. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator