California- Chino Hills Assistant City Manager Ben Montgomery has been chosen as the new city manager. He moves into the position on April 1, replacing Rad Bartlam, who announced his retirement in January. Montgomery has worked in city government for 28 years, including 13 years as a manager in Chino Hills. Montgomery started as the city's Neighborhood Services Manager in 2006 before becoming deputy city manager in 2014 and then assistant city manager in 2017.
Colorado- Joyce McConnell has been chosen, pending the approval of the school's governing board, as the president of Colorado State University. McConnell will replace outgoing President Tony Frank following a five-month, nationwide search. McConnell is currently provost and vice president for academic affairs at West Virginia University. If her selection is approved, she will start her new role July 1 as Frank transitions to his full-time role as chancellor.
Oregon- Chemeketa Board of Education announced the selection of Jessica Howard to be the next president and CEO of Chemeketa Community College, beginning July 8. Howard will be the 11th president of Chemeketa, following the upcoming retirement of Julie Huckestein. Howard currently serves as the campus president of the Southeast Campus of Portland Community College. She's held that position for about six and a half years. Howard previously served as the vice president of Academic Affairs at San Antonio College in Texas.
Missouri- Bob Bennett announced he will step down next month as Kansas City, Mo's chief innovation officer (CIO). Kansas City Mayor Sly James appointed Bennett in December 2015. Bennett joined Kansas City government after nearly 25 years in the Army. City leadership is expected to name an interim CIO to take over between Bennett's departure and when the mayor appoints a successor.
Virginia- Tonya Chapman has resigned as police chief in Portsmouth after three years on the job. City officials announced Chapman's resignation this week, noting that it's effective immediately. Chapman was hired as the city's police chief in February 2016. Assistant Chief Angela Greene has been named interim chief. Greene has served on the Portsmouth Police Department since 2016. Chapman's professional career in law enforcement spans over 29 years. She became chief when she took on the position in February of 2016.
Massachusetts- Portsmouth, N.H., Fire Chief Steve Achilles has been offered a job as the next fire chief in Southborough, Mass. Achilles has been in fire service in New Hampshire for 34 years. He has been with the Portsmouth Fire Department for almost 19 years, the last six as chief. Achilles is set to replace Fire Chief Joe Mauro, who retired earlier this month.
California- The city of Milpitas recently welcomed Alex Andrade as its new economic development director. Andrade brings two decades of experience to the job. Before joining the city of Milpitas, Andrade spent over five years as the economic development manager for the city of Mountain View. In addition to holding government positions in cities such as Mountain View and Menlo Park, Andrade worked in project management for the three largest redevelopment agencies in California: San Jose, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Arizona- Markus Colemen has been appointed the new light rail administrator for the city of Phoenix. Coleman has more than two decades of working with the city of Phoenix including most recently as the lead in overseeing the South Central Light Rail Extension Transit Oriented Development grant. Coleman has a total 23 years of experience with the city of Phoenix and has worked throughout his career on development projects and transportation.
Wyoming- Heather Overholser has been named as the new director of the Public Works Department for the county. The director position was vacated with Sean O'Malley's recent retirement. Overholser has served as the superintendent of Solid Waste and Recycling for the past 10 years, and as executive director of Jackson Community Recycling from 2003 to 2009.
California- Kip Turner, a Colorado aviation executive, has been hired to manage the county-owned airports in Camarillo and Oxnard after an extensive national search. Turner is due to start work April 8 as county director of airports. He is currently serving as director of aviation for the Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport. The Ventura County position has been vacant since the death last year of Director Todd McNamee. Deputy Director Jorge Rubio has held the position on an acting basis.
Oregon- Samuel Desue Jr., a transportation industry executive from Seattle began working for TriMet March 18 as its new chief operating officer, supervising the agency's transportation, maintenance, IT and safety and security divisions. Desue brings 22 years of public and private transportation experience to TriMet, formally known in Portland as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon. Desue had worked in transportation services in the Seattle and Kansas City metropolitan regions.
Nevada- Neil Krutz, who has served as the assistant city manager since April 2016, has been promoted to the city manager of Sparks. After 25 years of service to the city of Sparks, City Manager Steve Driscoll is retiring and passing the reins to Krutz. He began his new role March 15. Krutz began his Sparks career in the design and construction division of the public works department and has served many roles for the city during his 21 plus year tenure, including 19 years in management of land use, infrastructure, utilities and development.