|
Message From The City Manager
A New City Manager
 As the new guy in town, I would like to thank you for the warm welcome I have received. Everyone has been so helpful and supportive as I make the transition back to Delaware. I first came here in 1979 when I was recruited to the Masters of Public Administration program at the University. At that time, a big factor in my decision to accept Delaware’s offer (and to turn down the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) was the sincerity of the people I met. Twenty-nine years later, I am again impressed with the quality of the people in Newark from the City Council to the city staff to the many residents I have met. I am excited about the opportunity to live here and work together to improve this special place.
I would like to share with you a little bit about my background. I was born in Minnesota and grew up in Virginia. While in high school, I attended the Governor’s School for the Gifted. There I met both my future best friend and my future wife, Mary. I attended the College of William and Mary with my best friend, while Mary attended the University of Virginia pursuing a degree in education. I graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in psychology. I then enrolled in the MPA program at the University of Delaware. I completed an internship at the Philadelphia Zoo. I love zoos and considered going into zoo management. However, after working in the zoo’s development office, I decided that I didn’t want to spend my career asking people for donations so I concentrated on city management.
My first job was with the City of Dallas, Texas. Dallas had started a management training program and recruited people from across the country. While there I worked in the water utilities, the library, and the finance departments. One of my first jobs was supervising a meter reading crew.
Next I went to McKinney, Texas as the Administrative Assistant to the City Manager. During my tenure there I was promoted to Assistant City Manager. My responsibilities included operation of the airport among other departments. I was active in airport issues in Texas and served two terms as President of the Association of Texas Airport Executives. One of the most significant projects on which I worked was the rezoning of a new 6,200 acre development. Today this project is fully built out.
While in Southern Pines, the town received numerous awards and recognition for excellence of our services from state, national, and international organizations. Near the end of my time in Southern Pines, I received an Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Human Services, Education, and Public Policy at the University of Delaware. I was also active at the local and state levels in civic and professional organizations. At the local level, I headed up the United Way, the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the local Land Trust. At the state level, I was on the boards of the North Carolina City and County Management Association and the Conservation Trust of North Carolina. I also chaired the North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission.
In June 2004, I moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina as an Assistant City Manager. During my time in Fayetteville, the city’s population has grown from 130,000 to 209,000.
We also took over operation of the County’s Parks and Recreation department. In the middle of my tenure, I served as Acting City Manager while the council sought a new city manager. I continued my work at the state level on boards and state commissions.
I am very excited to now be moving to Newark as your new City Manager. I look forward to getting to know many of you. As you see me around town, please introduce yourself and let me know your thoughts on this place that we call home. |