GVR picks Lovat as president Search on for new director

Green Valley Recreation’s board of directors elected a new president Monday and started the search for a new executive director.

On the fifth ballot, Lou Lovat received 7 votes to 5 for Roberta Konen. On the previous four votes, they split 6-6.

Jeff Ziegler, GVR executive director for 24 years, resigned April 2 to take a job in Marana.

As interim director, the board picked Anndrea Blackshear, GVR’s recreation director.

In a short post-election interview, Lovat said he was stepping into “a period of great challenge for the board.”

Besides finding Ziegler’s replacement, the board faces the problems of overcoming obstacles that have delayed construction of the Canoa Ranch recreation center and of completing the facilities at the Las Campanas center.

The board broke into applause on the fifth ballot when Lovat was elected.

Jim Burt, the retiring GVR president, was elected vice president. He had been nominated to succeed himself but withdrew.

Ann Gillingham was re-elected secretary, and Frank Kalis was re-elected treasurer.

Others elected were Gunnar Bonthron, assistant secretary, and Lee Shipley, assistant treasurer.

One of Lovat’s first tasks was to launch the search for a new executive director.

Burt had been assigned the task of determining if Blackshear would serve as interim director and reported that she would.

To the search committee, Lovat appointed Konen, Leon Lies, Burt and as chairman Shipley.

Shipley said he’d get an outsider to join the committee.

GVR’s annual member services and operations budget runs about $6.5 million, and it operates six major and six satellite recreation centers.

It has about 13,000 member households, 92 employees and $16.9 million in assets.

Ziegler is leaving GVR to take a similar job at Heritage Highlands in the Marana area.

It’s a gated community on 6,200 acres, which will have 1,300 houses, a golf course, pool and other recreation facilities and a 225-seat restaurant.

He starts there in early May.

In his post-election interview Lovat said “Volunteerism is the life blood of Green Valley Recreation.

“I’m asking that every GVR member donate one hour a week as a pool volunteer or as a fitness center volunteer.”

He urged the members to contact GVR’s volunteer coordinator Shelly Johnson, 625-3440, extension 224.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749