The choice was obvious last night as the Collegian Inc. Board of Directors selected Danielle Gray as The Daily Collegian's new business manager.

Gray (junior-management information systems) said being the only candidate for the position did not make the selection process less stressful. But now that she has officially been chosen for the position, Gray said she wants to concentrate on improving the organization.

"The main thing I want to do is make each staff member feel like an important part of the organization, because we're all here to learn," she said.

Customer service and incentives were also focused on during her 20-minute interview with the board. After a 30-minute deliberation, Sanford Thatcher, vice president of the board, announced Gray's selection. He said the Board of Directors' new standardized forms for evaluations and questioning helped the decision.

"This is the first time that we really had a structure to this process," he said.

Gray is currently the assistant business manager and has served as office manager, senior office representative and office representative. Walter Gorba, outgoing business manager, said he is confident in her abilities.

"She's really a strong leader, she's moved through the office well; this naturally is the next step," Gorba said. "She's going to be facing a young staff -- she's going to need to take a lot of time working with people individually."

Having trained with her when they joined the organization, Jennifer Heisler, office manager, said Gray has the initiative for the job.

"I don't think we could have come up with a better candidate for the new business manager," said Heisler (senior-mass communications).

Gray's invaluable amount of knowledge about the Collegian will help her make decisions, said Bill Decker, sales manager.

"Leaving the organization, I'm confident that Danielle will take the organization to new levels," said Decker (senior-marketing).

The Collegian's new editor in chief will be selected tonight by the Board of Directors.