CHATHAM — Pittsylvania County has hired its first economic development director since the Board of Supervisors took control of the program last year.
Ken Bowman, 58 and a former York County supervisor and chairman, will begin his job July 1.
County Administrator Dan Sleeper announced the county’s decision on Tuesday in the Pittsylvania County Economic Development Office Conference Room.
Bowman said he aims to outline an economic-development strategy for the county and work with state delegates and other officials to attract projects to the area.
“Our focus is to improve that climate here in Pittsylvania County,” Bowman said during a press conference Tuesday.
Bowman said he would concentrate his efforts on bringing smaller employers with 75 to 150 employees to the county, businesses that would have the potential to expand.
During the press conference, Board Chairman Coy Harville said he anticipates a good working relationship with Bowman.
“He’s going to hit the ground running,” Harville said. “We’re just looking forward to all the things he’ll bring to the Board of Supervisors.”
Bowman’s salary will be about $80,000 a year, Sleeper said.
Carol Motley, who was PCED’s last executive director before its board dissolved the organization, retired at the end of 2008.
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted in December to cease funding the PCED office. The Board decided to establish an economic development department and to pursue hiring an economic development director who would work under the county administrator. The board made the move after former Danville city manager Jerry Gwaltney, whom the county had hired temporarily as a consultant, recommended that the county do so.
The county’s new hire, Bowman, comes with a wide range of experience in military and civilian affairs.
The Carroll County native was elected to the York County Board of Supervisors in 2003 and served as chairman and vice chairman. York County has a population of about 65,000, a workforce of 725 full-time employees. Its and an operating budget is about $118 million. Bowman, a Vietnam War a retired U.S. Army officer with 31 years of active duty and active guard/reserve experience, is a senior military analyst at Fort Monroe in Hampton.
Bowman holds a masters degree in public administration from Troy State University in Norfolk, and a bachelors degree in human resources administration from St. Leo University in Norfolk.
Bowman was the primary author and a member of York County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. During an interview after the press conference, Bowman said his work helping to revitalize Yorktown’s Riverwalk area in 2003-04 sparked his interest in community development.
“That got me energized in doing something for the community,” Bowman said.
Sleeper said Bowman’s experience improving York County along U.S. Route 17 and his impression upon the Board of Supervisors got him the job.
“He gave a good interview to the Board of Supervisors,” Sleeper said.
Bowman has also served as chairman on several boards and committees, including the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling’s Advisory Council and the Hampton Roads Partnership for Economic Development, among other boards. He is also a former member of the Virginia Peninsula Mayors and Chairs board.
Bowman and his wife, Brenda, live in Dry Fork. Their daughter, Lindsay Bowman, is Miss Danville-Pittsylvania County and will compete in the Miss Virginia pageant on June 27.
Contact Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.
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