Friday, September 5, 2008

Bye, Bye, Billy....hello big time losses

My guess is the Summerside Wellness Centre is in big trouble... Billy was lured back to Summerside to try and make some sense of this big white elephant but even with his excellent skill set as a manager/promoter he probably seen the writing on the wall and baled. Someone may have offered him the big cheesy job of City Manager if and when he could turn the Titanic around but there are just some things that can't be done... a couple of the events have already gone bust and it would be really interesting to see how $80.00 tickets to an NHL exhibition game in Summerside are going to sell or are they going to give half them away? How did a Town this small ever get to spend so much taxpayers money... over $35,000,000.00 and they're still spending. I don't like to knock things as I think it was a great idea when it was originally budgeted at $12,000,000.00 but who was in charge and where were the controls? In any event it's too bad Billy couldn't stay as he would have been a great asset for the Town...
Bill Schurman leaving Summerside post
NANCY MACPHEE
Transcontinental Media SUMMERSIDE
- The roar of the Wildcats has lured Bill Schurman back to Moncton. Summerside's community services director confirmed his return as general manager of Moncton's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team effective Oct. 1. The 53-year-old said the opportunity, one he didn't see coming, left him with a difficult decision that he pondered for weeks. "I would be very dishonest if I didn't say my heart and head weren't at odds," said Schurman. "But I've got to find a way to find a little better balance in my life. I've got to find a way not to be on guard 24/7 and I think that having the Wildcats having one focus, having one person to answer to, is something that allows me to have a little bit more fun." Last year Schurman left Moncton to take on the job, feeling "a strong sense of community to come back" to help get Credit Union Place off the ground. Schurman admitted, "I felt a lot of pressure. I still do everyday. There's a tremendous pressure in a town this size to perform, but there's pressure in every job." Schurman helped secure a partnership with Consolidated Credit Union to rename the complex, landed the New York Islanders Blue and White game, P.E.I.'s first NHL exhibition game and various other events. He's quick to say he didn't do it alone, adding he had a good team behind him. He'll work with his replacement to make for an easy transition. Does he have any advice for his successor? "You have to have a thick skin. Work with your team. Encourage them to fly as high as they can fly and don't be fearful of making mistakes."
Here's a comment posted by someone in the Journal Pioneer - "Kenny Rogers Fan from PEI writes: CBC radio reported this morning that Bill Schurman has been rehired by the Moncton Wildcats effective Oct 1. As Kenny Rogers would say: You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, Know when to walk away and know when to run."
The Moncton Wildcats will be welcoming a familiar face back to the team this year but he doesn’t wear skates.
Moncton , NB
“I am pleased to announce that Bill Schurman will be returning to the Moncton Wildcats as General Manager,” said Robert Irving , president of the hockey team. “Bill has five years experience with our organization which gives him the ability to step right in to the role,” Mr. Irving said.
Schurman, who took over as General Manager in 2002 left at the end of the 2007 season to return to his native Summerside to manage the City’s Community Services Department, including the new Credit Union Place.
“Bill’s greatest strength is his understanding of the community and the important role that plays in the Wildcats success in Greater Moncton,” Mr. Irving said. “He is the face of the Wildcats in our community and has been a big part of our success in the past and will continue to be into the future.”

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I have driven by the new "Credit Union Place" (CUP) I haven't actually gone inside to check it out yet. I guess my first question is what was the plan in the first place? Build it and they will come and then find someone competent to operate it, rather than the other way around? What was the business plan, who did the research? It doesn't even appear that CUP has its own website?

Our friends do say it has a wonderful pool, however it has been basically shut down for a substantial period this year.

It would be a shame if this facility remains underutilized...

Anonymous said...

There is no harder job than having a public sector job with significant responsibiity in a small town or small city.

Everyone is a critic, everyone has an opinion of your performance, everyone expects you to be all things to all people all of the time, everyone makes it their business to know your business.

Mr. Schurman's inference that life is too short to be 'on call 24/7' hit the nail on the head for a lot of capable administrative types who seek a life off PEI in a larger centre.

Good luck to those who stay to toil in the PEI environment that is not only tough at work, but often tougher socially where every personal interaction at: the grocery store; on the street; or at a dinner party is laced with public critique of your job.

Happy trails to Moncton Bill!