Economic Development Director Finalists in Town July 30

The City has announced the four finalists in the running to be Tacoma’s next Director of Economic Development. All four will be in town for an all-day interview process on July 30, when they will face four “community panels,” which will identify the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. At the end of that day of grueling interviews, you’ll have your own chance to meet the applicants at the community meet-and-greet scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 30. The City Manager will hold a final round of interviews the following day, and expects to make a selection sometime in early August.

Candidate bios are listed below. None of the four names are local to the Tacoma area, with the closest being the applicant from Kirkland. We see a fair amount of experience listed among the four candidates; what stands out the most to you? What are you most looking for in the person who will take leadership of Tacoma’s economic development strategies and programs?

• Ellen Miller-Wolfe Economic development manager for the City of Kirkland in Washington. Over the past six years, Miller-Wolfe has managed the City of Kirkland’s economic development, tourism and cultural affairs programs. She has cultivated relationships with companies such as Google, Nintendo, INRIX and Fiat, encouraging them to locate and/or expand operations in Kirkland. Miller-Wolfe holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University.

• Ricardo Noguera Former housing and economic development director for the City of Visalia in California. For the past five years, Noguera led the city’s affordable housing, economic development, redevelopment and code enforcement activities. Under his leadership, he oversaw the recruitment of major national retailers such as Macy’s and Hobby Lobby, and filled more than 450,000 square feet of vacant space during the recession, while generating close to $2 million in annual sales tax revenues. He also led the recruitment and expansion of more than a dozen industrial companies resulting in millions of dollars in revenues and job creation for the city. Noguera has a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

• Eric Anthony Johnson, Ph.D. Executive director for University Park Alliance in Akron, Ohio. Johnson has more than 15 years experience in economic development strategies and urban planning. In his current position, he has led development efforts to revitalize Akron’s core center. Over the course of his career, Johnson oversaw a landmark waterfront redevelopment project for the Cleveland Port Authority and managed a $2.5 billion real estate portfolio for the City of Charlotte in North Carolina. Johnson earned his Ph.D. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.

• Steven J. Anderson Former president and chief executive officer of Lake County Partners in Lake County, Ill. During his tenure at Lake County Partners, Anderson oversaw community development efforts with targeted projects to increase opportunities for distressed areas, led the recruitment of Sysmex Pharma and a large, new multi-state FedEx facility, the retention of Motorola, and the expansion and improvements at Midwest Generation. He also spearheaded a comprehensive economic development strategy for Lake County. Anderson earned a Juris Doctor from Whittier College School of Law in Los Angeles.

Read the full press release at www.CityOfTacoma.org.