Vaupel Tapped as New County EDA Administrator

The San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency has a new administrator at its helm as Larry Vaupel was named in this capacity. County Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux announced Vaupel's appointment, saying, "Larry's background and enthusiasm will be great assets as we work to attract and retain investment in San Bernardino County and continue our work toward achieving the Countywide Vision." Currently serving as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Riverside, Vaupel leads a team of 11 economic development and marketing professionals to help businesses create jobs, according to a release issued by the county. Vaupel spent time in Illinois working in city planning, real estate development and economic development prior to his service in Riverside, serving in a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities. He also has experience as a real estate developer, having owned an managed a commercial real estate brokerage firm. The release states that in San Bernardino County, Vaupel will oversee the County's Workforce Development, Community Development and Housing, and Economic Development departments with a combined staff of 139. The County itself is home to 22 million people, is comprised of 24 incorporated cities and towns and a workforce exceeding 900,000. "This appointment is a great honor and a great opportunity," Vaupel said. "I look forward to joining a team of hard-working professionals who are passionate about securing economic growth for our region and helping our county community achieve the Countywide Vision." Both Vaupel and Devereaux allude to the plan created by county residents and community stakeholders which calls for the establishment of a "complete county" that offers residents and investors a range of choices in how they live and prosper. The key is realizing all elements of community, identified as education, wellness, jobs and the economy, public safety, housing, the environment, water, infrastructure, quality of life and image, are interrelated and interdependent. The Countywide Vision looks to establish San Bernardino County as a state model where local government, agencies and communities are business-friendly and partners with all community sectors to support youth. Vaupel has a Bachelor of Science degree in government from Liberty University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Norther Illinois University. He is working on his doctoral dissertation for a Ph.D. in political science-public administration from Northern Illinois University, researching how to build recession-resistant communities and measuring economic recovery in the new economy.