Flanagan resigns from helm of Economic Development
Valerie Flanagan
After a year on the job, Valerie Flanagan has resigned from her position as Clay County’s Economic Development director. Her last day is Friday.
County Manager Mark Pullium confirmed her resignation, but said he was not sure of what was behind the decision. “I hate to see her go,” he said. “She’s been a great asset to us.”
Previously, county commissioners’ had outsourced economic development to Tri-County Community College, but when the agreement between the college and the county ended, commissioners decided to fund the position so economic development could be done in-house with Clay County staff. Flanagan’s annual salary was set at $52,000.
Flanagan brought an impressive background to the director’s position. She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and she has worked in a diplomatic post with the United Nations as a chief technical advisor for the International Labor Organization, among other positions.
She took the director’s position in October 2018. While in the role Flanagan had coordinated job fairs the past two year, including most recently a career day for high school students, helped market the county and attended economic development workshops, among other work on development.
“The kind of investment needed to get economic development to the area is difficult in a small place like Clay County which doesn’t necessarily have the resources,” Flanagan said. “Still, economic development will take place.”
Flanagan said she has accepted a part-time teaching position at Western Carolina University beginning in January. “My focus is on working with young people,” she said. “Young people and entrepreneurship are my passions.”
When or if the position is filled remains to be determined. “I’m not sure at this time,” said Pullium. “I will need to get direction from the [commission] board.”