UDA names new director

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In an official statement issued last week, the Urban Districts Alliance named Springfield businessman and community activist Bill Compere as its new executive director.|ret||ret||tab|

Compere is currently a partner in the Springfield CPA firm, Compere and Robinette. He said he would withdraw from that position in time for his July 1 start date with the UDA.|ret||ret||tab|

The move to head the center city organization is a natural progression for Compere. He has served on many boards and focus groups and has been a public proponent of center development since the 1960s. Compere said that where he is in life and in his profession helped make the move right for him and the UDA.|ret||ret||tab|

"The timing really fell into place," Compere said. "I am now in a position where I can do something different."|ret||ret||tab|

Compere's track record of community involvement includes being a charter member of Ozark Greenways, current chairman of Vision 20/20, chairman of the Jordan Valley Park Project, a board member of The Kitchen Foundation and the Good Community Committee. He is also a past chairman of the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission.|ret||ret||tab|

"My wife passed away in 1993 and my kids are grown up," Compere said. "Since then I have gotten involved (in the community) more intensely."|ret||ret||tab|

Compere said he wants to maintain his involvement with the other organizations "unless there is a conflict of interest. I am keeping my eye on that."|ret||ret||tab|

Compere said he is looking forward to bringing his skills and style of leadership to the UDA and its future projects. On the horizon are establishing a logistic leadership role with downtown's Community Improvement District and further implementing the goals of Vision 20/20 in center city.|ret||ret||tab|

"I am a consensus-builder," Compere said. "I don't swing a lot of clout. I sit down and talk enough until we can reach that middle ground area. And a lot of what we are trying to do with center city is that way. We need to get everybody on board and feel like they are a part of it."|ret||ret||tab|

The decision came after months of consideration and reviewing approximately 50 applicants, said UDA President Jim Baker. The position opened up back in November 1999, when Lance Brown left the executive director position.|ret||ret||tab|

"At the time we were in the middle of a strategic plan (for the UDA)," Baker said. "We decided to hold off until we had a firm direction."|ret||ret||tab|

The UDA formed a search committee in January 2000, and "got serious about it," Baker said. In the meantime, UDA board member Brian Fogle served as interim director. "We were very fortunate to have Brian step in at that time," Baker added.|ret||ret||tab|

Baker said Compere stood out because of his "professional ability as well as his passion for center city."|ret||ret||tab|

"Obviously we needed a person with good administrative and management skills," Baker said. "The executive director has to work with a 28-member board, be able to manage people and have a good financial background."|ret||ret||tab|

Compere will bring stability and credibility to the organization, Baker said. "The UDA is a very dynamic organization and growing rapidly. We need a stable leader who can watch over that."|ret||ret||tab|

Just because he is leaving the director's role doesn't mean Fogle plans to end his devotion to center city revitalization. One of the original board members of the UDA, Fogle said he will stay on in that role as well as extend his involvement through his new position as vice president for institutional development at Ozarks Technical Community College.|ret||ret||tab|

"I have a long-term interest and passion for center city," Fogle said. |ret||ret||tab|

Fogle has worked in downtown Springfield for the past 20 years, first with Boatmen's Bank and through its evolution into Bank of America.|ret||ret||tab|

Recently, the Bank of America eliminated the department Fogle served in. "The area I was involved in was done away with and I had a severance that allowed me to sign on as the UDA interim director."|ret||ret||tab|

Fogle will work with Compere over the next month, aiding in the transitional process.|ret||ret||tab|

After that, he will move into the newly created position with OTC. In that role he will oversee human resources, community relations and the endowment foundation.|ret||ret||tab|

"OTC is very much a center city institution," Fogle said. "One of the things that intrigued me about OTC was its interest in center city."|ret||ret||tab|

Continued involvement in downtown revitalization and development will definitely be a part of his new position, Fogle said.|ret||ret||tab|

"A stronger center city will certainly benefit all students at OTC," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

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