GSA Daily Staff Report

Published June 21, 2010

Former Greenville City Manager Jim Bourey is joining Elliott Davis LLC, an accounting, tax, and consulting services company, as director of corporate development.

For the past six and a half years, Bourey served as city manager of Greenville and came to be closely indentified with growth and development if the city.

“Bourey’s pioneering vision has inspired many downtown projects such as Fluor Field, Riverplace and the rejuvenation of Falls Park,” Elliott Davis said in its announcement. “Over the course of his time as city manager, he has developed a considerable list of deep relationships with key community and business leaders.”

“We feel the experience Bourey brings as a leader in the public and private sector provides a opportunity for Elliott Davis to implement our strategic growth initiatives while generating unique opportunities for our firm,” said Managing Shareholder Rick Davis.

Davis said Bourey will remain in Greenville and is expected to play a company-wide role throughout the Southeastern markets served by the firm.

“After serving Greenville for the past six and a half years, I am eagerly anticipating beginning a new venture with Elliott Davis,” said Bourey. “I have seen the results that come from established relationships and I am excited to continue that in my new role as Director of Corporate Development.”

Bourey is scheduled to begin work as Director of Corporate Development with Elliott Davis on July 17th.

Elliott Davis has been in the accounting, tax and consulting services business since 1925. Affiliates include Elliott Davis Investment Advisors, a firm that provides retirement plan services for companies and investment advisory services for individuals.

Elliott Davis is a member of The Leading Edge Alliance, an international professional association of independently owned accounting firms based in the U.S. and is strategically aligned with LEA Europe and LEA Asia Pacific, a worldwide network of more than 450 offices in 90 countries worldwide.

When Bourey was forced out of his job as city manager by a 6-1 City Council vote accepting his resignation, many Greenville business leaders rushed to his defense, protesting the leadership change before City Council.

“I’ll be the first to ask you to reconsider,” restaurant owner Rick Erwin said to Bourey and to the council.

Bourey said at the time of his resignation in April that no one incident led to the move. He said he was just no longer a good personal fit for the City Council.

“They have to have a certain level of comfort with the city manager,” Bourey said, declining to discuss any disagreements he may have had with anyone on the council.

Joining Erwin at the meeting were developer Bo Aughtry of Windsor Aughtry; Frank Halter, CEO of the Coldwell Banker Caine; Brad Halter, president of Coldwell Banker Caine; developer Jackson Hughes of Hughes Commercial Properties Inc.; architect Joe Pazdan of McMillan Pazdan Smith; Peace Center President Megan Riegel; Henry Horowitz, founding chairman of downtown’s Artisphere festival; and developer David Glenn.

Mayor Knox White said in April that Bourey contributed to some of the city’s greatest accomplishments, singling out the development of the baseball stadium on the West End. White said he always supported Bourey but noted that the city manager works for a seven-member council.

Councilwoman Amy Ryberg Doyle cast the only vote against the acceptance of Bourey’s letter of resignation. She read a lengthy list of accomplishments during Bourey’s six years on the job, including the purchase and upgrade of the Carolina First Center, the revitalization of downtown’s West End, the takeover of the bus transit system and the attraction of the annual USA Cycling Professional Tour event, among others.

According to a separation agreement, Bourey and City Council members agreed to refrain from making negative comments about each other.