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It's fitting Ron Moser found out about his new job heading up Nevada County's Economic Resource Council on Craigslist.org.
Moser was scanning the online posting service when he first saw the opening.
As the new CEO of the ERC, Moser plans to focus on drawing high-tech businesses to set up shop in western Nevada County.
“Primarily we'll be focusing on high-tech businesses,” Moser said. “Businesses that are synergistic with what is already here.”
Last week, he was announced as the replacement for former CEO Gil Mathew, who retired at the end of last year to head up a Grass Valley solar energy firm.
Moser has been semi-retired for about 10 years – in 2000, he sold his carbon absorption technology business to the international electronics firm Siemens.
A Chico resident, Moser currently has temporary housing in the area and plans to find a permanent home in a few months, he said.
Moser starts the new job Tuesday under very different circumstances than the organization has experienced in the last few years. Nevada County recently cut its funding of the ERC – charged with recruiting and retaining Nevada County businesses – by $50,000, corresponding to a reduced salary of about $50,000 for the new CEO.
“Pay wasn't the main criteria for taking the position,” Moser said. “There are a lot of organizations, both public and private, that are facing hard times. I'm optimistic that I'll be able to work with the county and cities involved to build a collaborative effort here to build businesses in our community. The stronger the business community, the more likely other businesses will be attracted to our community.”
Early on Moser intends to meet with Mathew and begin to build a relationship with the county Board of Supervisors and various elected officials.
“I'm going to be downloading a lot of things into my brain here over the next week or so,” Moser said.
Moser has a lot in common with new and emerging businesses, he said.
“I've been involved in a startup business and I know what it's like to operate a very small company,” Moser said. “I have an affinity for small businesses and seeing them grow.”
While in Red Bluff, Calif., Moser was part of an economic development group that brought a Walmart distribution center to town.
“What I really believe is the key thing for the ERC here is that we be proactive and intentional about the type of businesses we attract to help us grow our tax base, and also not destroy the community of the past,” Moser said.
“We just don't want to lay out the red carpet for everybody, and the priority is the businesses we have right now.”
To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.
Moser was scanning the online posting service when he first saw the opening.
As the new CEO of the ERC, Moser plans to focus on drawing high-tech businesses to set up shop in western Nevada County.
“Primarily we'll be focusing on high-tech businesses,” Moser said. “Businesses that are synergistic with what is already here.”
Last week, he was announced as the replacement for former CEO Gil Mathew, who retired at the end of last year to head up a Grass Valley solar energy firm.
Moser has been semi-retired for about 10 years – in 2000, he sold his carbon absorption technology business to the international electronics firm Siemens.
A Chico resident, Moser currently has temporary housing in the area and plans to find a permanent home in a few months, he said.
Moser starts the new job Tuesday under very different circumstances than the organization has experienced in the last few years. Nevada County recently cut its funding of the ERC – charged with recruiting and retaining Nevada County businesses – by $50,000, corresponding to a reduced salary of about $50,000 for the new CEO.
“Pay wasn't the main criteria for taking the position,” Moser said. “There are a lot of organizations, both public and private, that are facing hard times. I'm optimistic that I'll be able to work with the county and cities involved to build a collaborative effort here to build businesses in our community. The stronger the business community, the more likely other businesses will be attracted to our community.”
Early on Moser intends to meet with Mathew and begin to build a relationship with the county Board of Supervisors and various elected officials.
“I'm going to be downloading a lot of things into my brain here over the next week or so,” Moser said.
Moser has a lot in common with new and emerging businesses, he said.
“I've been involved in a startup business and I know what it's like to operate a very small company,” Moser said. “I have an affinity for small businesses and seeing them grow.”
While in Red Bluff, Calif., Moser was part of an economic development group that brought a Walmart distribution center to town.
“What I really believe is the key thing for the ERC here is that we be proactive and intentional about the type of businesses we attract to help us grow our tax base, and also not destroy the community of the past,” Moser said.
“We just don't want to lay out the red carpet for everybody, and the priority is the businesses we have right now.”
To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.
