Growth Partnership loses official to his old job

11/2/2000

Richard Focht, Jr., executive vice president of the Regional Growth Partnership, will resign effective Nov. 10 and return to his old job as chief executive officer of Seneca County's economic development corporation and the Tiffin Chamber of Commerce.

Don Jakeway, president and chief executive officer of the Regional Growth Partnership, said Mr. Focht told him he was leaving for personal and family reasons. Mr. Focht, who was paid about $90,000 annually, accepted the growth partnership post in June. "I was very pleased with him and disappointed to lose him after such a short period,'' Mr. Jakeway said.

Mr. Focht, who will be paid $70,000 annually at his new job, said he the dual demands of attending activities of his school-age children and devoting the time needed to the growth partnership job were a strain. "Like I told Don and the staff, I had to put my family first,'' Mr. Focht said.

The growth partnership is the economic development arm of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.