To look at Layton with its current retail development boon and a ribbon-cutting ceremony almost every week, you wouldn't think the city needs an economic development specialist.
However, Layton desires selected industrial/manufacturing business growth beyond retail, so an expert, Tom Christopulos, 41, was hired in December from a field of more than 50 candidates. He's one of those energetic fireballs who makes specific plans and then gets things done.At Brigham Young University, he earned two degrees - one in German and another in International Relations.
He's currently working on a master's degree in Organizational Development from Pepperdine University. He should have that completed by May.
Layton hired Christopulos away from Morgan County, where he was the economic development director for a year. During that time, he brought in three new companies and more than 100 jobs.
A Weber County resident who was born and reared in the former Uintah Highlands area, Christopulos now resides in Centerville with his wife, Amy, and their five children, ranging in age from 2 to 17.
He's looking to bring in selective employers to Layton that pay high wages as soon as he helps the city identify the best locations.
"Our theory is that retail provides a good tax base, but we also need a better standard of living for community members and more high-paying jobs," he said.
He believes Layton represents a challenge with achieving balanced economic growth, and he's helping the city create a strategic development plan.
"It's a great opportunity," he said. `I'm trying to build up some momentum."
He said his previous job in Morgan was much broader, because officials there don't want the retail growth to the extent experienced by Layton.
"It's different jobs. All cities need a different approach," Chris-topulos said of economic development.
One of his philosophies is that while the big companies recruited to a city may earn the big headlines, it's the smaller companies with less than 200 employees that are the bread and butter of a city's, and state's, economy.