Advanced American Diving hires general manager
by Stephanie Basalyga

Scott Burgess doesn't have a background in marine construction, but he's been getting a first-hand education on the subject ever since became the newest employee at Advanced American Diving Service Inc.

Hired as the new general manager for the Oregon City company, Burgess is responsible for helping improve and manage business systems to support Advance American Diving's marine construction and consulting work.

"A construction contractor's goal is to get and produce jobs, but there's a whole skeleton and structure to make that happen," Burgess said.

Creating a solid internal structure is a skill Burgess honed during eight years spent as the city manager of the growing community of West Linn. That was where Burgess first became acquainted with Advanced American Diving partner and president, Dee Burch, who was serving as a West Linn City councilor.

Burgess left his city position in March of last year and began working as a consultant. During that time he was hired on contract by Advanced American Diving to work on specific company projects, including providing coordination, marketing and public relations services for the selection of this year's recipients of annual Forrest L. Schweiger Memorial fund scholarships and a corresponding banquet held in April.

The full-time position with Advanced American Diving offered Burgess the type of opportunity - and workplace environment - he had been seeking.

"My interest, even while consulting, was to get with an organization on a full-time basis, an organization that had a positive future," he said. "Consulting is fine, but you get involved with an organization, you meet the people and then move on," Burgess said. "You never get to see the outcome. I like to see the long-term implementation."

Burgess, who was hired shortly before the death of company founder Konrad Schweiger last month, will play an integral role in the company's management team, Burch said.