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SIERRA VISTA — The local Economic Development Foundation announced Wednesday that it has hired a new executive director.
The new boss is Bob Shepard, who has experience with business ownership, development and recruitment in Oregon and Idaho.
“Bob is enthusiastic, energetic and excited about the many opportunities he envisions for economic growth in Sierra Vista and Southern Arizona,” Sheila DeVoe Heidman, president of Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation’s board of directors, stated Wednesday in the announcement.
“Bob is retired from the Air Force and understands the importance of, and the opportunities associated with, the Sierra Vista-Fort Huachuca partnership.” DeVoe Heidman said.
 Shepard |
Shepard, who has a wife and grown children, was reported to be en route from Idaho to his new home in Sierra Vista and was not available for comment Wednesday evening. He will start his new job Monday at the foundation’s headquarters, which is housed in the Wick Building, 333 Wilcox Drive, Suite 200.
Shepard will succeed Barry Albrecht, who resigned from the Sierra Vista EDF executive director’s position on Feb. 4. The foundation launched a nationwide search for Albrecht’s replacement. Earlier this month, Albrecht was named the new executive director and CEO of the Central Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation in Casa Grande. Before his departure, Albrecht assisted with the launch of Benson-based Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group.
Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group, led by former Benson mayor George Scott, has received vocal support from Cochise County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Searle and claims to represent all of Cochise County in business and industrial recruitment.
While Shepard was the executive director of the Mini-Cassia Economic Development Foundation, he was instrumental in the recruitment of two manufacturers — one for recreational vehicles and the other for state-of-the-art walking equipment for the disabled — to the 9,000-population community Burley, Idaho, in 2006, according to businessfacilities.com.
Hundreds of jobs were brought to Burley with those two plants.
Burley is the seat of Cassia County in southern Idaho. Its neighbor to the north is Minidoka County, thus the name Mini-Cassia EDF.
Also in 2006, Shepard helped bring an ethanol plant to the Mini-Cassia area, according to an online archived news report by the South Idaho Press.
That plant was back in the news this month. The Associated Press reported on July 3, “The city of Burley has sent a letter to the owners of an ethanol plant located on the edge of town informing them that fines of up to $300 a day may be imposed if the company doesn’t comply with zoning restrictions and limit odors. Council members of the south-central Idaho city authorized the letter (on July 1), giving Pacific Ethanol 10 days to reduce the smell that some residents say is eye watering.”
There have been no further reports on that issue.
Visit the Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation’s Web site at svedf.org
Herald/review City Editor Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or by e-mail at cityeditor@svherald.com.
