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Clovis City Manager Kathy
Millison and California State University, Fresno President John D. Welty
have announced that Mike Dozier, Clovis Director of Community & Economic
Development, will leave his position with the City on January 15, 2009
to assume new duties with California State University, Fresno, as
interim director of Community & Economic Development.
Dozier will succeed Ashley Swearengin, who leaves the position after her
election last month as Mayor of Fresno. His initial appointment is two
years. Although Fresno State has implemented a hiring freeze because of
state budget reductions, Welty said filling the position is necessary
because the office serves as the secretariat of the Governor’s
Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and as the Chief Operating
Officer for the Regional Jobs Initiative.
“We are delighted that we have attracted an experienced professional who
has excellent experience for this critical position,” said Welty.
Dozier has provided executive leadership to foster economic development
of the City of Clovis and the region for more than seventeen years. He
has worked closely with the local business community to drive investment
in facilities and jobs to the City. Two important initiatives that he
has directed in Clovis are the formation of a public-private partnership
for development of the Research & Technology Business Park which is now
home to Cargo Bay, Portal Sierra, Precision Plastics, and APPL
Laboratories.
He also spearheaded the effort to form TC3 (Technopolis Clovis), a
citizen-driven effort to transform the local economy to support
knowledge-based businesses and entrepreneurs. The City of Clovis has
long been an active financial supporter of the Central Valley Business
Incubator which is now located at CSU Fresno and continues to work side
by side with efforts to nurture local entrepreneurs to expand and
diversify the economy.
“We are going to miss Mike Dozier and his keen ability to inject that
entrepreneurial spirit into our management team here in Clovis,” said
Kathy Millison, City Manager, “but we’re thrilled to see him in a new
role in economic development for the larger region and expect that he
will continue to be an asset and a resource for our community.”
The Regional Jobs Initiative is set to launch its next phase, which will
refocus the initiative's efforts on business development. The RJI's
economic development efforts also will work in close tandem with areas
of emphasis in economic development and human development in a
comprehensive effort to build a healthy and prosperous community. Dozier
will report to Welty and Provost Jeri Echeverria.
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