Gov. Bob Taft appointed Jennifer Simon interim director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia last week. Simon has been the assistant director since 1999 and replaces Joy Padgett, who was recently appointed to the Ohio Senate.
Simon said Padgett's leaving is very bittersweet.
We have an incredible working relationship
Simon said. I learned a lot from her but we will continue to work together just in a different capacity. She is going to go on to do great things in the Senate.
Simon said she is excited to continue the initiatives that she and Padgett started together.
What I want to do is maintain our focus looking at water and infrastructure
and to continue to focus on technology
she said.
Simon said she wants to continue to find ways to market the region. We have an incredible work force and we have a great transportation system. We have a ton of resources and really awesome assets to be proud of.
In 1995, Simon was a graduate assistant at the Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development at Ohio University. She later interned with the Governor's Appalachian Regional Commission's Intern Program.
Jen Simon has done a great job as the assistant director of the center and she'll do a great job as the interim director. We're real proud that she is an OU grad and this gives her a chance to continue her service for the economic development of the region
said Mark Weinberg, director for the Voinovich Center and OU political science professor.
Simon has helped initiate and manage the Rural Ohio Technology Infrastructure Group, the Access Appalachia Telecommunications Network Plan and the All Transportation Counts economic development conference.
17
Archives
Megan Cotten
