Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers appointed Missy Hughes as secretary and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), effective October 1. Hughes previously served as chief mission officer and general counsel for an organic food brand and independent cooperative. She also served as a board member on the Organic Trade Association and on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture. Hughes succeeds former WEDC Secretary Mark Hogan who resigned on September 3.
California - Toks Omishakin has been appointed director of the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans). Previously, Omishakin served as deputy commissioner for environment and planning at the Tennessee Department of Transportation and director of healthy living initiatives in the Nashville mayor's office. This position requires Senate confirmation. Omishakin will take over for acting director Bob Franzoia who has filled in since Laurie Berman retired in June.
Florida - The Madeira Beach City Commission hired Robert "Bob" Daniels as city manager on August 27 to a two-year contract. Daniels was hired in July as the city's interim manager. He succeeds Jonathan Evans who accepted a position as city manager of Riviera Beach. Daniels most recently served as town manager for Melbourne Beach and police chief in several Florida cities and Buckeye, Arizona.
Iowa - Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her intent on September 5 to appoint Kelly Garcia as director of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). Garcia, a deputy executive commissioner at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), currently oversees HHSC's health, developmental, and independence services. Previously, she served as HHSC's deputy chief of program and services and interim deputy executive commissioner of health, developmental and independence services. Garcia's appointment is subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate. If confirmed, she will begin her new role on November 1 and succeed Interim Director Gerd Clabaugh who filled in after Jerry Foxhaven resigned in June.
Georgia - The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority board of directors named Chris Tomlinson as executive director on September 5. Tomlinson previously served as the authority's interim executive director. He also leads Georgia's State Road and Tollway Authority as executive director. Prior to that position, he was general counsel for the Georgia Department of Transportation and state of Georgia, deputy director of the Georgia State Financing & Investment Commission, and director of legal services for the Georgia State Property Office.
Virginia - The Virginia Beach City Council selected Deputy City Manager Tom Leahy as acting city manager on September 3. He succeeds Dave Hansen who stepped down. As deputy city manager, Leahy oversees the departments of public works, public utilities, communications and information technology, management services, and finance. Previously, he was the city's director of public utilities and water resources manager. Before joining Virginia Beach in 1980, Leahy worked in research and development for chemical and technology companies.