After 17 months with the Oxford Downtown Development Authority, Kevin Stephison is leaving the board ? and maybe even the country.
No, he’s not in trouble with the law.
But Stephison’s professional life is so busy right now, it necessitated his resignation from the DDA as both a board member and chairman at the Dec. 17 meeting.
‘Unfortunately, I have to look at where my bread and butter comes from,? he told the DDA. ‘As much fun as this is at times, this ain’t it.?
Stephison, who was appointed to the DDA board in July 2006 and elected chairman the very next month, works as the business manager for Huntoon Funeral Home.
His workload at the funeral home is expected to dramatically increase over the next six months to a year as he also considers a potential career opportunity in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic.
‘Due to a five-year plan at (Huntoon) being accelerated by four years (a result of his potential job change), my life has become extremely busy,? he said.
Stephison is considering a position with a new development center in Brno which works with small and emerging businesses by mentoring them and in some instances, providing capital. Right now, Brno is a ‘popular spot for Western companies to look at,? he explained.
Even though the 45 years of communist rule there ended in late 1989, Stephison said many people still have ‘no concept of business or ethics or interfacing with the West.?
‘I have agreed to work with the center’s director while he is stateside to brainstorm some ideas and start developing some approaches,? he wrote in an e-mail to the DDA. ‘I am planning on spending a month or so there in the early summer.?
Stephison believes he’s leaving the DDA and the downtown in a much better state than he found it. ‘Things have happened,? he said. ‘Oxford’s moving forward.?
He cited the finalization of the Downtown Master Plan, the completion of a Downtown Market Analysis and Strategic Plan and the long-awaited reconstruction of the southeast parking quadrant as examples of real progress.
‘I am proud of what we have accomplished over the year and (a) half and hope that the ground work prepared will lead to even greater success in the future,? Stephison wrote in his letter of resignation.
Stephison admonished the DDA board to keep informing the public about everything it’s doing. ‘If we don’t tell the story, nobody will,? he said. ‘You guys have to be your best salesmen.?
The DDA must now search for someone to fill the remainder of Stephison’s term, which expires October 2009. For more information about applying for the open seat, call DDA Director Carolyn Bennett at (248) 770-8587 or the village offices at 628-2543.