Press Room ::

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 12, 2008

Rachel Girt
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2851 Cell: 307.631.4681
Email: rachel.girt@wybusiness.org

Steve Elledge
Director of Field Operations Division, Wyoming Business Council
Phone: 307.577.6012 Cell: 307.262.6346
E-mail: steve.elledge@wybusiness.org

Wyoming Business Council realigns regions and positions to offer better coverage for counties
 

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Business Council announced the realignment of its Regional Offices to better serve communities and businesses in the state.

The Regional Offices are the first points of contact for the Wyoming Business Council. These offices work with: local economic development organizations, city and county entities, divisions of the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming business community to assist retention, expansion, recruitment and community development efforts. In the absence of active groups or individuals or expertise, Regional Directors may act on behalf of the relevant entity on economic and community development projects.

“The promotion of Elaina Zempel from a deputy to a full Regional Director recognizes the significant contribution she has made in the southwest region.  Realigning the Southwest and Southeast regions and adding the South Central region enhances our ability to deliver business and community services in these areas,” said Bob Jensen, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council. “The changes to the new regions will be phased and gradual to assure that no relationships are damaged and no projects fall through the cracks.”

The realignment includes the following changes effective July 1:  

• The Southwest Region will cover Lincoln, Sublette and Uinta counties with the office located in Kemmerer. The region used to include Sweetwater County with two offices, one in Kemmerer and one in Rock Springs.
• The South Central Region has been created to cover Sweetwater and Carbon counties with the office located in Rock Springs.
• The Southeast Region will cover Laramie, Platte, Albany and Goshen counties with the office located in Cheyenne. Carbon County used to be part of this region and Platte County used to be part of the East Central Region.
• The East Central Region will include Natrona, Converse and Niobrara counties. This region used to include Platte County.

While the realignment creates an additional region, no new positions or offices have been created. The following staffing changes have been made:

• Effective July 1, Ray Sarcletti will retire after serving Sweetwater, Lincoln, Uinta and Sublette counties over the last seven years as the Southwest Regional Director. He has served on several boards and commissions including Rock Springs Planning and Zoning, Western Wyoming College Board of Trustees, the Sweetwater County Complex Board of Trustees and the Rock Springs and Green River Chambers of Commerce Board of Directors. He also served in both houses of the Wyoming Legislature.
  
• Effective immediately, Southwest Deputy Regional Director Elaina Zempel has been promoted to the Southwest Regional Director. Zempel was appointed to the deputy director position in 2007. She was previously employed by South Lincoln County Economic Development. Prior to that, Zempel spent more than ten years in rural economic development in north central Montana. She is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council and a new generation Cooperative Developer.
  
• Patricia Robbins has been appointed as the South Central Regional Director, serving Sweetwater and Carbon counties. Her tentative start date is July 7. She has worked in economic development for the past 18 years, first as the executive director of the Green River Chamber of Commerce and, most recently, as the director of the Sweetwater Economic Development Association. She also played a role in the formation of the Great Divide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy which consists of Sweetwater and Carbon counties. 

“We will take as much time as is needed to ensure a smooth, professional, and seamless transition in all of the affected counties,” said Steve Elledge, Wyoming Business Council Director of Field Operations and East Central Regional Director. “Our first priority is to maintain effective working relationships and the efficient and comprehensive delivery of the expertise, services and programs of the Wyoming Business Council to the communities, entrepreneurs and businesses of Wyoming.  We believe these changes will assist us in those efforts.”

Elledge also added that, “Ray Sarcletti gave much to the Business Council and the state and will be sorely missed.” “Ray taught Elaina Zempel much in a short period of time. Elaina has stepped in and done an exemplary job in the Southwest Region. I am confident that the Southwest Region is in good hands with Elaina as the Regional Director.”
“Pat Robbins brings to us the incredible opportunity to capitalize on her talents and relationships in the South Central Region, which covers Sweetwater and Carbon counties and the state,” Elledge said. “In the Southeast and East Central Regions, Tom Johnson and I will work hard to ensure that the changes will impact both regions in very positive and proactive ways.”

The Business Council has strategically located offices throughout the state in Casper, Riverton, Powell, Cheyenne, Gillette, Kemmerer and Rock Springs. Many of these offices are co-located with local economic development organizations and partner programs of the University of Wyoming.

East Central Regional Office- Steve Elledge
Counties: Natrona, Converse, Niobrara
Location: 300 S. Wolcott, Suite 300; Casper, WY 82601
Phone: (307) 577-6012 E-mail: steve.elledge@wybusiness.org

Northeast Regional Office- Dave Spencer
Counties: Campbell, Sheridan, Johnson, Crook, Weston
Location: 201 West Lakeway, Suite 1004; Gillette, WY 82718
Phone: (307) 689-1320  E-mail: dave.spencer@wybusiness.org

Northwest Regional Office – Leah Bruscino
Counties: Park, Big Horn, Hot Springs, Washakie
Location: 143 S. Bent, Suite B; Powell, WY 82435
Phone: (307) 754-5785    E-mail: leah.bruscino@wybusiness.org

Southeast Regional Office – Tom Johnson  
Counties: Laramie, Platte, Albany, Goshen
Location: 1400 College Drive, Room 203; Cheyenne, WY 82007
Phone: (307) 635-7735    E-mail: tom.johnson@wybusiness.org

South Central Regional Office – Pat Robbins
Please note this contact information is effective July 1
Counties: Sweetwater, Carbon
Location: 1400 Dewar Drive, Suite 208A; Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901
Phone: (307) 382-3163 E-mail: pat.robbins@wybusiness.org

Southwest Regional Office – Elaina Zempel
Counties: Lincoln, Sublette, Uinta
Location: Quality Plaza;1100 Pine Avenue, Suite 3F; Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101
Phone: (307) 877-2203 E-mail: elaina.zempel@wybusiness.org

West Central Regional Office – Roger Bower
Counties: Fremont, Teton
Location: 213 W. Main, Suite B; Riverton, WY 82501
Phone: 307.857.1155 E-Mail: roger.bower@wybusiness.org

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.
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