Anne Ross accepts offer as Lakewood Ranch executive director
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- The emailed contract offer to Anne Ross got hung up in her personal AOL spam box.
"I am not sure why it happened. All week I kept checking my email," Ross said.
That helps explain why she and Tom Green, chairman of the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority, were on the phone at 8 p.m. Wednesday, working out the final details of her contract as new executive director of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
Thursday morning, Green presented the offer to other Inter-District Authority supervisors, who quickly and unanimously approved Ross' three-year contract.
Ross' package includes an
annual salary of $135,000 plus an $8,000 annual contribution to her retirement.
Ross replaces Eva Rey, who resigned after four years as executive director to take a job as director of community management for The Viera Co. in Brevard County.
While the future at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall belongs to Ross, Thursday belonged to Rey, who was finishing up her final district meetings.
One after another, supervisors expressed affection and respect for Rey, and wished her well.
"I want to thank you for keeping us out of trouble. No one sued us in the four years you have been here," Martin Cohn, chairman of District 5, told Rey.
Nancy Johnson, an Inter-District Authority supervisor, wished Rey good luck in her professional career and a happy life, too.
Rey's emotions seemed to bubble just under the surface until she addressed the Inter-District Authority for the last time.
"I would just like to thank you for all the support the district gave me," Rey said, her voice breaking. "You took a chance on an unproven, inexperienced executive director. I am so sad to leave regardless of what my opportunities are."
Prior to coming to Lakewood Ranch, Rey worked as director of purchasing and support services at The Villages near Ocala.
Her effect on Lakewood Ranch was immediate as she worked a transformation in Town Hall, improving customer service, brightening the attitudes among staff -- what she called putting a smile in voices -- and effectively working with supervisors.
Ross, assistant town administrator for Longboat Key, showed some of the same personal skills Rey brought to the job, a factor in her selection, as were her professional qualifications, and the fact she already lives in East Manatee.
Ross' last day at Longboat Key will be Oct. 28. She moves into her Lakewood Ranch job Nov. 2.
Steve Zielinski, chief financial officer, will serve as interim executive director until Ross comes on board.
In other business, personnel changes at Town Hall were announced. Ana Owen becomes director of purchasing and Tom Merrill becomes assistant director of operations.
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter @jajones1.
This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 11:55 PM with the headline "Anne Ross accepts offer as Lakewood Ranch executive director ."