The position includes working with the Sidney / Cheyenne County Economic Development Partnership through a comprehensive county wide approach to economic development, Main Street program, Historic Preservation Board, Economic Development Advisory Committee as well as many other assigned duties.
Tina brings over 20 years of experience in economic, community and business development in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri. She has a B.S. Degree from Iowa State University in Community and Regional Planning.
She replaces Megan McGown, who is relocating with her family to Brady, NE, where her husband, James has accepted the Superintendent of School’s position.
Most recently Hochwender spent the past 15 years with the City of Council Bluffs, IA as its Community Development Project Coordinator and has been recognized for her community development work and leadership skills.
Prior to her work in Council Bluffs, which is basically a suburb of Omaha, she worked four years as a property manager in Omaha; two years as a development assistant in Sioux Falls, SD and three years as a City Planner at O’Fallon, MO. She has also worked with site development and marketing for big box stores such as Wal-Mart, Menards and Michaels.
“Tina brings the type of experience we were looking for in working with business and housing developments and a diversified portfolio of community development talents,” according to City Manager Gary Person. Person said those additional talents include being a Certified Community Development Block Grant Administrator as well as having certifications previously in the HOME program through HUD and Housing Development Finance through the National Development Council.
In 2015 Hochwender was recognized as the “Alumni of the Year” for the Leadership Council Bluffs Association and was recognized in 2009 by the local newspaper as one of the “20 most influential citizens under 40” in Council Bluffs.
“We are in the midst of millions of dollars of new projects in the Sidney / Cheyenne County area and we feel confident Tina can hit the ground floor running with her diversified experiences. Our challenges are many, but she is up for the task. I want to thank Megan for her exceptional work the past 10 years in the community. She will be able to continue to assist us for a short time, wrapping up critical projects and into the transition of development directors,” Person said.
“I am very excited to get to work with Mr. Person and the rest of the Sidney Team. There is a great deal of development activity taking place in Sidney and I am eager to put my knowledge and skills toward the continued successful growth of Sidney and Cheyenne County. Ms. McGown is leaving some big shoes to fill and I look forward to working with her through the transition,” Hochwender said.