Wilmers using M&T to screen job candidates

The Albany Times Union has an interesting story on how Bob Wilmers is using his M&T Bank to vet job candidates for top jobs at the Empire State Development Corp., which he heads as chairman.

Reports the paper:

The search for a new CEO for the state office and two other ESDC managers -- chief operating officers for upstate and downstate -- seems to be treated like a bank function.

Besides the unusual arrangement of a public-sector agency director reporting to a private-sector business leader, the candidates for the three top posts are sending their job search materials to the bank, which also does business with ESDC.

The candidates are interviewing through the bank's human resources department, and even submitting to personality tests that bank job applicants undergo.

Wilmers has already effectively farmed out media relations to M&T. When I've called to try to schedule an interview with Wilmers, the ESD spokesperson has referred me to the M&T press operation. Wilmers, by the way, isn't doing a whole lot of interviews. I'm among those waiting.

Comments

[WalktheWalk]

I'm me but ? are you --

FYI -- Please note the name of this blog is "Outrages & Insights" -- score me "outraged here."

How a "private" citizen and business man Mr. Wilmers runs the "public" ESDC from M&T Bank NEEDS TO BE KNOWN! Open and accessable at all times to the public. That HE IS operating this public entity as his private domain IS an outrage and a fraud on the public.

Every meeting he holds at his office he commits fraud - a crime -- on the public. It is against the law to hold ESDC meetings and conduct ESDC business in secret or without public notice and access. Every meeting he holds at his M&T Bank offices are in violation of the laws of NYS- -- that is an outrage.

And your "who do you work for" comment? That's a rank cop-out -- and makes my point exactly.

Anyone questioning or competing with the Wilmers-Rudnik Racket is what? Suspect? Angry? Bitter? Or a tax paying citizen wishing to risk his own money to compete and create real new jobs with private dollars around here?

There are plenty of qualified candidates from the private sector that can run the ESDC from the ESDC public offices where at least the public has a right to know where their tax dollars are going -- That can't happen in the private dinning rooms at the M&T Bank.

Thanks Jim Heaney for the opportunity to express our "outrage" here. Looking forward to your interview with Mr. Wilmers. - WtW.

[i'm me but who are you?]

I don't think this is a terrible thing. save tax payer money, and have professionals screen the candidates. No outrage here.

By the way, I think this is being overly critical here. We want less polotics in our State, so when someone tries to run the place like a business, where things actually make sense, we cry foul because we aren't privy to all information. Being absolutely transparent can also be a bad thing, as it opens up more things to squabble about.

I applauded Wilmers appointment from day 1, and this gives me no reason to doubt that it was a great move for the state, and WNY.

Walkthewalk, your just an angry bitter man. Do you happen to work for HSBC or First Niagara? Why the hatred?

[WalktheWalk]

Mr. Heaney:

Albany Times-Union Article yesterday re same subject:

"The recently appointed chairman of Empire State Development Corp., Robert Wilmers, spends most of his time in a corner office at the Buffalo head- quarters of M&T Bank…"

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=710783&category=STATE

Correction: Wilmers spends most of his time in the South of France where he owns a vineyard - not in Buffalo or even NYS.

His motive for "taking on" at no pay (his dividends come later...) the helm at ESDC are pure and simple - whatever benefits Wilmers and M$T Bank...That is the number one item on any of his daily agenda's -- in France or wherever he is!

WNY'ers are very familiar with his MO - big political donations - charitable contributions - "FREE!" service and advice on financial control boards and his virtual control of the economic agenda here in WNY through his right-hand hatchet man - Andrew Rudnik --who Wilmers installed and keeps at the so-called "Buffalo-Niagara Partnership." (which ironically takes public dollars to support its agenda.)

The "partnership" -- is now run more like a criminal-racket -- formed and maintained to keep Wilmers and his special "friends" (those who pay dues to Rudnik for his $250K salary ) in business and anyone else - out of business! Rudniks 15 year record of job creation or retention in WNY is stultifying - an abject embarrassment -- there is nothing to show for his pay or appointment as far as new net job creation. (Which is to say - that is not what he is paid to do, of course)

No, the Wilmers/Rudnik "schtick" here is to control government - politicians - bureaucrats - public servants -- not business, economics or job creation. No - that would mean COMPETITION or competitors who could come in and knock the both of them from here to France!

Watch this Wilmers thing unfold - and you will know what we have here… it is all about keeping M&T Bank and the business "partners" in business -- and any threat to its "membership" out of business!

Just look at WNY job creation, new business start-ups, job search and development efforts -- ZERO NET "NEW" JOBS, NET LOSS OF EXISTING JOBS, POPULATION DRAIN, ETC. -- and all he and Rudnik have to do is "blame game" the government and labor unions - WHY? because it works here and now sadly and apparently in Albany. \

Gov. Paterson was led way astray on who he thought Wilmers was and what he was getting… ESDC just added the world's greatest self promoter and worlds' worst job creation promoter to their top leadership post -- and as you have pointed out here today - he is already running a public agency out of HIS private club -- (for FREE!!!!!) -- that is an abomination!

[jim]

Wilmers and M&T also control the shool board. He's a two-bit money maker business man who has no business in the public sector.. His bottom line is $ for himself, not public service.