CHILLICOTHE – When the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio and Ross County Community Improvement Corporation decided to better coordinate their efforts under the banner of Chillicothe Ross County Development Partners, they were looking for someone with passion to serve as the partnership’s development director.
After sifting through 21 applicants for the position, conducting phone interviews with eight and speaking with three in person, they found what they were looking for in 2011 Unioto High School graduate Brad Morton.
“We found Brad to be very well-organized with a great work ethic and drive to be successful,” said Steve Neal, a member of the five-person board that will oversee the partnership. “He wants to create more opportunity for our young professionals and entrepreneurs to be successful here at home instead of having to move out of the area. He has experience in marketing and communicating through social media and other electronic means while working for various state officials.”
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney, another member of the board, echoed Neal’s comments, saying Morton brings a “unique mix of experience, energy and passion for this community that make him a great fit for the job.”
One of the strengths the board saw in Morton was his experience in Columbus, having worked as a legislative and constituent aide for State Rep. Terry Johnson, a legislative aide for State Reps. Bill Hayes and Dave Hall, a scheduler for House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and a legislative aide for State Rep. Gary Scherer.
“With his experience at the Statehouse, he will be able to help local business better navigate through state government,” Neal said.
Morton, for all practical purposes, inherits a role played by Chris Manegold who, after 11 years as founder and CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio, has retired. Morton’s role, however, will be more hyper-locally focused, meaning he will be involved with making contacts and marketing to try and attract new business and industry specifically to Ross County, working with existing businesses in trying to address their needs and acting as a liaison between the business community and government on such things as tax abatements that can lead to job creation.
“I’ve always had an interest in developing jobs,” said Morton, 24. “From a young age, I wanted to start a business, but this was another route to at least help put that piece together. It really started in the Statehouse when I started working up there, kind of seeing how government affects job creation and workforce development, how it affects it negatively and positively.
“The biggest thing for me is trying to help the community any way possible so people have jobs.”
Part of his new role, he recognizes, will involve finding ways to make the best use of all the social media and technology tools available to reach beyond the county’s borders.
“That’s something I mentioned when I sat down with the board members was that I think we need to make a stronger presence on social media and improve our website so that we’re really marketing the area right, really putting our area to the forefront and highlighting the resources that we have,” he said. “Highlighting the interested parties, highlighting our board members, highlighting the business people who are invested in this group and those that can help businesses grow and help new investment because that’s how we are going to build our community.”
Morton praised the available workforce Ross County possesses and said it is essential that workforce is provided access to the tools and skill sets employers are looking for, adding that the area is “ripe for major industries to come in.”
Morton started in the new post Monday, and early on will be involved with attending several government and development-related meetings to familiarize himself with the environment, building up investment within the organization to raise the available pool of funds for marketing and driving home the importance of community involvement in the process. His starting salary will be $51,000.
From Chillicothe Gazette | June 12, 2017
