SCCDC hires business development coordinator
Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) is taking a big step ahead in 2019 with the hiring of a business development coordinator.
Ronda Wakefield joined the SCCDC staff in November to assume her duties in the new, part-time position. She moved to Thompson Falls from Kalispell last month.
SCCDC is a small non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of community services, facilities and the development of an economic climate that encourages business expansion and job creation within Sanders County. Activities undertaken to achieve its mission include business services, community project facilitation and tourism promotion.
It appears Wakefield, with a wealth of experience in human resources, is a good fit for the BDC position.
Wakefield owns a human resources firm, NWMTHR Solutions, LLC, which she opened in March of 2017. Her brother lived in Kalispell “and I fell in love with it,” she said.
She was born in Ashland, in southeast Montana, and has lived in Kalispell for 18 years. Wakefield is also an adjunct instructor at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, teaching HR (Human Resources) 101.
“People started reaching out to me,” she said. “I knew there was an opportunity to do human resources work here (in the Flathead and Mission valleys).
Wakefield had been doing human resources work with Lake County Community Development Corporation (LCCDC) through her consulting business, going training for employees.
She has been working with companies in four different states through her own company, dealing with conflict resolution and sexual harassment training, the latter of which a lot of states are mandating.
BACK IN October 2018, Wakefield visited with SCCDC Executive Director Jen Kreiner about an opportunity to bring her human resources and consulting expertise to Sanders County. As it turned out, SCCDC was creating the BDC position — to be filled just the right person.
“I contacted them on an ad through Job Service,” said Wakefield, who had met Kreiner about a month earlier through a networking group. “We have a similar passion for businesses … I couldn’t have found a better way of doing what I’m doing.”
Filling the SDC position, and working 15 hours a week, was also a good fit — given her husband hails from Thompson Falls.
“It’s a new position that they (SCCDC) got from some additional funding,” Wakefield explained. “Jen (executive director Kreiner) was spread so thin.” She added that they could “take a deeper dive into the community” with someone like Wakefield in the SDC position.
“I have a lot of experience with employees getting incumbent worker training (IWT),” Wakefield said, which is available through the State of Montana. “It helps make (employees) more qualified workers. I’ve done a lot of them (IWTs) and saw their benefit.” In tune with her human resources and consulting business, she began applying for grants seven or eight years ago.
In recent years, Wakefield served as HR and accounting manager for a restoration company. “We had 10 staff members and they got certified through IWT.”
Early in December, Wakefield attended a Job Service Employers Council (JSEC) class in Polson, which focused on the “12 danger zones for employers.” JSEC is also available in Sanders County.
THE NEW SCCDC business development coordinator spoke about the business climate in Sanders County.
“We expect to see growth and we’re setting a little bit,” Wakefield said. “Flathead County is growing my leaps and bounds, and there is an opportunity here (in Sanders County). People are interested and we want to help promote that with services that we have.”
What is Wakefield’s New Year’s resolution? “Really diving into the tourism aspect of my job. My main focus is Tour 200 and supporting membership of those who are participating. Tour 200 was started by local people.”
Tour 200 is touted on the SCCDC website: “Touring Northwest Montana along Highway 200 in Sanders County it’s easy to understand why we say “we have it all!” From Dixon to Heron, Highway 200 follows along the banks of one of three rivers. The rivers, the highway, and the train tracks are tucked between two mountain ranges. You will enjoy wildlife viewing, outdoor recreation, the services you might need delivered by friendly people, and the solitude that’s hard to find in many parts of the country.”
She said that SCCDC took over the Tour 200 promotion in 2015.
Wakefield can be reached at the SCCDC office primarily on Wednesdays and Fridays. It is located at 2504 Tradewinds Way, Suite C1 in Thompson Falls. The office phone is 406-827-6935.