Departing CEO of Starkville Partnership says city is in good hands

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville is losing a top recruiter.

Scott Maynard, CEO of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, is taking his talents to another city and another university.

After being offered the job of program director for Florida State University’s Career Center, it was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.

Maynard told us he had no intention of leaving his home of over 40 years, but he’s confident he is leaving the state of Starkville economic development in good hands.

It’s a difficult task, moving from a place that’s been home for most of one’s life.

It’s that same task being dealt Maynard.

He’s taking this move with all the confidence in the world.

“It’ll be a new adventure, since our kids are grown and gone and graduated, for Sandy and me to launch out on something new in a new location,” the CEO said.

Maynard will make the move to Tallahassee, Florida, where he’ll be the program director for Florida State’s Career Center, something he did at Mississippi State for 30 years.

“…Really be doing a lot of what I did on the campus, here, a lot of what I do on this job, just identifying employers and working with different regions, as well as their school of entrepreneurship,” Maynard said.

The legacy he leaves behind at MSU is the impact he made for those who worked alongside him on campus.

“He absolutely has had an impact here in Starkville and at MSU to make it a great place and really put into place, especially in the last year with The Partnership, some wonderful things that will help us grow after his departure,” said Career Center Assistant Director, Kelly Atwood.

For Starkville’s economic development, Maynard says the agenda for most of 2018 is already complete.

The solid staff already in place, he says, ensures the city will continue to prosper as it has been.

“It’s been fun to watch it grow,” Maynard said. “I think Starkville, over the last eight years has seen a tremendous amount of growth and in my opinion that’s only the beginning. I think we’re getting ready to see a real boom.”

Maynard’s first day at FSU is July 9, and while he’ll be in Tallahassee Maynard says he isn’t completely leaving.

He and his wife will be keeping their house in Starkville, and they have no intention of letting go of their Mississippi State season tickets.

He says the point of finding a new CEO should be on the agenda of the next Partnership board meeting, but we’ll get there when we get there.