The University Students' Cooperative Association is now searching for a new leader after executive director Martin Reed's contract ended late last semester.

The co-ops' student-run Board of Directors voted to not renew Reed's probationary contract on Dec. 6, based on the recommendation of the USCA's executive director review committee, said Patrick Henry, president of the board.

Reed joined the organization after general manager George Proper retired after having served for 38 years.

Reed had been the head of the association since February 2007, officially leaving on Dec. 20, said Vicki Cucarola, the interim executive director for the co-ops who also recently announced her intent to retire in August 2009.

USCA officials said they could not comment on the circumstances of Reed's departure because of personnel code.

"The best thing I could say is that it was not a good fit," said Cucarola, who was the association's operations manager before Reed's resignation. "It was a mutually agreeable separation because it wasn't deemed to be a good fit."

Reed, who said he is currently unemployed, also declined to comment on the reasons for his departure, but said he did not know what he could have improved on as executive director.

He mentioned the improved organization of orientation meetings and the retrofitting of Casa Zimbabwe as notable accomplishments during his tenure. He added that he enjoyed resolving issues for individual residents.

"For that person, it means everything," he said. "You help them with (their) roommate conflict or financial problems ... and sometimes those mean more."

Though a new executive director has not yet been chosen, some co-op residents said the transition has not been difficult.

"It hasn't been noticeable for us at the house level," said Blake Horridge, a resident of the Hillegass-Parker House. "It seems ... if the house is running well, it might not matter as much who the executive director is."

He noted that the executive director was not required to meet regularly with individual houses, but said Reed helped his co-op resolve some issues with neighbors.

Brad Hunt, the facilities manager for Cloyne Court, said he is not sure why Reed's contract was not renewed, but said he hopes the new executive director will work closely with house managers, especially in the larger co-ops.

"I think the new executive director really has to focus on communication with ... managers and if necessary, the membership at large," he said. "(Cloyne) plays a pivotal role in the USCA as a whole because it's a larger source of income for the organization as a whole."

Application information for the open executive director position should be available in the beginning of March, Cucarola said.

Tags: DIRECTOR, UCSA