Welcome!
One thing’s for sure about Bob Shark, the new executive director of the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council.
It’d be very difficult to find someone with more education than him.
Shark holds a bachelor’s degree in natural science from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, a master’s degree in forensic chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, and a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Shark said his science background led him to working in several environmental capacities, which, in turn, spawned his interest in approaching business development from a technical perspective. It all helped him better understand and assist businesses, Shark noted.
A native of Windber, Somerset County, Shark used his knowledge the last 12 years in several capacities with the Johnstown Area Regional Industries (JARI).
Shark functioned as JARI’s technology director, Keystone Innovation Zone coordinator and vice president of procurement technical assistance. Shark said he counseled high-tech start-up businesses, facilitated technology transfer at universities, worked with high schools on workforce development and assisted in bringing both domestic and foreign companies into the Johnstown region.
Bill Blaney,Fay-Penn board chairman, said Shark was hired on the basis of his skills and expertise.
“His successes in assisting clients with business development, along with his project management abilities. will be an asset to Fay-Penn’s main mission of maintaining and increasing employment in Fayette County,” said Blaney.
Shark succeeds Michael Jordan, who resigned in February after two years on the job. Jordan’s predecessor was Michael Krajovic, Fay-Penn’s original executive director, who held the job for 21 years.
Shark, who started his new job on Monday, said he’s not planning any immediate changes at Fay-Penn, noting he wants to consult with staff and board members first before doing anything else.
However, Shark said he thinks as an outsider he will be able to examine some of the challenges facing Fay-Penn with a fresh perspective.
We couldn’t agree more. Fay-Penn stands to benefit from having someone with a new way of looking at things, especially someone with Shark’s impeccable credentials.
Also, by bringing in someone from the outside, it was clear that Fay-Penn was serious about hiring the best person for the job, not someone with the best inside connections.
As board chairman, Blaney deserves a lot of credit for taking his time in searching for the best candidate. He also deserves kudos for taking the executive director’s job on a voluntary basis without pay during the five-month job search.
It appears that Shark has the right tools to do the job. However, as the new director of Fayette County’s lead economic development agency, Shark has his work cut out for him in trying to lure new businesses here, while keeping the ones we already have.
County officials and local residents should welcome Shark and help him in whatever manner they can. For him to be a success, he’s going to need our help.
Let’s hope that with everyone working together, Shark can move Fay-Penn and the county forward in a positive direction.