|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Jim Cogan starts a new job on Monday (Dec. 17) – he’s been hired as Menlo Park’s business development manager, according to the city.
The position pays $108,000, with a “2 percent at 60” retirement plan that meets the provisions of Measure L.
He’ll be leaving a job as government relations representative for Pacific Gas & Electric. Mr. Cogan worked as chief of staff for San Jose City Council members from 2007 to 2010, according to a press release, and as a paralegal for law firms in Menlo Park and Chicago. His civic involvement includes the Foster City Chamber of Commerce and the policy committee for the San Mateo County Economic Development Association.
Mr. Cogan earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wheaton College in Illinois, the press release said.
“I am excited about quickly developing strong relationships with the business community of Menlo Park,” he said. “Menlo Park has great momentum thanks to the extraordinary efforts to attract Facebook and it will be my goal to work with the business community, City staff and the Council to maintain the momentum. I am proud to be part of the Menlo Park team.”
As the Almanac first reported in November, City Manager Alex McIntyre decided to replace the city’s first business development manager – Dave Johnson, who retired in 2011 – to maximize the opportunities presented by the new downtown/El Camino Real specific plan and Facebook’s arrival in the community.
Mr. Cogan was chosen from a field of about 100 candidates that reportedly included a former director of San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency.
“Jim is a proven advocate for large and small businesses and brings a broad range of skills to this position,” Mr. McIntyre said in a written statement. “He has managed policy initiates affecting business entities and is skilled at coordinating the often competing interests of diverse stakeholders to find common ground. We are confident he will continue the tradition of excellence we have built in Menlo Park and will be a tremendous addition to the City’s executive management team.”
I’d like tu say ‘welcome’ to Mr. Cogan…BUT his statement that his main mission Is “developing strong relationships with the business community of Menlo Park” worries me. What about the community, children, old folks–traffic, library cuts etc. He sounds like an Eastern Chamber of Commerce guy. Is that ALL?
What’s his experience as a business development manager? What’s the City Manager’s experience in managing such a position?
Uh, he’s a “business development manager.” That’s his job. Not community, children, old folks, etc. The City council sees to all of that. This guy is staff. Let him do his job.
We have a new City Manger. He builds up his bureaucracy. MP needs a business development manager like one needs “a hole in ones head”. Maybe he will next try to hire an assistant business development manager — if we need one why not two?
Another six-figure salary for a GOVERNMENT employee…
IDEA: Every time our government hires an employee – especially when they create a “new” position – they should have to disclose the projected pension liability for that hire.
When people realize the MILLIONS of dollars they will have to pay, perhaps they will reconsider.
POGO:
I think this is a replacement of a existing position.
Why does MP need a business development person? Well, for starters, empty storefronts, vacant car dealerships, a very convoluted set of zoning rules that need to be updated, dwindling tax revenues. I just hope the elected officials are smart enough to listen to what he says; unlike how they did when Dave Johnson was on the job. If you want businesses to come and to invest, you have got to meet them at least somewhere in the middle.
A true BD professional might be able to help our city, but this new staffer is about as well qualified for the job as Johnson was, unable to do anything constructive but more than willing to take credit for any new business in town…whether or not he even knew about it, much less had anything to do with it. Another drain on our finances.
Who, you do understand that the “vacant car dealerships” that upset so many of us are located on land belonging to Stanford,and that Stanford has deliberately permitted the property to remain in that condition. That vacant land is no reason to hire a BD.
With the new Arrilaga/Stanford mega-development, all complaints about the vacant car lots will vanish, as legions of drivers stuck in gridlock on El Camino will yearn for the good old days.