TEDA CEO choice receives full ratification

Louisiana job rate, claims do not balance
July 27, 2011
Landon William Culley
July 29, 2011
Louisiana job rate, claims do not balance
July 27, 2011
Landon William Culley
July 29, 2011

Steve Vassallo plans on getting a sense of the area quickly then hit the ground running. “There won’t be much of a honeymoon period,” he said after receiving word that the Terrebonne Parish Council handed him unanimous ratification Wednesday to become the second-ever CEO for the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.

“That’s great news,” Vassallo said in a telephone interview from his current home in Oxford, Miss., following the council vote. “This has really gotten me excited. I was hoping I would get approved, but I had no idea it would be unanimous.”


Vassallo received official support from the Terrebonne Parish Council’s nine members, but that stamp of approval did not come without some words of contention regarding the selection process, persons not selected and comments on unsubstantiated rumors that had already circulated regarding the new CEO’s plans for existing staff.


“I know there is a lot of support of this guy,” Councilwoman Arlanda Williams said. “Several of us had concerns about the appointment. … There was a lot of talk about what could happen to the current staff. I was going to vote ‘no’ but I believe … to give this man an opportunity to bring this parish where we need to go is something we can all look forward to, but as a council I want you to understand that he is like any other director in this parish.”

Williams said that she wanted protective measures for the staff, and suggested that she wanted to prevent Vassallo from cleaning house his first day on the job. “I feel like the staff has been loyal and if for no other reason we ought to give them an opportunity to prove themselves and [show that] they all can work well with Mr. Vassallo.”


Following the meeting Williams confirmed that some staff members were worried that Vassallo intended to immediately remove existing personnel. “There were a lot of rumors and I want to make sure that is all it was,” she said.


“I have a very serious concern as it relates to the staff,” Councilman Alvin Tillman said. He expressed a desire that Vassallo consider keeping the current staff in place. “If you are a good leader and you have a staff willing to follow, certainly we can move this parish forward. In our development please, please, please respect the land.”

When asked about his intentions regarding existing staff, Vassallo said he does not know anything about the current staff to make any individual judgment calls and has no intention to clean house regarding TEDA personnel.


“I think it would be foolish to do that,” Vassallo said. “I only met two of the staff members literally in passing. I can tell you that and if they are perfect for the job, that’s great. If not and we have to make some changes we will deal with that accordingly. Everyone will be evaluated fairly.”


A security was put in place for current staff by the council that they would insured their jobs for the remainder of this year with a full evaluation taking place before the full TEDA board and an ad hoc committee of the parish council by Dec. 31.

Acting as designated TEDA spokesman, Mike Voisin confirmed following the council vote that unnamed members of the TEDA staff had expressed concern because the previous CEO was fired allegedly due to staff conflicts.


“The CEO is only as good as his team,” Voisin said. “The new CEO’s performance will be dependent on his ability to mover and motivate the staff. But, also, if they are not accomplishing the role that they are suppose to then he needs to be able to get somebody who will accomplish it. We have a good staff, but I think there is some insecurity and hence it comes up at these kinds of meetings.”


Councilman Billy Hebert voted in favor of Vassallo only after voicing disappointment with TEDA not selecting Terrebonne native Fred Duplantis to become CEO. “I feel that we let a person down who came from Terrebonne Parish. A person who was a bayou boy like myself, who fought to improve himself and proved that he is a true economic developer. [Duplantis] I know personally. I grew up with him … He was the right person I felt for this parish.”

Following the council vote Hebert said he supported Vassallo based on him being the TEDA selection and was not holding a grudge that Duplantis was not the final pick.


Council Chairman Clayton Voisin said was disappointed in Johnson and Associates as the firm that brought candidates before TEDA and implied that a majority of candidates were less than acceptable individuals.


“I truly believe in my heart that [Vassallo] can and will prove himself, but because of the turmoil that brought him to Terrebonne Parish … it is so unfortunate,” Clayton Voisin said. “I will support the gentleman on the basis that we are giving him an opportunity to prove himself to TEDA board, to this council and to the entire parish of Terrebonne.”

“We have come a long way in this parish,” Mike Voisin said. “I am excited about the ability to diversify our economy in Terrebonne Parish.”

“The [Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce] board has asked me to attend this meeting tonight and express our support for the process that has followed to select Mr. Vassallo for this position,” Chamber of Commerce spokesman Stephen Smith said. “[We] support what TEDA has done to get to this point.”

TEDA Secretary Ken Jenkins said that Vassallo is highly recommended among the economic development community. “I truly believe we are extremely highly favored to have the opportunity to have him serve in the capacity of CEO of TEDA,” Jenkins said.

Past South Central Industrial Association president, and current Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District President Tony Alford also expressed support of Vassallo before the parish council. “We’ve all been able to choose board members for TEDA and we put our confidence in them,” Alford said.

Vassallo is scheduled to start work on Aug. 8 with a base salary of $100,000. Included in his compensation package will be a $7,000 relocation allotment, a monthly car allowance of $500 a month and monthly telephone allowance of $100.

He will receive a $2,000 annual education reimbursement subject to TEDA executive committee approval, and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage. Insurance coverage will also include disability and life insurance as offered to all TEDA employees. Sick leave will total 40 hours a year.

Vassallo will be eligible to participate in a TEDA retirement plan with a 3 percent match after one full year of employment.

The contract made with Vassallo includes a 3 percent annual cost of living increase to the base salary, 80 hours vacation per year graduating to 120 hours after seven years. The total number of vacation days will be prorated for the first year based upon start date.

Vassallo’s contract with TEDA is a standard non-compete agreement with a standard confidentiality.

Since 2007, Vassallo had worked as an independent economic development consultant. His contract with TEDA specifies that he will not engage in any outside work for compensation. He has been approved to continue serving his term as president of the Scandinavian American Economic Development Alliance, which is not a paid position.

Employment, in accordance with Louisiana law, is considered at will, meaning the contract could be terminated at anytime without specified cause. If that were to occur, Vassallo has secured a 90-day severance package.

Mike Voisin responded to council criticism by acknowledging that TEDA hit some bumps in the road of their six-month selection process, but expressed confidence in Vassallo.

“We all want economic development to come here,” Williams said. “But we want substantive growth and not expedient growth. We want something that we can sustain and our children will be able to sustain.”

“I was going to support the guy,” Hebert said following the council meeting. “I have a right to my opinion just like anyone else does and as a councilman I think my opinions are pretty good.”

“We can talk, but our vote is all that matters,” Councilman Kevin Voisin said following the meeting. “It was a 9-0 vote. Everybody who had reservations, everybody that rolled their eyes, they voted for it because it is the right thing to do for Terrebonne.”

“I’m going to familiarize myself with the area and we will put a strategic plan together rather quickly,” Vassallo said. “My wife and I have been talking about this for days now. It is an opportunity I want to make the most of. I can’t wait to get started.”