The Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation is looking for a new executive director for the first of the new year. Elicia Funk is leaving the position, and board chair Hazen Barrett says she'll be greatly missed.

Hazen Barrett, PCRC Board Chair"It's tough to see her go. Elicia was in on the organization right from the beginning with PCRC. We were extremely lucky to find someone of her calibre with her skills, and her background, to come in and get us off the starting line, and get the organization organized to a point where we a have a very good model of board governance."

Barrett outlines the skills needed for a new director.

"Certainly the main focus of PCRC has been the whole point of community involvement, and community building, and bringing agencies and groups together in the community to make the community better, or as good as it can be. Right now, we're looking for an individual who can fill those shoes, organize different community groups, has some background in governance, some background in management. There are a number of staff to manage within the program, and dealing with some of the intricacies of dealing with government agencies in submitting for funding, and managing grants."

He says they're hoping someone could learn the ropes under Funk's guidance before she leaves.

"We'd like to have an overlap. Certainly I know Elicia would like to see that as well. She's concerned -- outgoing -- that she wants be able to have some input into helping someone get their feet wet. And we'd like to see about a month before Elicia leaves to have the new person learn the ropes, so to speak."

Barrett acknowledges her absence will make a difference. "It will be a big change, but we've got a very strong organization. That's been the whole point toward this eight years of organization building. And we've got a very strong board, and some very strong structures in place to guide that board and to hopefully guide the new executive director in their functions, whoever that may be."

When asked if he's excited about the new venture, Barrett responds, "Always a sense of excitement and anticipation. I've had such an exciting time with PCRC serving on the board. I took a break for a couple of years and then came back. There's such a positive atmosphere around that table, and so much potential in the ideas that come to play, and the things that we can do. It's just been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. And the management team has been a huge part of that, in the way that they keep things organized."

Contact information: Website http://www.portagecrc.com/ , send an email to the executive director in regard to the application process, or call (204) 240-7272. An ad will also be placed.