Orange County has had a hard time of holding onto its economic development directors. The county has lost two directors to more lucrative positions since December. It can’t afford to lose its latest selection, Steve Brantley, who has the financial acumen and local roots to give the county the boost it needs.
Brantley has an impressive resume, having worked in the private sector on Wall Street, as well as more than 20 years in the public sector with the N.C. Department of Commerce.
But he won’t let it go to his head. He grew up in a low-income area of Durham and rose to success and has lived in the county for more than 25 years. For now, he appears to be tackling his new job with a good mix of optimism and realism.
His background, experience and outlook should give him the resiliency needed to take on the challenge of handling Orange County’s economic woes, which must involve balancing the needs of the rich and the poor, as well as those in favor of development and those who aren’t.
While Brantley’s appointment is promising for the county’s economic future, there is a concern that he might, like the last two directors, be overqualified. With the recent lack of stability in the job, it would be bad for the county to lose yet another shortly into his service.
Brantley came into the job several months after interim director Gary Shope’s sudden resignation in June after a paltry four months on the job. Shope succeeded Brad Broadwell, who held the position for two years before his surprising departure in December.
But Brantley says he’s vested in the community, and that this is a place that he wants to see grow, having been both a student and parent in the area.
Considering his experience and community ties, he can hopefully build up what he defined as lagging development with room to grow.
