Dilbeck, 60, has joined his wife, Lynette, in her consulting firm, Lambert-Dilbeck Marketing Resources. Lambert is his wife's maiden name.

Dilbeck, who will be the key speaker for a tourism group's meeting in Phoenix in February 2004, says that he's not sure if working with his wife will be permanent or temporary. "I want to keep all of my options open," Dilbeck tells GlobeSt.com. "If consulting works out, that's the direction I'll go. But if something else appears, that's the direction we'll go."

He says he would prefer to stay in the city, but notes there are several bureau openings available across the country at this time, although he hasn't applied for any of them. "I've been contacted by several headhunters, and they want me to update my resume, so I'm doing that," Dilbeck also tells to GlobeSt.com. But he says he won't be actively looking for a new job until after the first of the year.

Since Dilbeck planned to join his wife's company when he hoped to retire in about six years, "it was a natural for him to join me," Lynette Dilbeck tells to GlobeSt.com. "The last two weeks (since the firing) have been such a whirlwind, with people calling and taking us out to breakfast and lunch."

Lynette Dilbeck says that at any given time she tends to have five to seven clients. Her clients have included public and private institutions of higher learning, hotels, construction planning and some special events.

Dilbeck is on paid administrative leave until Dec. 5. After that, he receives a lump sum for a year's salary. He was paid a base salary of about $195,000 last year.He has a year after his termination to decide whether he will sue. Right before he was fired, the bureau's lawyer called his lawyer and asked what it would take for him to settle. Dilbeck asked for six years worth of salary, because he intended to retire in six years. That would have been worth about $1.5 million. Dilbeck says that it was simply a "spur of the moment, off the top of his head," number. In any case, the bureau's board rejected the request.

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GlobeSt.com UPDATE: Dilbeck Lands New Job with Wife's Firm

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