By James Rincon
Pflag Reporter

The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation announced the hire two new staff members Jan. 25.

A reorganization of the development corporation has divided the position of assistant development director into two positions, business recruitment specialist and business retention specialist.

Mary Poché began working for PCDC Jan. 19 as recruitment specialist, and Elizabeth Leasure began Jan. 25 at today as the retention specialist.

“I did a reorganization to where neither one of those two new positions is the same as that old position,” PCDC Director Charles Simon said. “It’s more a way of dividing up the duties we were doing as a smaller staff. Each one has a major area of responsibility… Under that they have secondary duties, for example the business recruitment person is also the one that handles our marketing and promotions.”

According to a PCDC press release, Poché comes to the corporation from her position as director of marketing and public relations for the Temple Economic Development Corporation. Poché brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in communications, according to the release.

“It has not really taken any time to ramp up and get going. As soon as those two came on they’ve been very experienced and very knowledgeable,” Simon said. “For example Mary – last week was her first week – Tuesday she took a plane out to Las Vegas to go work a show over there.”

Poché said she looks forward to the challenge of working with the people in Pflugerville to bring business and industry to the area.

“Pflugerville is in a prime location with many advantages that will facilitate that growth.  I bring many years of marketing and business development experience in both the private and non-profit sectors including other development corporations,” Poché said in an e-mail. “My immediate objectives include continuing to build relationships on behalf of Pflugerville with site selectors and the industrial brokerage sector, work with state and national ancillary groups in economic development on Pflugerville’s behalf and to work with the PCDC staff and board to solidify the marketing program.”

Leasure come to PCDC from her former position as office manager for U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky. in Washington, D.C.

“I have experience in economic development and I think the business retention side appeals to me the most because its building relationships within the community,” Leasure said. “Fostering those relationships with the businesses that are established, and maintaining contact with them to make sure they’re satisfied and happy doing business in the city.”

While in high school, Leasure worked for the city of Madisonville, Ky. in the economic development department. She left to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications from the University of Mississippi before returning to the department at a project manager.

Traci Anderson resigned as former PCDC assistant development director. Anderson now works for the city of Cibolo.

jrincon@pflugervillepflag.com