In November, Charlottesville human resources director Galloway Beck said the city would move fast to appoint a new economic development director. The position, held by longtime Chief Operating Officer Aubrey Watts, carried an enticing salary and the goal to have someone in the seat by the end of 2011.
Turns out that Charlottesville was close to its mark. According to a news release from the city, assistant economic development director Chris Engel has been named the new director. Engel has been in that seat since 2005, sits on the board of the Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development, and is chair of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
As we noted last year, that seat carries a good deal of power.