May 2011
Download PDF Version

The Texas City Management Association is pleased to send you this month’s edition of the Management Messenger. It features recent changes in city management positions around the state, current job listings, names of new members, information about upcoming educational events, and news about our colleagues. The newsletter and past issues are also posted at TCMA Management Messenger.

You play an important role in the ethics process. Acquaint yourself with the Code of Ethics and its Rules of Procedure for Enforcement.

Please remember to browse through YOUR Web site, www.tcma.org.

If you have some interesting news that you would like to see included in the Management Messenger, please e-mail messenger@tml.org.

• TCMA Annual Conference
• Election Results
• Management Transitions
• Sympathy
• Memos on Meetings
• New Members Applications
• Meet Your Colleagues
• Member News
• TML Tidbits

All information is current as of the 25th of the month prior to publication.

TCMA Annual Conference

Want to know what’s scheduled during the conference?
Click on TCMA Annual Conference to read all about it… and register today! The early registration deadline is May 13.

Interested in a game of golf?
Click on Golf Tournament for details and to register. The registration deadline is May 13.

Know someone who could benefit from a conference scholarship?
Please click on New Professionals’ Annual Conference Scholarship. The application deadline is May 13.

back to top

Election Results

On April 8, the election results were accepted by the TCMA Board. The following members will serve on the 2011-2012 Board:

back to top

Management Transitions

Shawna Dowell is the new city manager of the City of Converse.

Buddy Drake is the city manager of the City of Trinity.

Gene Foerster is no longer the city manager of the City of Bandera.

Rick Holden is the new city manager of the City of Cleburne.

Kerry Lacy will begin serving as city manager of the City of San Augustine on June 1.

Steve LeBlanc is no longer the city manager of the City of Galveston.

Manuel Longoria is the new city manager of the City of Leon Valley.

Kelly McDonald is the interim city manager of the City of Cleveland.

Clay McKinney is the interim city manager of the City of Pecos.

Glenn Morrison is the interim city manager of the City of Killeen.

Dr. Scott Neils is the city manager of the City of Watauga.

Robert Powers is the interim city manager of the City of Leander.

Visit tcma.org to see if you qualify for TCMA In-transition Services. For a list of current city management job openings in Texas, please visit Job Openings.

back to top

Sympathy

The TCMA Management Messenger extends sympathy to the family of Joseph Torres, former city manager of the City of Pecos. Joseph died in his home on March 30.

back to top

Memos on Meetings

The TCMA Board met on April 1 at Richardson City Hall. The minutes are pending approval and will be posted on the TCMA Web site soon. All current Board minutes can be found by clicking on TCMA Board Minutes.

back to top

New Members Applications

TCMA Board policy requires that names of new member applicants be published each month in the Management Messenger. Any written objection during the subsequent 30-day period will be reviewed by the TCMA Membership Committee. If no objections are received during this time, the names will be submitted for Board approval at the next scheduled Board meeting. Written objections can be mailed to TCMA, Attention: Membership Committee, 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, TX 78754.

Applications received for the month of April:

Associate: Johnny Casias, Assistant to the City Administrator, Selma

Cooperating: Harold L. Sandel, CPM, Client Development, Baird, Hampton & Brown, Inc., Fort Worth

Student: Kenneth R. Schmidt, Management Intern, Fairview

back to top

Meet Your Colleagues

The TCMA Management Messenger introduces and welcomes Tommy Boykin to his position as the city manager of the City of Jasper.

Tommy began serving the City of Jasper in 1987 as a purchasing agent. He also served as the assistant city secretary and city secretary. He retired in 2007 after more than 20 years of service and returned in 2010 to serve as the interim city manager; he was appointed city manager in June 2010.

Tommy and his wife Alice have been married 22 years and have four adult children and eight grandchildren. His hobbies include fishing and hunting.

The TCMA Management Messenger introduces and welcomes Jason Gray to his position as the city manager of the City of McKinney. Prior to his appointment, Jason served as the city manager of the City of Celina. He also served the City of Frisco in a variety of executive roles. Jason specializes in contract negotiation, board governance, community network building, leadership development, organizational development, and service delivery.

Jason received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Minnesota State University at Moorhead. Additionally, he was a Presidential Fellow while obtaining a Master of Public Service Administration degree from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. In 2007, he was named one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Inside Collin County Business.

Jason and his wife Kelli have three children.

The TCMA Management Messenger introduces and welcomes Opal Mauldin Robertson to her new position as the city manager of the City of Lancaster. Opal’s appointment began February 14, 2011. Prior to that time, Opal served as the assistant city manager, assistant to the city manager, and community relations coordinator for Lancaster. Prior to her service with the City of Lancaster, she served on the staff of United States Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, 30th District, Texas; and Congressman Bob Filner, 50th District of California. Opal completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Opal has three children—Joshua, Jana, and Jadyn. She enjoys reading religious fiction novels and activities with her children, which include competition cheer, gymnastics, and other sports.

The TCMA Management Messenger introduces and welcomes Keith Webb to his position as the city manager of the City of Eagle Lake.

Keith has 38 years of experience in law enforcement for the cities of Houston and Eagle Lake, and for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. For most of his law enforcement career, he investigated homicides, officer-involved shooting incidents, and criminal misconduct by public employees.

Keith retired from full-time law enforcement and then served seven years as the chief of police for the City of Eagle Lake. He is now serving his first appointment as a city manager.

Keith has been married to his wife Wanda for 39 years. They have two children and four grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, camping, bird watching, and tinkering in his shop.

More colleague profiles are coming in the June issue.

back to top

Member News

Rick Menchaca recently joined the Texas Public Finance Team at BOSC, Inc., as an investment banker. He will continue to serve cities throughout the State of Texas. Rick states, "I am excited about the opportunities to continue working with local governments. Over the past 22 years, I have met many great and dedicated people in public service."

back to top

TML Tidbits

We also encourage you to visit the entire TML Web site at www.tml.org.

back to top

*************************************************************

To place an online classified ad, click here.