Mayor to take on marketing position

Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez will have no trouble keeping a busy schedule after he ends his two-term tenure at the end of December.\nFernandez, who turned 43 on Election Day, announced he will remain in town with his wife and daughter and join Finelight Strategic Marketing Communications as vice president for business development. Finelight, an agency that handles promotion communications particularly in the health care industry, is headquartered in Bloomington's Fountain Square Mall and has offices in Chicago, New York, and Louisville, Ky. \n"His position will handle the local and statewide levels, but I'm sure that the other locations will be able to utilize his expertise," Finelight publicist Kurt Patat said. \nThe mayor will also assume a part-time "of counsel" position at the Indianapolis-based law firm\nKrieg DeVault. The firm has over 80 employees at its Indianapolis location and has branches in Hammond, Carmel and Fort Wayne. In addition to business and banking clients, the firm also serves health care professionals, entrepreneurs, families and individuals.\nBob Griesing, chair of the Krieg DeVault search committee that selected Fernandez, said the skills the mayor cultivated during his terms will translate well into his position with the firm. \n"As mayor, John has demonstrated the ability to identify a vision and work toward it, and I think that is an important part of what he'll be doing," Griesing said. \nFernandez's position at Krieg DeVault will involve four key areas: government relations, health care, economic development and municipal finance. Griesing said the mayor will consult with the firm on a case-by-case basis which will not interfere with his full-time work at Finelight.\nBloomington resident Joe Prusz is confident the mayor's success will continue after his term ends. \n"He has done a great job and will continue to do the same at Finelight and in his other professional endeavors," Prusz said. "He has proven himself as imaginative and goal-oriented."\nFernandez noted in a recent press release that he is looking forward to his upcoming professional tasks, but for the rest of the year his sole focus will be City Hall. "I want to get several priorities completed during my final months as mayor," he said.\n--Contact staff writer Jon Shoulders at jshoulde@indiana.edu.