The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners recently recognized Suzanne Renczkowski for having worked for Pasco Economic Development Council for 30 years.
She is currently Pasco EDC’s director of operations.
The Pasco County Committee of 100 originally hired her on July 18, 1994. Its name officially changed to Pasco Economic Development Council on Oct. 1, 1998.
Pasco EDC is dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Pasco County through the development of a sustainable and diversified economy.
Renczkowski, who is now 63, said she plans to work for Pasco EDC for two more years until she reaches the magic age of 65 when she will qualify for Medicare.
She added that her husband of 43 years, John Renczkowski, has already retired.
“Suzanne Renczkowski has been devoted to the Pasco Economic Development Council and its mission and vision for 30 years, demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication to enhancing the professional landscape of Pasco County since beginning her career with them in 1994,” said part of the resolution the board adopted in August to recognize her accomplishments.
“Oh, gosh, no!” she said when asked if she had anticipated working for Pasco EDC for three decades.
“It’s worked out well with me and my family. I like to work Monday through Friday and to have a very stable work environment,” Renczkowski said.
Her job there has been very satisfying, said Renczkowski, who works in a significant support role for the organization.
“This job’s never boring because it’s always changing,” she said. That’s because of how Pasco County has continued to grow over the years, even during 2009 when the national economy took a downturn, she added.
As director of operations she is responsible for, among other things, serving as executive assistant to Bill Cronin, who has been Pasco EDC’s president/CEO since Jan. 19, 2016. She also assisted two other former chief executives – John Hagen, who led Pasco EDC from January 2010 to October 2015; and Mary Jane Stanley, who headed up Pasco EDC – and its predecessor the Pasco County Committee of 100 – from 1994 to June 30, 2009.
Some of Renczkowski’s other duties include handling the organization’s payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and playing a pivotal role in the planning and execution of all major events for Pasco EDC, including the Annual Awards, NetFest and the Holiday Social.
She’s not quite as heavily involved in as many of those major roles now because Pasco EDC currently has a staff of 14 people, she said. This is a lot more employees than were working for the Committee of 100 when she started there in 1994, she added.
Although much of her work has been done “behind the scenes,” as she described it, Renczkowski said she’s thrilled about the number of things her employer has been able to accomplish during the time she has worked for them.
Some of her coworkers refer to her as the “office psychologist,” Renczkowski said with a chuckle. She explained that is because they come to her for help when they have questions or concerns. She’s able to help them, she said, because she knows a lot of the history of both Pasco EDC and Pasco County.
The board’s resolution also gave Renczkowski credit for having “served as a mentor to many team members over the years.”
She has a solid background in business because she is a graduate of Taylor Business Institute, based in New Jersey. Renczkowski was one of its students during 1980 while she had worked for eye surgeon Dr. John Norris as he was developing cataract surgery with Dr. Gills. And she also took business courses at Saint Leo University in 1993 while working there as its public affairs coordinator, part of the board’s resolution said.
“Suzanne’s commitment to the betterment of Pasco County throughout her extensive career has not only bolstered economic development in Pasco County but has been an inspiration to many and has shown true passion for her community,” the board’s resolution said.
