Growth And Retention Manager Hired For Ohio County
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TRIADELPHIA - An employee has been hired in Ohio County to promote population growth.
Stephanie Hockenberry was announced as the county's new "growth and retention manager" prior to Wednesday night's meeting of the Ohio Development Authority at The Highlands Event Center.
Hockenberry will answer to the newly created County Growth and Retention Committee, which is made up of representatives from the following entities - the ODCA, the Ohio County Commission, the city of Wheeling, the Wheeling Park Commission, the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, and the Regional Economic Development Partnership.
Hockenberry starts the job on Monday, and a planning meeting of the County Growth and Retention will take place to discuss the goals and priorities for her job, Commissioner Zach Abraham told OCDA members.
Hockenberry is a Wheeling native who continues to live with her family in the Triadelphia area. Her father, Jim Kleeh, was a business owner in the area for many years, and she worked in his stores. She is a graduate of Corpus Christi School, and Wheeling Central Catholic High School.
Hockenberry obtained an undergraduate degree from West Liberty University before moving on to achieve a master's degree from the former Wheeling Jesuit University.
"I've worked in and out of Wheeling my whole life," she said. "I've been in sales for the past six years, and I am really happy to be off the road and back to contributing to the place I love.
"I think it's a really safe place to raise a family. It's a great place to make memories, and I have many great memories myself. I think that is why I never left. Wheeling is home."
Hockenberry said her strategy for attracting people to the Wheeling area will be formulated following the planning session next week.
Abraham said the Growth and Retention Committee received resumes "from a wonderful slate of candidates" before eventually choosing Hockenberry.
He explained the board found Hockenberry "the best fit for the new position and for what we want to accomplish."
The manager will be charged with both growing population for Ohio County and retaining the population that already lives here, according to Abraham. Increasing small business entrepreneurship also will be a goal, and "activating other organizations throughout Ohio County."
Abraham said the goals Hockenberry will be asked to meet "will be challenging."
"I don't know what to expect, except that there was a number thrown out for 10,000 people who need to be recruited to live here," Hockenberry said. "No pressure at all."