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Jackson County’s economic development director Dorothea Megow-Dowling had been on the job for less than a year when she announced her resignation last week.
She came from a long career in economic development and specialized in strategy and planning processes.
“It is going to be unfortunate to see her leave,” Joe Cline, the chairman of the economic development commission told fellow members of the EDC at their last meeting. “The county and this board owes her a debt of gratitude for the work she has put in it has been tireless to say the least.”
More board members expressed regret after the meeting.
“She was fantastic,” said Dick Sterka, an EDC member appointed by Sylva.
Sterka’s company, Diversified Expo, helps works the trade show circuit, whether it’s hosting the shows or helping companies attend them. Given the circles Sterka runs in, he interacts with businesses regularly that may be interested in moving to a new area or expanding their operation, and as a result, he constantly fed Dowling tips on companies that would be worth courting.
“She was very active. Give her a lead and she was like a bulldog. I hate to lose her,” Sterka said.
Larry Morris, an EDC member appointed by the county, said Dowling excelled in strategy, which had ideally been the next leap the EDC would have been making.
“I was real pleased,” Morris said. “I thought we were making headway in the direction we needed to go. It is really unfortunate.”
Dowling says she has plans to move back to her home region of Michigan.
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Every year as summer approaches and the days begin to heat up, I marvel at the beautiful orange explosion that protrudes from an unkempt patch of daylilies and Queen Anne’s lace that was once (BC – before children) a more kempt flowerbed.
