week of 1/21/04
 
 
 
  Clasby picked to fill Haywood EDC post
By Becky Johnson

The Haywood County Economic Development Commission last week appointed Waynesville businessman Mark Clasby to the position of economic development director.

Clasby served as the interim director since the resignation last summer of Jay Hinson, the county’s former economic development director. Clasby has launched several new initiatives during his six-month interim post.

“I didn’t go into the interim position merely as a caretaker,” Clasby said.

While other candidates interviewed for the position had degrees or experience specifically in economic development, EDC members believed Clasby’s on-the-ground experience as a business owner and corporate executive was more valuable, according to Gavin Brown, co-chair of the EDC.

“He comes from the private sector. He understands how business operates,” Brown said. “There’s something to be said for a business person talking to a business person, rather than a bureaucrat talking to a business person.”

Clasby has addressed several economic development shortcomings that were identified by a 30-member task force last spring during a four-month probe into the county’s economic development practices. Some deficiencies included: being too focused on manufacturing at the expense of other economic sectors, not responding quickly enough to inquiries from potential new businesses, and not giving more organizations a role in economic development, such as Haywood Community College, the Haywood County and Maggie Valley chambers of commerce, Lake Junaluska and Haywood Regional Medical Center.

The task force probe last summer was a controversial undertaking that created dissidence among some of the county’s prominent political and business leaders. Clasby remained largely neutral despite the controversies that emerged during the process. He said the factions have since pulled together.

“I think it’s been smoothed over,” Clasby said.