Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sharkey Leaving Post For New Job

Prescott-Nevada County will soon be losing its economic development officer.

Jim Sharkey has accepted a similar position in Maumelle and will take over as that city's Director of Community and Economic Development as of July 1, 1996.

He said representatives from Maumelle approached him several months ago, and were persistent in working to get him to come to work there.

In the meantime, however, Prescott's leaders will be scrambling to find a replacement for Sharkey.

John Brannan, president of the Bank of Prescott, said the Nevada County Economic Development Group has been running an ad in the statewide newspaper seeking a qualified person.

The requirements include having a college degree, preferably be computer literate in programs such as Word Perfect and Windows, and have some experience in grant writing.

Brannan said several resume's have already been received and will be reviewed. Once the review process has been done, the applicants selected will go through the interview process.

"We hope to bring someone in shortly after July 1," Brannan said.

"He's been a good man for us," he said of Sharkey. "He may return and help train whoever we hire. We're still on good terms.

"This is a better opportunity for him and his wife. I'm pleased we continue to hire people other people want."

Nevada County Judge John Barham said he wasn't prepared to hear Sharkey was leaving.

Sharkey was working with the county on the Rosston and Waterloo water project, as well as the hospital project.

"We'll miss him," Barham said. "Hopefully, we'll get someone else to fill his shoes. He's been good to work with and worked hard for us."

Brannan said Sharkey has been instrumental on a number of projects for Prescott and Nevada County.

He said Sharkey is working on wrapping up the Arkansas Community of Excellence program data, and Prescott could attain its ACE certification before Sharkey leaves.

According to Brannan, Sharkey also helped with other grants and to get a new building for the rural fire departments. He helped get money for the county to hire another deputy for the south portion of the county through the federally funded COPS program.

Additionally, Sharkey helped get the established industry program up and running.

"I understand they intend to make a quick selection," Sharkey said of a replacement. "The goal is to find a replacement who may be able to work with me for a while like I did with Gene Monk (who Sharkey replaced in August, 1995), to help get an understanding of what's going on, get into a leadership role and move forward."

Sharkey said the Maumelle offer is the best he's ever had, and was too good to turn down.

"I was skeptical at first," he said of the offer. "We didn't want to go back to a big city, but this is far enough out so there shouldn't be any problems.

"It was a most difficult decision for us," he continued. "We'll miss the people of Prescott, and our leaving has nothing to do with the community.

"I can become an ally for Prescott. If something doesn't fit there, I'll gladly recommend the prospect look at this area.

"The people here have been fair and upbeat about the community. They've made the job easy for me."

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said there has been contact between the economic development group and some who have expressed an interest in taking the post. However, nothing definite is in the works.

"We've been lucky and had two good ones (economic development executive directors)," he said, "and hope to get another one."

He said none of us work in a vacuum, but are members of a team. "Sharkey was a key player," Taylor said.

"He has numerous star qualities, one being the ability to focus on goals. When we are working on projects and encounter a problem, Sharkey could step back and decide which battle to fight without losing sight of the goals and accomplish something worthwhile."

Taylor said Sharkey has the qualities to make people enthusiastic, confident and motivated, along with being patient and dedicated.

"We have been lucky in the selection of good economic development directors," Taylor said. "I am confident we will be able to get someone who will contribute to the office and help with the continued growth of our community."