By JAN GRIFFEY/Editor

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana City Council has approved the hiring of Helen Dean as the city’s marketing coordinator.

Columbiana Mayor Dr. Stancil Handley was granted permission from the council to create such a position in December 2012, which fulfilled one of his campaign promises.

 

Handley spent about a month accepting resumes for the position and presented his choice of Dean before the council on Jan. 8, which the council approved.

Monday, Jan. 14, was Dean’s first day on the job.
“I’m so excited about this position and very pleased,” Dean said. “I think the city deserves recognition and deserves advancement and promotion and I’m going to make certain it gets that.”

Dean is tasked with recruiting small business and light industry and working with builders and realtors who are interested in development property here. In addition, she plans to quickly create a catalog of business spaces available for rent or sale and have that at the ready when that information is sought.

In addition, Dean plans to develop a Columbiana newsletter to better communicate with Columbiana citizens.

“There are events going on all the time at the public library that know one knows about. There are great things going on in our police department and fire department and schools, and few people know about them. I want to change that,” Dean said.

She said she plans to shine a bright light on Columbiana.

“I have very deep roots here. I believe in this city and believe in its potential. It’s such a jewel,” she said.

Dean is a 1993 graduate of Briarwood Christian School. She is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Shelby County, is on the board of the Harrison Regional Library and CASA of Shelby County.

Dean and her husband, Scott, have been married for 18 years and have two daughters, Hannah, 17, and Millie, 4.

Dean will have an office at work at City Hall.