“I’m quite impressed,” J. Mike Brooks said Thursday after he and his wife caught an 11:25 a.m. flight to Atlanta. “The community certainly has indicated an interest in having a strong economic development program, and that’s an exciting opportunity, it seems to me.”
Brooks became the only candidate named by an EDC search committee last Friday as a finalist for the position of president held by Tim Martin until his resignation in April.
The Albany Herald filed an open records request for the names of the committee’s top three finalists, as well as demographic information about all candidates who applied.
On Monday, the EDC revealed that the search, conducted by consultant Tim Chason, had generated interest from 19 applicants, 14 of whom completed the application. Of the 14, six resided in Georgia, three in Texas and two each in Indiana and Texas. The six others were from Arkansas, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi and Nevada.
Brooks said he didn’t know what to say about being the EDC’s only named candidate.
“I’m just a candidate for the job,” he said. “I don’t have an offer yet,” though he said he expects to hear back from the selection committee soon.
During his visit to Albany, Brooks said he hadn’t closely examined Albany’s potential for economic development, but that the available land and work force indicated the “good ingredients” for development.
Brooks said he’d draw on his experiences from 14 years as president of the Economic Development Corporation of Lafayette-West Lafayette, Ind., home of his alma mater, Purdue University.
His current position is president and CEO of Indiana Health Industry Forum, which is “sort of a chamber of commerce for the health industry,” Brooks said.
Its members range from pharmaceutical and medical product developers to hospitals, health insurers and service industries that support the growth of the health care sector, he said.
The experience proves useful to Brooks’ “having a real solid understanding of how that whole cluster works,” from the discovery made in a research university to the entrepreneurial startup that produces and markets medical products, devices and services, he said.
The transfer of research into the marketplace is a costly proposition and requires a unique skill set to ensure all the necessary components are present, he said.
Though 29 of his 30 years in economic development have been in Indiana, Brooks acknowledged having a cousin in South Georgia.
Bobby McKinney, an EDC board member who chairs the search committee, said the committee’s work is nearly done.
Working with Brooks, the committee will formulate an offer to propose to the full EDC board, McKinney said.
“We feel good about Mike, and if things work out and he permits us to do it, we will be making a recommendation to the Economic Development Commission,” McKinney said.
“We’re excited, and I hope everything comes together.”
Brooks will likely begin work in January, he said.
At the EDC’s request, The Albany Herald on Wednesday reiterated its open records request, for documents pertaining to the committee’s three top finalists for the position.
With more than two-thirds of its budget derived from local taxes, the EDC is subject to Georgia Open Records laws, which require the release of information about top candidates for positions as agency heads.
The EDC has repeatedly refused to release the information, citing the advice of consultant Tim Chason, but agreed Wednesday to respond to the request today.
Chason, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, attended Abraham Baldwin College, where he was editor of the student newspaper, The Stallion. He later earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.
From 1996-2003, Chason served as chief operating officer for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, the Chason Group successfully recruited Albany Herald Editor Kay Read to serve as President of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, a position Chason held from 1983-1993.
