Nobody was suggesting Friday that Don Willis and Robert Stevenson will be inseparable during the month of December, but more often than not the two will be together as Willis, the outgoing general manager of the Hannibal Board of Public Works, brings Stevenson, named Friday Willis’ successor at that position, up to speed.
Stevenson is scheduled to begin his new duties on Monday, Nov. 30. Willis will stick around through the end of the year.
“He’s going to pour his knowledge into my empty brain,” laughed Stevenson during a Friday afternoon press conference at the BPW office where his selection was announced.
“That will take about a week to get rid of my knowledge,” chimed in a smiling Willis, who has served as the BPW’s GM since the retirement of Jack Herring in November 2007.
Willis voiced support for his successor.
“I think he is going to be a great guy,” he said.
Echoing Willis’ assessment was Bud Janes, chairman of the BPW Board, who was traveling Friday and could not attend the press conference.
“He’s going to be a fine addition to our community,” said Janes in a phone interview. “He brings with him a lot of utility experience and private business experience. I’m excited about him being able to bring that to us and have a fresh look and unbiased look at things. I look forward to good things.”
A registered professional engineer in Missouri, Stevenson has served as a production planning engineer for the city of Independence, Mo., Power and Light, director of operations for Trigen Energy Corp in Kansas City and director of utilities for the New Ulm, Minn., Public Utilities, which serves a community of 13,000. Most recently Stevenson owned and operated Rose Hill Homes, a general contracting company producing custom and spec single family homes in the Springfield, Mo., and Table Rock Lake area.
What made Stevenson stand out amid a field of over 41 applicants?
“I’d say his qualifications are the first thing that attracted me to him,” said Janes. “Then the process of visiting with the people, not only that he knows personally and has for as much as 40 years, but also the people that he worked with that would have loved for him to come to work with them.”
Willis, who joined the BPW on a part-time basis in January 2001, said that his short-term retirement plans include a trip to Florida.
Mayor Roy Hark saluted Willis’ work with the BPW.
“I’ve been very pleased with you. I think you’ve done a magnificent job. You’ve been a real asset to us,” he said.
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Nobody was suggesting Friday that Don Willis and Robert Stevenson will be inseparable during the month of December, but more often than not the two will be together as Willis, the outgoing general manager of the Hannibal Board of Public Works, brings Stevenson, named Friday Willis’ successor at that position, up to speed.
Stevenson is scheduled to begin his new duties on Monday, Nov. 30. Willis will stick around through the end of the year.
“He’s going to pour his knowledge into my empty brain,” laughed Stevenson during a Friday afternoon press conference at the BPW office where his selection was announced.
“That will take about a week to get rid of my knowledge,” chimed in a smiling Willis, who has served as the BPW’s GM since the retirement of Jack Herring in November 2007.
Willis voiced support for his successor.
“I think he is going to be a great guy,” he said.
Echoing Willis’ assessment was Bud Janes, chairman of the BPW Board, who was traveling Friday and could not attend the press conference.
“He’s going to be a fine addition to our community,” said Janes in a phone interview. “He brings with him a lot of utility experience and private business experience. I’m excited about him being able to bring that to us and have a fresh look and unbiased look at things. I look forward to good things.”
A registered professional engineer in Missouri, Stevenson has served as a production planning engineer for the city of Independence, Mo., Power and Light, director of operations for Trigen Energy Corp in Kansas City and director of utilities for the New Ulm, Minn., Public Utilities, which serves a community of 13,000. Most recently Stevenson owned and operated Rose Hill Homes, a general contracting company producing custom and spec single family homes in the Springfield, Mo., and Table Rock Lake area.
What made Stevenson stand out amid a field of over 41 applicants?
“I’d say his qualifications are the first thing that attracted me to him,” said Janes. “Then the process of visiting with the people, not only that he knows personally and has for as much as 40 years, but also the people that he worked with that would have loved for him to come to work with them.”
Willis, who joined the BPW on a part-time basis in January 2001, said that his short-term retirement plans include a trip to Florida.
Mayor Roy Hark saluted Willis’ work with the BPW.
“I’ve been very pleased with you. I think you’ve done a magnificent job. You’ve been a real asset to us,” he said.
