After 15 years of service, Ken Paxton stepped down from his role as Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) executive director in May. While GCDC evaluates their leadership model, Michelle Book has stepped in as interim executive director.
“I will continue to work with all the important stakeholders to keep that connectivity in place between GCDC and community stakeholders, such as city mayors, city managers, the Board of Supervisors, the key large employers in Greene County and the large manufacturers in Greene County,” Book said.
Book, a 1979 Jefferson High School graduate, was contacted by GCDC President Scott Weber and Vice President Kristin Russell to step in as interim director. While Book said she expects her time as a GCDC leader to be brief, she has goals of building trust between major constituents and helping GCDC migrate to new leadership.
“This is an exciting time for Greene County, it’s an exciting time for [GCDC],” Book said. “I just think they’re on the cusp of really being able to take off and soar, and there’s just the right leadership in place right now to move GCDC forward.”
Greene County’s history of attracting business leaders, entrepreneurs and volunteers is what Book said makes the county unique.
“It’s really all about the people, and there is a willingness in Greene County, a desire to collaborate and cooperate,” Book said. “When folks in Greene County make a commitment to a particular project or a goal, it just gets done.”
The recent Greater American Main Street America awarded to Jefferson, the Multicultural Family Resource Center, Wild Rose Casino, Career Academy and Early Learning Center are some successes Book credits to the growth of Jefferson. She said these organizations and recognitions help set Jefferson up for a “future positive trajectory.”
Book originally started working with GCDC in January to facilitate Vision 2030, which is now on pause while the organization navigates leadership changes. For the past several months, Book said she has been working with Weber, Russell and the strategic planning steering committee on Vision 2030.
According to a GCDC press release from February, the goal of Vision 2030 is to “identify projects which support continued growth, sustainable business development, and enhanced quality of life for Greene County residents.”
Book has gained experience in strategic planning and problem resolution through the 30 years she spent working in corporate America for MidAmerican Energy, John Deere finance and DuPont Pioneer. After working for Food Bank of Iowa for nine years, she retired last year as CEO.
GCDC is considering several options for leadership moving forward, including finding a permanent executive director, joining a regional alliance or merging with a nonprofit.
“They’ll look at those ideas from a financial perspective and a cultural perspective as well to determine what is the next best step for Greene County,” Book said.
A press release from GCDC stated that the organization’s mission, since its inception, is to “cooperate in the active development and implementation of programs and activities to expand and diversify the economy of Greene County, through attraction, retention, and expansion of business.”
Questions for GCDC can be directed to Weber at sweber@heartlandbanks.bank.