Frank Bednarek, VP of development at Hooker DeJong has accepted an ownership position with the firm and joined the board of directors as treasurer. In his new role, Bednarek will be instrumental in all decisions relating to the overall strategic direction of the firm as well as continue his extensive work with public sector clients.Prior to joining Hooker DeJong, Bednarek served as the county administrator/controller for Muskegon County for 17 years and as the County’s CFO for 12 years prior to that. He has consulted with public and non-profit management in the areas of strategic planning, economic development strategies, community planning, development alternatives, planning for the future, financial assessments and evaluation of crosscutting issues in the public sector.Hooker DeJong President & CEO David Layman describes the move as critical to the firm’s future success. “Frank has always been instrumental in the strategic direction of the firm. Making him an owner of the company and board member was simply a way to formalize his role and to symbolize his importance on the leadership team. Without Frank, we would not have experienced the growth we’ve seen in the last few years despite the economic climate in Michigan. With Frank, our potential is limitless.”COPYRIGHT 2007. MIBIZ.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.This article appeared in the June 15, 2007 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who are employed in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz, visit www.mibiz.com.