WCDA president resigns
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on May 3, 2018 12:13 PM
Wayne County Development Alliance President Crystal Gettys has resigned.
A county press release said that Gettys resigned to pursue "other interests."
The News-Argus asked the county for a copy of Getty's letter of resignation, but was told there was no letter.
"As the resignation was verbal, there is no letter to forward, and any documents we have include terms of separation; therefore, they are not available for public viewing, as they relate to a personnel matter," Carol Bowden, county director of public affairs, said in an email.
Wayne County Commission Chairman Bill Pate said he could not comment on the resignation since it is a personnel matter.
Commissioner Joe Daughtery said that an article in another newspaper contained numerous inaccuracies about Gettys' resignation. He also said he could not comment because it is a personnel matter.
Gettys had served as Alliance president since December 2014. Her resignation was effective Friday, April 20.
A search committee has been formed to find her replacement, and in the meantime, Tiffany Creech, Alliance existing industry manager, will serve as interim president.
Alliance board Chairman Gary Smithwick said the resignation surprised him in some ways, but not in others.
Gettys is a "real professional" and probably would have moved on in a year or two anyway, Smithwick said.
"The Alliance board was pleased with her performance, but there had to be some other issues beyond that," he said. "What they were, I don't know that anybody is going to know. It is a personnel matter.
"Frankly, it is a county issue, not really an Alliance issue. Crystal and her staff are county employees. The county contributes most of the monies that go into the Alliance."
Smithwick said he was told about the resignation shortly before it happened.
He sent out a letter this past Monday announcing the resignation to Impact Wayne members -- private investors who help raise funds for the Alliance.
The letter does not offer any specifics behind the resignation.
"Since 2015, Crystal has played a vital role in the development and success of the Alliance's goals and initiatives," Smithwick wrote in the letter.
"Over the next few months, we will be conducting a search to find a new Development Alliance president. During this transition period, it is our priority to find the best individual to lead, while still maintaining a stable and effective organization."
Prior to working in Wayne County, Gettys worked for seven years at the Lincoln Economic Development Association in Lincoln County.