Women in Business
Connie Ova: Enjoys making things happen and seeing results arious occupations throughout her business career have prepared Connie Ova to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation. Ova enjoys making things happen and seeing results and growth in the community. “We have so many opportunities that we have to let the world know about,” says Ova, who has been CEO since 2003. “I really enjoy working with sole proprietors and small businesses assisting them to see the possibility of making their dreams become a reality.” The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation was organized to develop employment opportunities to improve business conditions and advance the interests of the City of Jamestown, as well as Stutsman County by implementing and sustaining an organized effort to attract new businesses and industry, support existing businesses and industry, and encourage new business starts. Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation’s focus is primary sector job creation. One challenge is that economic development can have such a broad definition that at times we try to be everything to everybody and that is virtually impossible to do so stress levels can get high, Ova explains. “Communication,
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CONNIE OVA CEO, Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation
although tremendously improved, is always a challenge because it seems that no one knows what it is we do either until they need us or until they perceive we are doing something wrong,” she explains. “JSDC is funded 100 percent by taxpayer dollars and so we have a fiduciary responsibility to do our very best to do what’s right for the community and not everyone agrees with what’s right. On the personal side, taking time to do all that’s needed to do in this job cuts into family time and that’s one thing I don’t like about it versus your 8-5 position.” As economic development evolves, Ova is seeing more focus on the “softer” side of economic development. “Specifically, the need for economic development officials to provide assistance with community development on a larger basis than we have in the past although JSDC tries to stay within the parameters of “jobs” and primary sector business we have leaned somewhat into assistance with retail and service businesses using the Bank of North Dakota Flex PACE program,” she says. Ova states that lessons she has learned are being reinforced in her economic development role. “Nothing that is worth doing is easy. You can’t please all the people all the time,” she says. “Be fair and honest in all that you do.” Alan Van Ormer - avanormer@prairiebizmag.com PB
Business Advice
Employee statistics can help s a business grows or enters new markets, it is very hard to keep employee statistics comparable, and certain measures can make the expansion look bleak. Sales per employee, profit per employee, and average expense per employee are interesting numbers to evaluate and can shed light on prior decisions. In business school it is easy to put numbers together showing dramatic success. If an enterprise has 1,000 employees achieving certain revenue, bump the number to 1,500 employees and derive 50% more revenue and profit. In the real world of business, it is much harder to achieve the same relative performance, especially when you are a small business with few employees, but as a business matures, the ratios can be kept up and should be understood. A small two person business brings in $400,000 in profits. Wanting to expand, the owner faces the challenge
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8 Prairie Business
April 2011
of hiring an additional employee which will cost the business salary, benefits, and other overhead. Can the owner assume profit will rise to $600,000 once the new person is hired? In all likelihood, the new person will cost the business initially, not generate immediate profits. This dilemma is faced by nearly every business at one time or another. Of course, the expectation must be once the new third person is fully trained and able to do the job, profits will go up. But how long will it take? A much larger business can better expand hiring and expect profits in return, but regardless of what kind or size of business, MATTHEW D. people statistics are important to watch, understand, and MOHR measure. Just because you have a certain number of CEO, employees doing a certain volume, you cannot assume a Dacotah Paper Company multiple of your employment base will automatically mmohr@dacotahpaper.com. generate a multiple of your revenue. PB