Suffolk economic development director resigns unexpectedly

If Kiddy College can produce top professionals with over 81 years of experience and graduate individuals from top schools such as the University of Virginia,
University of Richmond and VMI, maybe Mr. Leonard should apply. Perhaps he could even learn to spell even though he is much older than his socks.
Our "struggling city manager" and Deputy City Manager managed a portfolio of over a billion dollars before coming to Suffolk. They just completed a very successful year in Suffolk despite the weak marketplace as well as a devastating tornado. Mr Leonard does not understand that success is not determined by age. Suffolk is quickly becoming known for its new, vibrant, innovative and experienced top management team. What City has Mr. Leonard run? I might add that while this gentleman alludes to the kiddy college- all of the graduates he alludes to have earned their degrees and not bought them from the Internet. They are top notch professionals in their prime and it seems that Mr. Leonard just might be a bit jealous.

Suffolk loss is Tom's gain. What an awful place to work the City of Suffolk must be right now. Clearly, decisions are being made based on polictical agenda's witha total disregard for what's best for the city, it's resident's and the regional as a whole. Tom has been the Champion of the Modeling and Simulation Hub that has blossumed during his tenure. He was the industry's biggest supporter when many detractors thoguht it would never happen. He deserves a large amouint of credit for what has taken place in norhtern Suffolk. It was his vision that made the first office space available to support the modeling and simulation industry when it was in it's infancy. Everyone that has left the city has moved on to better things, Tom will not be the exception.

Was this a resignation or was Tom O'Gradey given the boot? Time will tell if this was another plotted push by our ever secretive Mayor and Manager, or not... So goes "Open and Transparent Government" by our Mayor on a mission, but who's mission???

efforts to make Suffolk the modeling and simulation center for Virginia. Now if the region and state would just support those efforts by creating a driving simulator that mimics the driving conditions encountered in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, and on our heavily travelled Interstate Highways, and require mastery of the simulated driving conditions in order to qualify for a license to drive a motor vehicle in Virginia, we would all benefit tremendously. It would really be great if Virginia required that folks know how to drive before they were issued a driver's license. This would be a big help to the GA also, since they can't seem to address the traffic problems we all face daily.

Suffolk is "managed" by people who are not qualified or experienced in all departments. Red tape is alive and well throughout the city. It is amazing ANYHTING gets done there. Everyone is afraid to make a decision. One hand says "Let's get this done" the other hand says "No wait - how about this?" This back and forth bureaucracy is amazing. I am surprised any competent person still works for the city. Oh wait, maybe they have all left now . . .

Well, another former City Manager Myles Standish hiree has read the writting on the wall! It's not suprising Suffolk city government is falling apart. Suffolk is becoming the laughing stock of the Hampton Roads area.
Why go to college to learn City Government? Contact Suffolk's Human Resources Department and you can learn local government on the job!
Free eduction and get paid at the same time.
Mayor Johnson and the City Council, "Wake Up!" and "Get a Grip!"of your city government.
Happy Trails to Mr. O'Grady and cash your "Golden Parachute Check" before Suffolk city government places a "Stop Payment" on it!

I have watched my city grow, blossom and become a fantastic place to live and work because of the efforts of Mr. Tom O'Grady. There was never a week when I did not pick up the newspaper and read about another company or project that was coming to our city. For the past two years, I have seen the city suffer under the Nazi Cuffee-Glenn regime. I read more "no comment" than information in the newspaper. No one seems to be able to speak about our city without Cuffee-Glenn's blessing (or curse). I tried to call Mr. O'Grady and his phone number had been disconnected. Interesting how quickly you can dismiss one of the most valuable assets of our city.
The For Sale sign is going up this week.
Suffolk, with its less than educated City Council, Cuffee-Glenn with her Nazi Regime, "No comment" Information, and puppies at her beck and call running this city, will make everyone run elsewhere. Mr. O'Grady and the o

Tom O'Gradey has joined a long line of people to leave the City in the last two years, as we all watch our leaderless City Council implode under Mayor Linda Johnson. The number of new hires, with limited experience in thier fields is becomeing embarassing. While I do understand and even encourage new people and new ideas, this entire thing is getting ridiculous to say the least.

While it may be true that Tom was not the strongest on long range planning or statagy, but you can't fire everyone at once. We now have the youngest and least experienced senior staff's in the entire area. The new City Manager (here only three years total) seems to be struggeling, the Deputy City Manager is younger than most of my socks, (in his mid-thirties), we just hired a Chief of staff (a new position) that has no public sector background, and the new Director of Communication (passed on from the Police Department) do