Person named CEO of North Platte Chamber of Commerce

Two former City of Sidney employees have accepted leadership positions with the North Platte Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation.

Former Sidney City Manager Gary Person has been hired as the CEO and former Sidney Economic Development Director Megan McGown has been named economic development vice president and director of communications and marketing.

McGown's position was newly created, and Person will oversee a staff of four. Both Person and McGown will begin their jobs on Nov. 1.

Person served as Sidney's chief executive for 16 years – the longest since the city adopted its current form of government. Before that, he held the position of economic development director in Sidney and Cheyenne County for 23 years.

He resigned as city manager in August amid a controversy that had enveloped two other high-ranking city employees. Questions were raised about the involvement of the three in an incident that occurred 1 1/2 years ago, when a citation that had been issued to the city's public services director was blocked by the police chief.

McGown left Sidney in April, following 10 years of employment with the city. Her family relocated to Brady after her husband was named the superintendent for the Brady Public School District.

Person said he is looking forward to leading the chamber of commerce there.

He is a native of Nebraska and grew up on a farm near the border with Wyoming.

"When you went to work every day since you were 9 years old and wake up one day and work isn't there – it's a strange feeling, and a feeling I don't like," he said of his decision to accept the new job.

Throughout the recruitment process, the North Platte Chamber worked hard to attract Person, he said.

"I was very, very impressed with their commitment to economic development and their willingness to expand their resources there," he said.

There's a great team atmosphere among the staff, a supportive board of directors and it's a fantastic community, he said.

"Everything just felt right," Person said.

He added it will be great to work with McGown again.

"I think what we accomplished in the decade we worked together here speaks for itself," he said. "We got a lot of good things done, and we both understand how each other approach development."

In a media release from the North Platte Chamber, Person said McGown has extensive community and economic development experience and "outstanding talent."

McGown said she is excited at the possibilities the new position brings and to work with Person again in a field she is passionate about.

"I'm definitely excited," she said. "It's funny how things work out, and timing was just perfect in this case. I know [Person's] leadership style, and I think we can really work well together."