Charlie Walker: CEO of Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC)
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
“Improper Deal May Cost FEDC Funding,” August 26, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“Member Want FEDC Dissolved,” August 27, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“FEDC Votes Out Walker,” August 30, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“Assemblyman Outlines FEDC Job,” September 1, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“FEDC Plans Aired,”September 2, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“Details in FEDC Troubles, Related,” September 4, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“Assembly to Discuss FEDC Options,” September 7, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“FEDC Records Reported Stolen,” October 23, 2005, by Chris Talbott
“FECD Backs Changes,” October 27, 2005, by Chris Talbott
“FEDC to Present Budget,” November 14, 2005, by Diana Campbell
“Dodson Accepts Leadership Role in Development of City Economy,” June 18, 2006
• CCEDC 2006 Archives : Walker Joins Staff At CCEDC
“Charlie Walker has been hired as the new executive director for Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC). Charlie has nearly 14 years of economic development experience and recently moved to Chippewa County from Austin, Texas. He had led economic development organizations in Texas, Alaska and New Mexico . Charlie holds his certification as a certified economic developer (CEcD), which nationally recognizes leaders in the economic development field. He also has a Masters of Public Administration degree from Angelo State University in Texas………………. The corporation (CCEDC) hired The Harding Group to conduct a nationwide search ……… Charlie was selected from a pool of over 40 applicants. He began his duties with the corporation September 18th.” (2006)
HYPERLINK "http://www.chippewa-wi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=41"http://www.chippewa-wi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=41
• Walker in Fairbanks, Alaska, 2003-2005:
November 10, 2003 Alaska Journal of Commerce
“The Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation has hired Charlie Walker as president and CEO. ……. Walker has more than 14 years of experience in the profession of economic development. He is a certified economic developer and has a master's degree in public administration, with emphasis in economic development, from Angelo State University. He is a member of the International Economic Development Council, New Mexico Industrial Developers Association, and Texas Economic Development Council and has served as a director for New Mexico Business Quarter, and the New Mexico Workforce Board.”
This is a long list. If you see a blank space just scroll down. It doesn’t happen for most computers.
HYPERLINK "http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/111003/mov_20031110005.shtml"http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/111003/mov_20031110005.shtmlAugust 30, 2005 Fairbanks Daily News Miner
“The Fairbanks Economic Development Corp. board of directors ended its contract with the
organization's president and chief executive officer Monday following a two-hour meeting.
The termination ended a tumultuous week that started with the board narrowly retaining Charlie Walker on Aug. 22. Then Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker introduced an ordinance to delete $450,000 from the nonprofit corporation's budget, alleging ethics violations and a conflict of interest. Walker will receive three month's severance pay of an unknown amount.”
June 18, 2006 Fairbanks Daily News Miner
“Dodson, an FEDC co-founder, has served as interim president and CEO since September. He was hired after the organization endured months of public scrutiny when FEDC's previous board of directors fired its former president, Charlie Walker, following reports of unethical dealings between Walker and former Borough Assembly member Terry Aldridge.”
Please Note: Alaska has a state-borough system of government with borough mayors and city mayors. In Alaska, the unit of government directly below the state level is called a borough instead of a county. A borough is served by a Mayor, and an Assembly - the equivalent to a County Board.
Charlie Walker was terminated as CEO of the Fairbanks EDC (FEDC) on Monday, August 29, 2005
Borough Mayor Whitaker and the Assembly were prepared to pass an ordinance withdrawing all FEDC funding unless Walker was fired. After initially retaining Walker, the FEDC did fire him.
The ordinance delineated the ethical and other complaints against Assemblyman Aldridge and Charlie Walker:
Aldridge accepted a voting seat on the FEDC board of directors and received payments from FEDC funds.
Walker, in violation of FEDC bylaws and without knowledge or approval of the FEDC Board of Directors switched Aldridge’s seat on the Board from a non-voting to a voting seat.
Walker, in violation of FEDC bylaws and without knowledge or approval of the FEDC Board of Directors, hired Aldridge for an FEDC “project” for a sum of $100,000 coming from FEDC (public) funds while Aldridge still served in the Assembly. $29,400 had already been paid to Aldridge. Checks were signed by Walker and Aldridge.
The ordinance stated that funds would not be restored to the Corporation until financial and performance audits of the time Walker had been CEO were completed, and safeguards were put in place to ensure the proper use of public funds.
Initially, the FEDC board refused to fire Walker thinking he had been unfairly targeted. However, in October of 2005 when the external review of FEDC records was completed this was reported:
“FEDC records reported stolen”
“In addition to the $29,400 Walker paid to Aldridge other irregularities were found including
fishing trips and limousine rentals totaling about $4,000.”
Fairbanks News-Miner, October 23, 2005 - By CHRIS TALBOTT Staff Writer
“FEDC backs changes”
“Later in the meeting, interim President and CEO Jim Dodson suggested the board vote to
withhold the final severance check to Walker, whose contract was terminated by the board in
August. He said he now believes there is a case for firing Walker with cause, which would
negate the severance package he received. Dodson said Walker paid himself for eight
weeks of vacation rather than the six he was due.”
“He also believes Walker has been involved in the theft of corporation computer records. The
theft is being investigated by Fairbanks police.”
"One thing that appears to be true is that Charlie Walker has been somehow involved
in this," he said. "It seems there's plenty of reason to dismiss Charlie Walker with
cause.’ “ Fairbanks News-Miner, October 27, 2005, By CHRIS TALBOTT, Staff Writer
• More Detail on Walker’s Time in Fairbanks
Both Walker and Aldridge actively lobbied the mayor and his administration to fund the FEDC project through TIF funds WIHTOUT voter approval, against normal procedure for obtaining such funding.
The Board of Directors of the FEDC claimed to be unaware of Walker’s activities. Walker claimed the board was often unavailable so he made the decisions himself because he had deadlines.
The City also complained that Walker did not provide reports as to projects and financial information of the FEDC.
As a result of the unethical behavior of both Aldridge and Walker borough residents were in an uproar for many months. All trust in the FEDC was broken. The FEDC had to hire a new Board of Directors, open itself to outside audits, report more often to both city and borough officials and completely redraft FEDC bylaws.
• Walker is hired in Chippewa County
Chippewa County ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, JULY 27, 2006
Harding Group was in charge of the interviewing and hiring process. They conducted 14 phone
interviews, and had a meeting this morning to narrow down the field. Schoch stated they are all
excellent candidates. The position was advertised differently this time, they wanted to see people
that could prove results in their previous employment in economic development…
HYPERLINK "http://www.co.chippewa.wi.us/meetings/August 2006/edcaug.htm"http://www.co.chippewa.wi.us/meetings/August%202006/edcaug.htm
Chippewa County ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE , AUGUST 31, 2006
Schoch stated the new Executive Director [Walker ] accepted their offer and will be on board by
September 18th. Schoch stated they had a search committee and hired the Harding Group to do
research on the prospects. They did everything they could to make sure they had some real
qualified candidates. Bentley stated the new Director’s name is Charlie Walker, from Texas.
HYPERLINK "http://www.chippewa-wi.com/images/Newletters/october 2006 newsletter.pdf"http://www.chippewa-wi.com/images/Newletters/october%202006%20newsletter.pdf
CCEDC Newsletter, Fall 2006, pg 2, “New CCEDC Director, Charlie Walker”
•The Harding Group LLC was hired by CCEDC to find new director.
• Form 990, 2006 Tax Filing of CCEDC, Pg 2, Item 43e, $11,721 paid for “Personnel Search”.
• Marc Harding of The Harding Group LLC now sits on the CCEDC Board of Directors.
REFERENCES
Proposed Ordinance of Borough of Fairbanks intending to halt funding of FEDC due to alleged ethical violations of Alderman Aldridge and Charlie Walker. HYPERLINK "http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/Meetings/Ordinances/2005/2005-20-1Ds.pdf"http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/Meetings/Ordinances/2005/2005-20-1Ds.pdf
Summaries of above articles found here. Fee required to obtain full articles:
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