Sorrell tapped for WM Economic Development director’s position

Sorrell tapped for WM Economic Development director’s position

City Engineer moves into new spot after Wimbish departure

news@theeveningtimes.com The City of West Memphis named a new Economic Development Director to start the new year. Although it is a new appointment, a familiar name filled the spot vacated by Ward Wimbish in November. Phillip Sorrell followed his predecessor down the career path. Wimbish was also a civil engineer with business experience.

Mayor Bill Johnson promoted Sorrell from City Engineer to Director of Economic Development effective January 1.

Sorrell accepted the position and offered a base line standard by which to be evaluated during the Public Works Committee meeting on Tuesday. During his tenure as City Engineer, Sorrell oversaw $8 million in bridge, road and drainage improvement projects.

“If I help create new jobs, I’m doing my job,” said Sorrell.

Sorrell teamed up with City Attorney David Peeples and served to effectively nail down details in the $10.8 Million TIGER grant after Wimbish left. Subsequently a new operator at the port of West Memphis and a development firm for the city’s new material transfer center along the Friday-Graham rail line were named. The hiring was not due just to that recent success but to a long track record of service to the city anchored in a career that included international business success.

Mayor Bill Johnson initially favored an extensive nationwide search process, similar to the netting of new Airport Manager Candra Suiter would be pursued and this choice came down to another homegrown selection in Sorrell.

The announcement issued by the city said, “His professional background consists of ten years in marketing and product development for a large publicly traded company with international sales. Phillip’s business travels have taken him to eight different countries in Europe and Asia.

For 16 years, he owned a small engineering company employing over ten people in West Memphis. During that time he worked closely with the city in the recruitment of new industry. Most of his career has been spent in the private sector, therefore, he brings a unique perspective from the business side.”

The city sets at a geographic crossroads for Interstate trucking, international shipping through its year round deep water port, at the terminus for east-west national rail traffic on two major railroads and a stone throw from the worlds busiest air freight hub. The city has marketed itself as a logistics and distribution gem and job one, executing the TIGER IV grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, serves to substantially increase development potential. Sorrell expressed his appreciation and his intents including a community involvement aspect as he began as Economic Development Director for the city.

“The basis of this plan will come from the identification of our strengths and weaknesses so that we can leverage our strengths and mitigate our weaknesses,” said Sorrell. “West Memphis has tremendous untapped potential for attracting new industry thus creating good high paying jobs for the people of this community. I will be relying on the many people in this community who have been involved in these efforts to create and execute a plan that will work for the benefit of the citizens of the community. I appreciate this opportunity and will give it my very best effort.”

By John Rech