Mary Jane Olhasso named woman of the year

You could say Mary Jane Olhasso has done it all, seen it all.

But holding the reins of economic development in Ontario is a major undertaking of its own, and Olhasso says she's in it for the long haul.

As Ontario's status among Southern California cities keeps growing by leaps and bounds, the city's 10-year economic development director wants to grow with it.

The 47-year-old professional's resume boasts an impressive track record in the corporate world, on top of recently being named "Woman of the Year" by Real Estate Southern California magazine.

Impressive, but Ontario's grand scheme holds even bigger challenges. The city's insatiable appetite for attracting new businesses is in its prime, and local leaders are pressing Olhasso to take the Ontario to new levels.

"Most cities believe they're in the business of providing services," Olhasso said. "Ontario believes we're in the business of growing assets just like a corporation. That's why I'm in it for the long haul."

She's got a jumpstart on the uphill battle but still has a long row to hoe. Ontario and L.A./Ontario International Airport have catapulted into the world of international trade, becoming a magnet for attracting warehouse distribution centers and professional office buildings. With that comes a hefty responsibility to coordinate balanced commercial and residential growth.

"A lot of people compare us to Orange County 20 years ago," Olhasso said.

"There's far more potential here when it comes to being an urban center than when it comes to Orange County. (Our airport) will be three times John Wayne Airport and half the size of LAX ... within the next 10 to 20 years."

While it's Olhasso's job to be optimistic about the city's future, she's seen the other side of the fence. Her early career put her in touch with the Orange County real estate industry before eventually becoming finance director for Dana Point.

Beyond all that, the fact that Ontario lies in the state of California is her biggest challenge, she said.

"Brokers will just sit down and tell me very honestly, `Our clients don't even let us look in California because the taxes are too high, and the cost of living is too high,' " Olhasso said. "Given those facts, how can we countersell that? Corporate America knows we're here. Now it's just overcoming the whole tax environment relative to California."

Almost a quarter of her time at work is spent hashing out details for the New Model Colony - 8,200 acres of dairyland in south Ontario that Olhasso dubs "a second city." At buildout, the colony is projected to have 31,000 new homes and several businesses.

"She's worth her weight in gold," said Mayor Paul Leon.

He said Olhasso faces promoting Ontario during the current economic downturn nationwide. "She has to see the value in businesses locating to Ontario, and she already does that significantly," Leon said.

Perhaps Olhasso says it best.

"I want people to see... what we need to plan for so we're not overshooting the market," she said. "Most cities will over-zone land for retail and office space. Instead of saying `We want this,' let's do our homework and prove our case. It's a business approach."

matthew.wrye@sbsun.com

(909) 386-3871

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Mary Jane Olhasso

Occupation: Economic development director of Ontario

Age: 47

Education: Bachelor of science in business with emphasis in accounting, Cal State Fullerton; masters in business administration, University of Redlands

Resume: Certified public accountant for Deloitte Haskins and Sells; finance director for Dana Point; chief financial officer, assistant city manager, and redevelopment director for Temecula

Favorite music: Classical, country

Favorite book: Economic technical periodicals

Mentor: Gregory Devereaux, city manager of Ontario