Suffolk economic development director quits

Posted to: News Suffolk
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By Dave Forster
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 27, 2009

SUFFOLK

The city's economic development director has quit after less than seven months on the job.

Cynthia "Cindy" Cave resigned Thursday, the same day she attended a ribbon-cutting for a new credit union. Councilman Leroy Bennett was at the ceremony and said he saw nothing that suggested Cave might be on her last day with the city.

"I don't know what's going on there," Bennett said Tuesday. "I don't know what happened."

City spokeswoman Debbie George did not respond to questions asking why Cave resigned, whether she left for another job and whether she gave two weeks' notice.

George said only that Cave resigned Thursday and that economic development staff member Kevin Hughes is serving as acting director.

Attempts to reach Cave were unsuccessful.

Her employment in Suffolk began in early November. City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn hired her to fill the vacancy created when Tom O'Grady left in July after 12 years.

Cave's salary was $98,000. She had been economic development director in Prince George County for three years and, before that, worked in Southampton County and Prince Edward County.

Those who saw Cave's work since her arrival in Suffolk gave positive reviews and said they were surprised to hear that she was leaving so soon.

"She did a great job while she was there," said Johnnie Edwards, a board member of the Economic Development Authority.

Art Collins, another board member, said Cave did "a terrific job." He said he asked for the reason behind Cave's decision when a city staff member called him Friday to tell him about it.

"I really didn't get anything," Collins said.

Dean McClain, Suffolk division director for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said he was "shocked."

"I don't know what happened," he said. "Cindy seemed to be very happy through my dealings with her."

Cave is the seventh department director to leave Suffolk within the past 12 months. The departures include a communications director, Freedom of Information Act officer, two economic development directors, a finance director, human resources director and chief of police.

Two of the departures involved retirements and two involved moves for work in another city. The former finance director said he decided to return to a former employer after five months in Suffolk because he couldn't sell his house in Northern Virginia.

O'Grady, the economic development director before Cave, submitted his resignation effective the same day last summer and did not explain publicly why he decided to leave.

McClain said he was sure Suffolk "won't miss a beat" despite Cave's departure.

"Suffolk's organization is sort of like, when one soldier drops, another steps up and carries the flag," he said.

Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com

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Surprising Suffolk

Submitted by wonderinginsuffolk on Wed, 05/27/2009 at 9:32 am.

This is the latest in a series of "abrupt resignations" plaguing Suffolk. Seems there needs to be a complete overhaul in the city administration...starting with the top. There has been too much going on...resignations, backroom deals, etc. where the public is in the dark. Let's look at the current situation with Sleepy Hole...seems Ronnie isn't getting his way. This is city property and needs to be put out for competitive bid to maximize revenue for the city, not fatten the wallet of the planning commisioner. Isn't that a conflict of interest? Where was the city manager on this one?

Suffolk

Submitted by Wane on Wed, 05/27/2009 at 8:26 am.

Maybe she left because Suffolk keeps running an add in the Pilot for jobs and Suffolk has a hiring freeze and she thought it was a waste of taxpayers money. With the freeze will Suffolk be able to hire a replacement or save $98,000 a year?

All the news that's fit to print!

Submitted by boblakeman on Wed, 05/27/2009 at 6:36 am.

Thank the readers for doing the job the reporters either aren't up to or don't care to. I read the comments because the reporters at the Pilot don't ask or answer the obvious questions the readers need to know. If the Pilot would be a real source of news; who knows maybe readership would increase.
So, why did Cynthia Cave quit? Someone does know, I guarantee it.

Try to protect her all you

Submitted by bobjonesxvii on Wed, 05/27/2009 at 12:00 am.

Try to protect her all you want, but I'm certain that if you privately asked those who have departed, they would point to Cuffee-Glen and no one else.

Actually, folks, while

Submitted by cowpower on Tue, 05/26/2009 at 2:00 pm.

Actually, folks, while Cuffee-Glen may be implicated here, this predates her. Remember, Cuffee replaced Steve Herbert, who resigned after clashing with City Council. He's the Deputy City Manager in Va Beach, now.

I could be wrong, but a central person to much of this seems to be Suffolk mayor Linda Johnson who was on Council when Herbert resigned and has been in charge during much of the unexpected resignations, like Herbert and the previous Econ Dev guy, Tom O'Grady. Pilot has story here:
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/suffolk-economic-development-director-resigns-unexpectedly.

It's not good to have such a brain drain out of your city government.

Fear Factor Management

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/26/2009 at 12:13 pm.

I have worked for a number of controlling type of supervisors and managers in my career. Some controlled their assistances and staff by "Fear." They use the term: "It's my way or the highway!" Or, "If you don't like it here. You can be replaced." The current Suffolk administration appears to be working the "Fear Factor." Suffolk government is not as transparent as the officals say it is. Yes, there has been a number of firing and mysterious departures of Suffolk staffers. But, there are other issues facing Suffolk staffers and council needess to say, "Conflict of Interest" is one!

This is so typical. Now I

Submitted by factfinder on Tue, 05/26/2009 at 11:30 am.

This is so typical. Now I wonder what is causing all these high level departures. Selena Cuffee-Glenn is the problem not the solution? I am sure it has nothing to do with management style. Nah.....that would be too simple. But knowing the Pilot, this is all we will get a short statement from Suffolk spokeperson George and no real follow-up. Now that is award-winning journalism.

Suffolk

Submitted by Wane on Tue, 05/26/2009 at 11:25 am.

Suffolk never had this problem until they hired a new City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn, maybe someone should look there.

TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON

Submitted by Momma Bear on Tue, 05/26/2009 at 11:14 am.

OK Pilot...something's wrong here...tell us what it is. Why do they keep quitting unexpectedly?

Something is really wrong in

Submitted by cowpower on Tue, 05/26/2009 at 11:12 am.

Something is really wrong in Suffolk. A lot of cities have "issues" and Suffolk deserves the benefit of the doubt. But they have had numerous high-level departures over the last three years. Just what is driving people away, especially at a time when it isn't easy to find a job? I would be wary about applying in Suffolk.