NNDA's reorganization successful

A year after Northern Nevada Development Authority called upon its members to shoulder more work, the organization's executive director says the process appears to be working.

The organization spearheads economic development in Carson City as well as three fast-growing counties Douglas, Lyon and Storey.

It handles that work with two fulltime staff members Executive Director Ron Weisinger and Business Development Director Judi Bishop and Weisinger told the NNDA board more than a year ago that the staff was swamped.

That led NNDA to replace its network of volunteer committees with an organization of volunteer work groups and the emphasis is on "work." The new work groups handle tasks ranging from organizing NNDA activities such as its monthly breakfast to providing extra help to woo industrial employers to the region.

"I couldn't be happier with the enthusiasm we've seen,"Weisinger said a few days ago.

"It's not a one-man show anymore."

He said, however, that NNDA's first year of experience with the new structure showed a need for the group to place more emphasis on development of leadership.

Even though a volunteer may have a good track record of accomplishment, that doesn't necessarily translate into strong leadership skills.

In coming months,Weisinger said NNDA will rely on a system of co-chairs for its working group one co-chair from NNDA's executive committee, one cochair who isn't a member of the board.

He said NNDA found, too, that it needed to pay attention to changing the group's culture to reflect the changing role of volunteers.

People who were involved with NNDA committees purely for networking opportunities or the chance to list an affiliation on their resume found they were incompatible with the new structure,Weisinger said.