Jorgenson Consulting Seeks CEO for Montgomery County Economic Development Group

January 6, 2020 – Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting has been selected to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. (MCEDC) in Maryland. Todd W.S. Jorgenson, managing director and principal, is leading the assignment for the executive recruitment firm.

David Petr stepped down from the organization’s top role at the end of his three-year term in September. MCEDC’s screening committee, which will also be involved in the search, includes six members of the group’s advisory board.

Mr. Jorgenson told Bethesda Magazine that he expects the search to last three to four months.  He said he expected multiple rounds of candidate interviews with the search firm, followed by two rounds of interviews with the MCEDC search committee.

A Passionate Leader

“The Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. is seeking a dynamic, high-energy executive who is focused on working in collaboration with private and public sector stakeholders to realize a vision that enables the county to achieve its economic growth and diversification objectives,” said Jorgenson Consulting. “MCEDC seeks a leader who is passionate about driving sustainable job growth and aggressively pursuing the creation of effective partnerships and relationships throughout the county and the region.”

Responsibilities of the role include proposing, developing and leading initiatives to competitively position the county for domestic and international business attraction and investment, said the search firm. The job also calls for leading a team devoted to the growth and expansion of existing businesses and industries across the county. The next leader will be expected to provide strategic direction to MCEDC’s board of directors and county stakeholders to determine the best use of its assets. He or she will oversee the continued growth and development of the county’s “brand,” champion the brand both internally and externally, and serve as the public face of the organization, along with other duties.

Among the core competencies of the job, the next CEO must be a passionate, visionary, inclusive, accessible and authentic leader, said Jorgenson Consulting. The individual should also have a strong understanding of the economic development ecosystem and how to work within a multi-jurisdictional community to strengthen commerce (high-level network to include local, state, federal governmental agencies, as well as business and industry associations).

A demonstrated knowledge of domestic and international business and markets, business development competencies and the ability to close deals is essential. Prospects must be adept at interfacing and advocating on behalf of the business community. They should also have the ability to build a culture of trust and collaboration among private and public-sector entities across the county and region.

Role Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of progressively responsible senior leadership experience, with a track record of success and proven results in leading a complex organization, is necessary for the job, said Jorgenson Consulting. A master’s degree is preferred. Candidates should also have: business acumen and project management skills; proficiency in community, economic and business development and strategic planning; understanding of the changing dynamics of the business environment in the county and what is required to attract businesses to a community in such an environment; and strong character, with emotional intelligence, authenticity and a broad perspective.

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2015 to foster business growth and expansion in Montgomery County. The organization is governed by an 11-member board of directors comprised of private sector representatives, with an additional three ex-officio public sector representatives. MCEDC is committed to growing the county’s business community and leveraging its strengths and assets to build an even stronger, more stable and diverse economy.

Founded in 1992, Jorgenson Consulting focuses on the fields of non-profit, economic and community development. The firm, which serves state organizations as well as a multitude of organizational structures, has led searches in rural communities, mid-sized markets and metropolitan regions. In addition to North Carolina, Jorgenson Consulting has offices in Colorado, Florida, Maryland and New York.

A Respected Recruiter

Todd W.S. Jorgenson, managing director and principal, specializes in executive searches for non-profit, community and economic development entities throughout the U.S. His experience includes non-profit executive searches, information technology searches, executive compensation, sales operation management, business development and sales.

Mr. Jorgenson began his career recruiting software engineers from the U.S. Department of Defense and National Security agencies to work on classified government contractor projects. He also worked in the field of information technology and telecommunications infrastructure, working for successful technology-based companies like U.S. Robotics, 3Com and Universal Access. His experience ranges from business development to running the Middle East and Africa sale operations out of Paris, France.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media