Former Associates Praise Rowan’s New Development Director

BY SARA PITZER
SALISBURY POST

Randy Harrell says he’ll be right at home in a town where somebody’s cat shows up on the front page every so often. His old cat, Purrlene, made the paper in Elizabeth City by living to be 24 years old.

Harrell and his wife, Virginia, Gin to all who know her, will bring a couple of new kittens, General Jeb and Reb, when they move from Elizabeth City to Salisbury.

The Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission formally announced hiring Harrell as executive director Tuesday. They hope he will be able to begin working here March 26.

Jake Alexander Jr., commission chairman, said the agency searched for someone with not only the technical and political skills but also certain ‘‘intangibles.’’

‘‘We wanted somebody who will develop a real passion for the community,’’ he said.

That’s Randy Harrell, say the people who have worked with him.

State Rep. Bill Owens, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, said, ‘‘I was chairman of the Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Economic Development Commission when we hired Randy. He has done an excellent job. He’s very conscientious, and he’s very personable. I think he will fit into your community very well.’’

Horace Pritchard is current chairman of the Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Economic Development Commission. ‘‘It is a great loss for us and a tremendous gain for Salisbury-Rowan,’’ he said. ‘‘Randy has been a hard worker. I have enjoyed working with him. I find him to be very fair. I can guarantee any business he brings to your commission, he will have done his homework.’’

As an example, Pritchard mentioned a time when some of the board knew of businesses they thought they’d like to bring to Elizabeth City. ‘‘He did his job and came back and showed it was in our best interests not to have them coming here.’’

Pritchard said one of Harrell’s strengths is working with businesses already in the community. When a lumber company in Elizabeth City wanted to expand, Harrell helped them find state funds and programs providing money at a lower rate of interest.

‘‘Another one of his pluses,’’ Pritchard said, ‘‘is he is well known across the state, especially around Raleigh.’’

Hoffer Flow Controls is one of the companies Harrell brought to Elizabeth City. Ken Hoffer, the president, said, ‘‘I asked him, ‘Are you going to try to get me to leave here and come to Salisbury?’|’’

Hoffer said his association with Harrell was a deciding factor in moving his company from New Jersey to Elizabeth City. ‘‘It was a combination. He was nice to work with, and we were very enticed with Elizabeth City. We were also looking at New Bern and Little Washington. We met with Randy and he showed us around town. He is very personable. He goes the extra step.’’

For instance, before Hoffer decided to move to Elizabeth City, Harrell helped him go to the newspaper to advertise jobs. Harrell wanted Hoffer to be sure Hoffer Flow Controls could hire the workforce the company would need.

Harrell is president of the N.C. Economic Development Association. Paul Lawler, executive director of the association, said, ‘‘Salisbury is getting ia good man. I’ve worked with him at least six years as he worked his way up through officers’ chairs in the association.’’

Harrell likes to include everybody in a project, Lawler said. Harrell encouraged creating a strategic planning committee so the association can take stock of where it is and figure out where it needs to grow. ‘‘He has past presidents and all the board involved,’’ Lawler said. ‘‘I think he is a good guy. He gets along well with most people. He will be a real asset in Rowan County.’’

Harrell said it is important that the community perceive him as willing to communicate. ‘‘I am a firm believer in people working together, the city and county jointly, a team effort. I am funded by both. I am not one who is big on taking credit. I have that reputation. I am very proud not of what I do. It is what we do.’’

Harrell said he’s proud of helping bring Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County together. ‘‘They have to work well together,’’ he said.

When he gets here, Harrell said the first thing he wants to do is make a presence in the community, meet elected officials and get to know the city and county managers.

While he travels about the county, Harrell will be taking in Civil War sites. He said the first thing he and Gin did when they came to Salisbury last week was visit the Civil War cemetery and the site of the Civil War prison.‘‘I love Civil War history.’’

He is vice chairman of the N.C. Civil War Council and lectures on battles and other Civil War topics. ‘‘I think it is the worst tragedy this country has ever endured, and it is important people remember what happened. I do not show favoritism. South or North, the history should be preserved.’’

That’s his hobby. His work begins with getting to know the community.

‘‘I’ll spend the first three to six months just making myself accessible. I am going to have an open door policy.’’

The only thing that worries Harrell about meeting people here is that they may not recognize him from his picture because he just shaved off his moustache in an impulsive moment, after having it for more than 30 years.

Gin wants him to grow it back. ‘‘But people tell me I look 10 years younger,’’ he said. ‘‘When you are 49, how can you argue with that?’’

Either way, Harrell and Gin expect to have a good time in Salisbury.

Gin has been working with Wachovia Bank, Harrell said, and would like to continue with the company, though she’ll consider other options.

‘‘The way people treated us, we are looking forward to being in Salisbury.’’