Welland’s new senior leader is a familiar face around city hall.
Tuesday, city councillors hired Steve Zorbas as chief administrative officer, nearly a year to the day the city and former CAO Gary Long parted ways.
Zorbas, the city’s chief financial officer, was appointed interim CAO last September.
“I’m ecstatic. I look forward to working with staff, the mayor and council and continuing to move forward with Welland’s operational needs and strategic objectives,” Zorbas said Wednesday.
He has more than 35 years of municipal experience working for the City of Mississauga, Richmond Hill and Burlington and built a comprehensive career portfolio in various leadership roles.
“I arrived as a consultant in Welland seven years ago. There is no learning curve for me, I can walk in and continue serving, officially, as CAO.”
In an interview with The Tribune last September, Zorbas said he wasn’t interested in the position and was content in his role as chief financial officer.
Asked what changed his mind, Zorbas said he looked at the leadership opportunity and the great things happening in the city.
“My wife and I am relocating to Niagara, and we were sitting down looking at our opportunities. I made the decision to put my name forward for the competition.”
Zorbas resides in Burlington and is moving to Thorold in the interim.
The posting for the CAO’s job closed in mid-May. Executive search firm Organization Consulting Ltd. worked with a committee consisting of Couns. Bonnie Fokkens, Jim Larouche, Claudette Richard and David McLeod and Mayor Frank Campion in the recruitment process.
“I was not involved in the process,” Zorbas said.
He said the company contacted members of the corporate leadership team to talk about the role of a CAO.
“When they contacted me, I made it very clear that I would be applying for the job and did not provide any commentary to them. When the position was posted, I applied.”
Zorbas went through steps anyone applying for the job would, including submitting a resume and going through the interview process.
Campion said several names were put forward for the committee to consider.
When it came time to discuss the recruitment process with the rest of council, Zorbas removed himself from in-camera meetings, one held last Tuesday and one again last night.
With 15 months left in their term on council, Zorbas plans to meet with each councillor and listen to their concerns, find out what hot topics they want to discuss.
“I hope to meet with all of them by the end of July.”
Campion is happy Zorbas applied for the position.
“It means he enjoys what he does and is dedicated to the community.”
The mayor said there’s no learning curve with Zorbas, who has proven himself in his role as chief financial officer.
“In my mind, he’s one of the most entrepreneurial CFO’s. He’s willing to invest money into projects and grants and programs that spark commercial and industrial development,” said Campion, adding the city sees new jobs and brownfields cleaned up because of those investments.
Even though council selected an internal candidate, the mayor supported the hiring of Organization Consulting at a cost of $22,285 and said the firm guided the committee in the selection and hiring process.
“It was worthwhile. For a position of that magnitude, we have to see what’s out there in the market. Robert Johnson (of Organization Consulting), I believe, did a very good job. He led us through a good process along with (city human resources manager) Andrea Daisley.”
“It wasn’t predetermined. Steve applied and had the same opportunity and went through the same process. I don’t think it was a waste of time at all.
“We made the right decision.”
Zorbas will continue to act as chief financial officer until someone is hired to replace him.
