Rockwood recruits Stroh for industry

By JENNIFER RAYMOND

rcraymond@bellsouth.net

The city of Rockwood is hoping the addition of a new member to their team will be able to encourage industry to their area.

The new jobholder is a familiar face across Roane County.

The city council approved the hiring of Beverly Stroh to the newly added position of industrial recruiter.

Stroh currently works for The Roane Alliance as the manager of tourism and marketing.

And the hope of city officials is that she will do the same, only concentrating on Rockwood.

“She’s done an outstanding job for the county, and I know they will fight to keep her,” Mayor Mike “Brillo” Miller said.

Stroh lives in Rockwood and is very active in the community.

She is a member of the Rockwood 2000 city improvement organizaion and helps on the Rockwood Industrial Board.

“Another thing that is so crucial is that she loves this community,” Miller said.

The purpose of this position will be to recruit businesses and industry specifically to Rockwood.

It will also be her job to introduce the city to interested businesses.

“No doubt will be somewhat of a tough job,” Councilman Dudley Evans said.

But he added that Stroh is, in his opinion, the best person for the job.

The council set aside $50,000 to fund the position.

About half of those funds will be for salary.

Miller also wanted to point out that businesses will not pop up overnight.

The mayor said he hoped city council members would give the effort time and not expect results in six months.