DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — The search for a new executive director for the Walton County Economic Alliance appears to be coming to an end.
The EDA’s board of directors voted unanimously Friday to begin negotiations with Steven Jaeger, the executive director of TransPORT, the port authority in Peoria, Ill. If negotiations go well, the board would like Jaeger to start work next month.
“He had done his homework (before interviewing with the board last week),” said Walton County Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen, who is chairman of the EDA’s board. “He had really done his research. He understood Walton County. He knew what our needs were, he understood our (industrial) parks, he understood we had an I-10 corridor, we had the 331 corridor fixing to be four-laned to the beaches, also the rail system. He just looked at the diversity of the county.”
Jaeger was chosen from more than 40 applicants for the post. The job has a salary range of $50,000 to $65,000.
Jaeger has owned a condominium in South Walton for about 10 years, and much of his prior work experience has been along the Gulf Coast. Before moving to Peoria, Jaeger was the director of operations for the Port of New Orleans.
Walton County has been without an economic development director since Scarlett Phaneuf resigned Dec. 28 to take a position with the Bay County Economic Development Alliance.
Since then, Walton Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kellie Jo Kilberg has worked on project activities and the board has handled much of the administrative work.
Kilberg said Jaeger will be a good fit for the county and the EDA.
“He brings the knowledge on developing infrastructure, which is one of the areas we desperately need when it comes to economic development,” Kilberg said. “Particularly when you look at we’re developing the (industrial) park in Mossy Head, we’re doing the expansion for Freeport, and then if you look at the four-laning of 331, there’s so much opportunity there. We need someone with vision who can come into this board and say, ‘You need to go and buy the rights to this much acreage on 331 for economic development opportunities.’
“Just all the way around, he brings a lot of experience to the table,” she added. “He’s been around the block a few times, so nothing’s going to scare him off. He was in New Orleans during (Hurricane) Katrina. Having lived through that, he understands emergency management and how to get back up and running.”
Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.
