The Gering City Council Monday night approved a contract with a Sioux Falls, South Dakota recruiting company to find individuals or businesses interested in managing the operation of the Gering Civic Center, and taking over the related catering services.
City Administrator Pat Heath says the city’s request for proposals for someone to take over when Rick and Judy Keller retire next February after 40 years of running the operation was advertised locally, online through related websites and indeed.com, as well as sent directly to those in the hospitality industry.
Heath tells KNEB News the operation is a unique one that has to find just the right fit. “Where it’s a convention center, most of them are associated with motels, either ran by a motel or a group will run those, and they look at a larger facilities than we have,” said Heath. “We’re kind of small compared to most of those facilities, so it’s limited on who we can find. We did have RFPs out for six weeks, I believe, and we didn’t receive any proposals back.”
The firm Growing People and Companies, or GPAC, will now take over the search, with 15-year hospitality veteran Millisa Reynolds spearheading the effort, and expressing confidence they can find the right candidate.
The city would pay GPAC pack anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 in a finder’s fee, depending on the contract with a new operator, but would not have to pay if the recruiter could not find anyone interested in the operation.
