Sustain Blaine, a coalition of public and private organizations and businesses focused on improving the economic vitality of Blaine County, has chosen seven local business people to serve on the board of directors of the recently formed Sun Valley Economic Development Corp.
The Sun Valley Economic Development Corp. was organized to implement the Go Blaine economic development strategy created last summer with the help of Texas-based consulting firm TIP Strategies to help diversify and improve Blaine County's economy.
Last Wednesday, Sustain Blaine spokeswoman Diana Takvam announced that the new board was chosen from 23 applicants, 12 of whom were interviewed by Sustain Blaine board members.
The successful candidates are:
· Jack Bariteau, a Ketchum resident and developer of the Christiania and Colonnade buildings, as well as the proposed Hotel Ketchum.
· George Kirk, owner of the Kirk Group real estate development firm and one of the leaders of Sustain Blaine.
· Robert Robideaux, a full-time Bellevue resident and senior vice president of Los Angeles-based financial services firm Marsh & McLennan Co.
· Bruce Jensen, CEO of St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center.
· Frank Halverson, a Hailey resident and chief operating officer of Power Engineers.
· Phillip Lynch, owner and operator of FPM-Creative, a marketing company with nationally recognized consumer-brand clients.
· Peter Loeb, who splits his time between Ketchum and Silicon Valley, and has served in executive positions for software companies Electronic Arts, Sega and eBay.
The six other seats are occupied by public officials—Bellevue Planning and Zoning Director Craig Eckles, Blaine County Commissioner Tom Bowman, Carey Planning and Zoning Administrator Sarah Meacham, Hailey City Councilman Don Keirn, Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall and Sun Valley Mayor Wayne Willich.
According to a news release, some of the first priorities of the board will be to leverage the Sun Valley brand to expand tourism and create programs to support small business and entrepreneurs. In addition to tourism, the Sun Valley Economic Development Corp. will focus on clean technology, health and wellness, and agriculture.
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com
