Joe's New Job

[Joe Iliff]

Well, it's finally happened. I have a new job!

I've been offered a new position will leave my current employer. As some of you may remember, I've had a few rough spots in my current position as a planner for the City of Rowlett. The worst was October when I was fired by the department head, only to have my dismissal vetoed by the assistant city manager on my penultimate day. So, I'm glad to leave for something else, but particularly this new position. (There have been good things about Rowlett, but not enough for me to stay.)

[ominous background music]And I'm turning to the DARK SIDE![/ominous background music]
I am going to work for the first time in the private sector. I'm going to be working for developers, rather than for the city. This is going to be a whole new perspective on planning from having worked solely in the public sector since leaving college 10 years ago.

My new position is with WD Partners, a design and construction firm that builds retail stores, restaurants, and convenience stores for national companies. I'll be doing planning & zoning work for them in their Dallas (Irving) office with projects all over the country.

Does anyone have any suggestions that would help me transition from public sector to private sector?

Thanks.

[PlannerGirl]

Congrats!

[zman]

Congratulation on the new position. I remember when you said you got fired and then hired again. It'll be good to get away from that position and begin anew. Best wishes from ZMan.

[NHPlanner]

Good luck Joe, and congrats!

[MD Planner]

No advice Joe, but congratulations.

[Zoning Goddess]

Congratulationsl Hope you enjoy your new job!

[JNA]

Congrats.
Be careful w/ any project in Rowlett.

[michaelskis]

Does anyone have any suggestions that would help me transition from public sector to private sector?

Thanks

Congrads...

Get one of those travel neck pillows for the long flights.

[donk]

congrats on the new job. No advice for making the switch, other than to check your conscience at the door.

[Planderella]

Congratulations!

[Gedunker]

Congratulations, Joe.

Your new mantra shall be: billable hours, billable hours, billable hours

Best wishes -- when your company does a project in Kentucky's greatest city, give me a yell.

[Suburb Repairman]

Congratulations on the new job! I saw that come across a job wire and wondered if you were going to go after it. I'm glad you'll be getting out of what seems to be a toxic work environment.

As for turning to the Dark Side...

You will need to set up appointments with your local Cyburbia priest, Rumpy, so you can confess your daily planning sins!

[hilldweller]

Good luck Joe. I have an aunt that lives in Little Elm. Do you think it'll eventually become suburbanized into the Fort Worth area or will it remain more rural?

[Joe Iliff]

Good luck Joe. I have an aunt that lives in Little Elm. Do you think it'll eventually become suburbanized into the Fort Worth area or will it remain more rural?

Little Elm and the west side of Frisco are kind of merging together. There's not much of a Little Elm-Fort Worth connection, even though LE is in Denton County. Because we are on the east side of Lake Lewisville, it's really easier to commute south and east to southern Collin County and northern Dallas County. There will be some ruralness to the Little Elm area, as the northeastern branch of the lake creates lots of pockets that will be hard to develop. It's one of the things I like about LE as opposed to Frisco, which has endless flat land in all directions to just sprawl out on.

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Congrats

[Bear Up North]

Joe, the best wishes for success in your new job. Congratulations!

Bear

[Trail Nazi]

Congrats on the new job! Best of luck to you!

[Joe Iliff]

Thank you all for the kind wishes. I think my new position will signficantly reduce my time available to slack on Cyburbia, but I'll still be around.

Joe

[pete-rock]

Thank you all for the kind wishes. I think my new position will signficantly reduce my time available to slack on Cyburbia, but I'll still be around.

Joe

Congrats, Joe!

You hit the nail on the head. Moving to the "Dark Side" (as I've also done) does cut down on slacker time. But the upside is that you'll get a chance to look at planning issues from a wider perspective, rather than just one municipality's take on things.