Leaders intermediate between businesses and city
Leaders intermediate between businesses and city
Written by Mandy Hobby Wednesday, 07 June 2006
Joe Vining, Round Rock Chamber of Commerce vice-president of economic development
Joe Vining recently traded one Round Rock job for another. The new vice president of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce retired from the City last year and now works to carry out the city’s plan for a stronger tax base.
“The city has a plan and my new role is to help carry out that plan,” Vining said. “We want to provide jobs for people that live here and will live here.”
The theme for the city master plan to develop a strong tax base for Round Rock citizens will ultimately give those residents a better life. “My vision is to provide a healthy quality of life for all citizens; a place where they can live, work and play.”
Q. What is the economic development vice president?
A. This is the person who is leading the team effort for growing the Round Rock community and economy. I am responsible for the economic oversight committee, reviewing the budget and the planning efforts, as well as the guidance and direction efforts.
Q. Pick a day last week. What did you do?
A. When I first get into the office, I check my messages, e-mails and voicemails, as well as respond to any prospects or potential businesses looking to come to the community. I spend time organizing my day and scanning through papers. I usually speak a couple of times a week at civic clubs or groups; for instance, I gave a talk to the Sunriser’s Rotary Club. I attend meetings with committees and boards throughout the metro area. In the afternoon, I work on whatever our next event is and whatever needs to be done to move forward.
Q. How do you work with and help the city? the Chamber of Commerce?
A. The chamber is the first group to be contacted about a company wanting to expand or relocate to Round Rock. I coordinate with the city to accomplish that task. I sort out the different tasks and put together information about the company for the city. I figure out whatever the company’s need is and work with the city and then get the information to the client. The chamber members recognize my job as beneficial to the community and their businesses. In the business of a growing community, I work with them to make the economy as healthy as possible.
Q. Where are you going on vacation this summer?
A. My wife and I went to the Indianapolis 500 at the end of May. The City gave me the trip as a present when I retired.
- Education Bachelors in Government and Masters in community and regional planning from University of Texas at Austin
- Family Married 31 years to Karla; one daughter, Brooke, 25
- Contact Information 255-5805; jvining@roundrocktex.com
Rick Murphy, Director of Pflugerville Community Development Corporation
Rick Murphy compares his position as the director of the Pflugerville Development Corporation to that of a symphony conductor. “I have to know how to bring everyone together,” Murphy said. The ‘everyone’ he speaks of is prospective businesses, city department heads, land developers and the Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce.
Murphy has been involved in city economic development for more than 30 years and just as his love for Impressionist painting has grown over the years, so has his expertise in commercial property. “Pflugerville is going to get a second chance in a big way to grow and become something great,” Murphy said of the city’s future economic development. “We will have our day in the sun. We have to walk before we can fly.”
Q. What is the director of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation?
A. My job is to provide interface between the City and businesses that are looking to locate and invest in Pflugerville. We, as a group, are the economic development arm for the city. We look to increase the tax and job base with a principal emphasis on recruiting retail and commercial development that is meaningful and well-planned.
Q. Pick a day last week. What did you do?
A. Thursday - We held a ground-breaking for Wal-Mart Supercenter; I worked the World Conference on information technology in Austin where I heard Colin Powell speak. I also received the new brochures for Pflugerville, worked with two developers for neighborhood shopping centers, worked with one medium-sized industrial project and also worked with two small businesses looking to relocate to the community.
Q. How do you work with and help the city? the Chamber of Commerce?
A. As a city employee, I report directly to the city manager, David Buesing and a board of directors. I basically cut through the red tape to move things along for a business. I am very knowledgeable of commercial property and introduce potential businesses to people who own property that might fit their needs. We work with the Chamber to see the opportunity in the Austin regional marketing effort. I work with Patricia Gervan-Brown, president and CEO of the Chamber, on leads and industrial projects. There is no successful economic development anywhere that does not include a strong chamber.
Q. Where are you going on vacation this summer?
A. Right now I am not going anywhere because I don’t seem to have the time. I love traveling to Europe and I would really like to do that again soon. I have so many places I want to visit like Vienna, Austria, Germany and Spain.
- Education Bachelors in Journalism from University of Alabama
- Family Married to Cecilia for 32 years; 2 dogs
- Contact Information 750-1824; rickm@cityofpflugerville.com
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