THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412020264
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
When newcomers arrive in a unfamiliar town, they want to be find others who speak their language. They want to be greeted graciously and attended to quickly.
With that in mind, Chesapeake's Department of Economic Development recently hired Joan M. Fowler to fill a new position as a host and liaison of sorts.
Fowler, 36, is a former employee of the city's Public Works department and Chesapeake's new development services coordinator.
``The City Council and city manager recognized the need for one contact person (for businesses),'' said Fowler, who assumed her position in October. ``There are quite a few departments to go through in the application process.''
It is Fowler's job to walk new developers through the review and approval process, point contractors in the right direction, answer architects' questions and assist engineers. She'll be their new friend in a new neighborhood and make it easy for them to want to stay.
``It's a position that we've needed for some time. It gives (the department) more time to qualify businesses and see what we want to bring in,'' said Donald Z. Goldberg, director of economic development. ``It's working out great so far. Joan has an engineering degree so she speaks the language.''
To businessmen, time is money, he said. And Fowler's position makes things flow quickly and easily.
A Chesapeake city employee for 11 years, she was in charge of residential and business development plan approval for the Public Works department.
She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware, is a licensed professional engineer and is currently pursuing a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University.
Even the slightest miscommunications and delays in the approval processes can deter businesses from wanting to relocate in Chesapeake, Fowler said. That's why her job is aimed at lending a ``level of comfort.''
``That includes even something simple, like getting the right forms,'' she said.
Fowler views passage of the recent road bond referendum as a big advantage for Chesapeake. Developers look more favorably on an area that is working to solve its traffic problems, she said.
``I don't feel like a rival with the other (South Hampton Roads) cities,'' she said.
And that's a good thing since her husband, John, is an engineering with the Public Works Department in Virginia Beach, where the couple live. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Joan Fowler is coordinator of development services.
by CNB