Fusion of goals key for county

VERONA – Dennis Burnett is used to formidable duties having just worked for an airline whose customer base stretches from Canada to Texas.

But the 44-year-old Augusta County native has taken on the daunting task of serving as Augusta County’s first economic development director smack in the middle of the country’s deepest recession in more than a quarter-century.

After just three weeks on the job, Burnett has immersed himself in learning all he can about the county’s industries.

“Retention is critical in this operating environment,’’ he said.

While mornings or evenings may mean meeting with civic organizations, Burnett spends much of the remainder of the day touring area plants and talking to managers about their needs.

New industry is also on Burnett’s agenda.

But he must balance the need for new industry against the rolling pastures of agriculture that make Augusta County Virginia’s second most profitable agricultural county and a throwback to a slower pace of life.

“The quality of life is the reason I’ve stayed here and the reason I wanted to come back,’’ said Burnett, who maintained a home in Fishersville while commuting up and down the East Coast working for Colgan Air for the past four-and-a-half years.

Prior to serving as director of development for Colgan, Burnett spent nearly a decade wearing a variety of hats for the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave.

He worked with ground services, as a ramp agent, and as a trainer for customer service and safety programs before advancing to airport deputy director.

Since becoming Augusta County economic development director Sept. 1, Burnett has spent time poring over an economic development study the county commissioned and one that led to his appointment two months ago.

While the natural focus in economic development is on big employers such as Augusta County’s Hershey Chocolate, Target Distribution Center and McKee Baking, Burnett said one key is to attract light manufacturers.

The smaller industries would employ as few as 10 people and up to 100.

“We have a lot of small employers,’’ said Burnett, who said smaller businesses can fill niche markets.

Burnett said the county has strong natural assets in its schools, transportation system and quality of life.

And with the county’s comprehensive development plan in place, the natural location for new business is the county’s urban areas such as Fishersville, Stuarts Draft and Weyers Cave.

“We have the tools in the toolbox,’’ said Burnett.

Burnett will report to both a three-person committee and to the county’s board of supervisors, who hired him.

“He has a can do attitude,’’ county supervisors Vice Chairman Gerald Garber said. “He will get something done while others won’t … I’ve never seen him approach a situation with the attitude it can’t be done.”

Garber said Burnett’s local ties as a former airport employee and Fort Defiance High School graduate give him an advantage, as do his experiences in the airline industry.

“He has local contacts and has worked in the big, fast-paced environment of the airlines. He has seen a lot of things outside the area that work and in some cases don’t work,’’ Garber said.

Burnett said his new job won’t be 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. He is likely to be working the county on weekends as well.

“This is a great time for me,’’ said Burnett. “I’ve been energized by the groups I’ve met, the county staff and the businesses I’ve spoken to.”