By R.J. DeLuke
Deanna Derway was made interim president of the Washington County Local Development Corp. at meeting of the LDC board of directors last month.
The board vote was unanimous. She replaces Tori Riley who left earlier this year to take a position with the Saratoga County Economic Development Corp. Derway worked with Riley for about four years as LDC office coordinator.
The LDC has been the subject of discussion by the Washington County Board of Supervisors which oversee the agency. After Riley’s departure, there is a feeling that the agency will be restructured in some fashion.
Some officials have wondered if there should be some kind of shared services situation with the Warren County Economic Development Corp. whose president, Vicki Pratt Gerbino, also resigned early this year. But the Warren County EDC has been interviewing candidates for that position and a decision is expected soon.
Derway, meanwhile, said she is “very excited” to be leading the LDC efforts. “I’m glad I got the opportunity.”
She said she learned a lot from Riley during their time together. “We were worried when Tori left, she was such a dynmamic person,” said Derway. “She did such a wonderful job. We were lucky to have her.”
She said Riley is still a valuable resource when advice is needed, Riley came to the Washington County agency in 2009, after working for years at the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Warren County EDC developed an “Open for Business” project in 2011 that was funded with a $300,000 grant from Empire State Development Corp., which focuses on streamlining the organization’s collaboration with other economic development organizations, including a bi-county loan fund.
Derway said the LDC still has loan applications for development projects coming each month for the board’s consideration. The restructuring will involving “looking at what we’ve got and propelling that forward.”
“Whether we wanted to or not, it was time to look at restructuring,” she noted. The board will move for ward to find the best model, while at the same time trying to be fiscally responsible, Derway said.
She said when the structure is ironed out, she would like to stay on as head of the LDC”to continue with the things that we’re doing.