County working to fill VCB, economic development director jobs

Jun 09, 2023

Reporter

Citrus County is seeking to fill two important posts: director of the Visitors- Convention Bureau and economic development.

To date, 29 have applied for the VCB job and 32 for the latter.

The county is not accepting any further applications for VCB director at this time. Instead, interviews are being conducted. If nobody fits the bill, the position will be re-advertised.

No interviews are occurring for economic development director at this time and the ad is still out there.

Adam Thomas, former Visitors & Convention Bureau director

Adam Thomas submitted his resignation in August as Visitors Bureau director. The salary range for the position is $53,275 to $79,925. Thomas, who made $59,639 annually, took the same job with Pasco County and saw his salary shoot up to $82,000.

Miles Saunders, a VCB staff member who handles media relations and content, is the interim director. He has not submitted an application for the permanent position.

County Administrator Randy Oliver

Meanwhile, County Administrator Randy Oliver has said the ad for economic development director will continue to be advertised until the right person is found. The county posted the ad in June. Oliver had previously said he had hoped to hire someone by Oct. 1. The position is advertised to pay between $55,000 to $88,000 annually, to come out of the county’s business tax revenue.

The Chronicle previously published a list of the early applicants to each position. For the prior VCB list, visit http://tinyurl.com/ycvsovpo.

For the prior EDC list, visit http://tinyurl.com/y8etmak8.

Here’s an updated list of people who have applied for the Visitors-Convention Bureau director job:

Those who applied previously for this position and were mentioned in the above referenced article (http://tinyurl.com/ycvsovpo) are: Meredith Bleakley; Kathleen Burns; Veronica Davis; Carrie Dixon; Lacey Ekberg; Stephanie Foley; James Fox; Brandy Hastings; James Holder; Kate Jarocki; Antonette McAndrews; Jessica Montgomery; Terry Natwick; Adam Piccin; John Pricher; Susan Smith; Susan Viola; Michael Walker; and Krystal Williams.

Updated list of Economic Development Director applicants:

Those who applied previously for this position and were mentioned in the above referenced article (http://tinyurl.com/y8etmak8) are: Kurt Davis; Krista DiBerardino; Bernie Leven; Amy Sparks; Sidney Williams; Janet Barek; Christopher Edwards; Laura Gambino; Kevin Gay; Mark Green; Oscar Ocasio; Samuel Raj; and Stephen Weeks.

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