CREATE Portage County will continue IDEA Center project as it looks to replace executive director who resigned

Stevens Point Journal

STEVENS POINT – CREATE Portage County will soon start a search to replace its executive director, who resigned shortly after he was accused of disorderly conduct.

CREATE, formerly called the Arts Alliance of Portage County, focuses on economic development through arts and culture.

Bill Schierl, the organization’s president and founder, confirmed to the Stevens Point Journal that Greg Wright resigned as the executive director on Friday and CREATE’s board of directors accepted his resignation. Schierl said he was not at liberty to provide a statement.

The board will meet this week to evaluate what comes next for the organization and to start the process of hiring a new executive director “in the near future,” Schierl said.

A disorderly conduct citation preceded Wright's resignation, but no criminal charges had been filed against him as of Wednesday morning. The Stevens Point Police Department issued the citation May 6 after a person accused Wright of indecent exposure.

Wright had served as executive director since 2014.

While the organization finds a new leader, CREATE Portage County will continues its work as planned, Schierl said.

CREATE recently broke ground to build the new home of its IDEA Center at the former Sisters of St. Joseph’s chapel on Maria Drive. The organization hopes to open the center late this year or early next year to support entrepreneurial efforts involving the arts and culture. The IDEA Center will use 27,000 square feet of the facility in the chapel and cafeteria space below it. The rest of the site will be home to senior apartments.

Schierl said he does not anticipate the transition to a new executive director will affect plans to move the IDEA Center to its new home.

“We have a strong board of directors who are willing and able to support the organization as needed,” Schierl said. “The current staff are outstanding and will be supported as necessary for them to continue their work.”

Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.