ADP Director Resigns - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 2, 2004

ADP Director Resigns

Date: Aug 2, 2004

Additional information:

Phil Halstead, President of the Area Development Partnership has resigned, according to WDAM 10:00 news. A board of directors meeting was held this evening and he tenured his resignation for reasons unknown. Halstead issued no comment to WDAM............

Date: Aug 2, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"Additional information: Phil Halstead, President of the Area Development Partnership has resigned, according to WDAM 10:00 news. A board of directors meeting was held this evening and he tenured his resignation for reasons unknown. Halstead issued no comment to WDAM............"

That's the guy that they hired in April or May from Pittsburg KS. He didn't last long.

Date: Aug 2, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Swan Song
"That's the guy that they hired in April or May from Pittsburg KS. He didn't last long."

This is also the guy that came from a university background in "polymer science" AND is one of SFT's friends..... The same ADP that SFT tried unsuccessfully to get Angie D. hired. Wonder what happened? Fallout from NOT hiring Angie??????

Date: Aug 2, 2004

One thing we know for certain at this point, is that there is never a dull moment when it pertains to the Thames regime. The guy lasted 3 months at the most. It has to have something to do with Dvorak somehow.

Date: Aug 2, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"Additional information: Phil Halstead, President of the Area Development Partnership has resigned, according to WDAM 10:00 news. A board of directors meeting was held this evening and he tenured his resignation for reasons unknown. Halstead issued no comment to WDAM............"

I believe the report also stated that when WDAM attempted to speak with Halstead about the resignation, he hung up the phone. Fired

, perhaps???

Date: Aug 2, 2004

Un-freaking-real. Someone should definitely write a book about all of this mess...

Date: Aug 2, 2004

The following link is to a Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) article announcing Halstead's selection in April 2004:

http://www.mississippi.org/press/friday_facts/FF_20040409.pdf

Date: Aug 2, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Googler
"The following link is to a Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) article announcing Halstead's selection in April 2004: http://www.mississippi.org/press/friday_facts/FF_20040409.pdf"

Wow, he barely lasted 3 months. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, PH!

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Last Friday, a front page article in the HA focused on the decline of Hattiesburg as a retail shopping destination. The study that yielded the findings was created by the Southern Miss Center for Community and Economic Development. The article contained quotes from area retailers and developers, as well as the following comments from Halstead:

Meanwhile, Phil Halstead, president of the Area Development Partnership, said he was surprised by the study's findings: "It's sort of counter-intuitive to what I thought and what I have observed."

Halstead said it should provoke "thoughtful study and analysis" of the area's future retail development.

Now, if Halstead's "thoughts" and "observations" were off the mark, could this have led to "discussions" with the ADP board and other powers-that-be, resulting in the decision that a leadership change at the ADP might be needed?

One of the developers quoted in the article was Paige York-Losee, who also headed up the ADP search when Halstead was hired in April. Interesting? Maybe.

Link to HA article:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040730/localnews/947800.html

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Wasn't he a polymer scientist? Perhaps the lesson is that economic development and polymer science are not synonymous after all.

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Thinking about this further, Shelby appears to have egg on his face either way. Phil must have been Shelby's choice last spring, with the PS connection it's hard to believe that he was not. Then, in scenario one, where Shelby's choice is ousted after three months, Shelby has obviously lost power with the ADP. If, in scenario two, Shelby is responsible for ousting him because he wouldn't play ball about Angie, then he made an unmanageable (therefore poor?) choice last spring and everyone knows it.

Interesting...other scenarios?

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Angie D. should apply for the position, she will be a shoo-in. After all, it is rightfully hers anyway. SFT said so.

Let's see if Sheby's toadies in the ADP select her.

Just think, with her 'leadership', Petal and Oak Grove will soon become the economic engine that drives the Pine Belt.

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Kick...and please post any information on the ADP director resigning from other news outlets.

Date: Aug 3, 2004

From the Hattiesburg American:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/updates/7940.html

He says he's enjoyed his stay in H'burg...all 3 months of it!

Date: Aug 3, 2004

More info from the HA:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040803/localnews/970632.html

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Look at this quote:

The ADP is also searching for replacements for its economic development division and for its communications director.

Hmmmm....what two ladies do we know who have that sort of experience???

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Amazing!

Maybe the ADP will hire Angie Dvorak this time. Maybe that wouldn't be good for the ADP, but it would be great for USM.

Robert Campbell

Date: Aug 3, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"Amazing! Maybe the ADP will hire Angie Dvorak this time. Maybe that wouldn't be good for the ADP, but it would be great for USM. Robert Campbell"

I think in fairness it should be noted on this board that PH advocated opening up the ADP more to public scrutiny -- he was a very strong advocate for transparency. Also he was working with the mayor and a few council members on developing and upgrading some of the poorer areas of the city. My first take on this is that this didn't go over very well with some folks . . . Don't know if any of this was true . . . I have heard it said by some folks I know in town and it was repeated in today's article . . .

Date: Aug 3, 2004

$140,000 does seem to be the magic $$$$$!!!!

I am apt to believe that if PH displeased Shelby and his compatriots then he was probably handling the job the way it was supposed to be ethically handled.

Date: Aug 3, 2004

In making my remarks about the ADP now possibly taking Angie Dvorak off USM's hands, I didn't mean to disparage PH's performance. For all I know, he could have been pushed out because he didn't want Angie Dvorak in a leadership position at ADP.

Robert Campbell