Management Committee

Chris Brady became City Manager of Mesa, Arizona in January 2006. With more than 25 years of public sector management experience, he is the Chief Administrative Officer of a municipality with approximately 3,500 employees, an annual operating and capital budget of $1.2 billion and a population of 450,000 residents. Mesa, Arizona is the nation's 39th largest city.

He was hired by the Mayor and City Council in 2005 to bring new leadership and direction to City government. During his tenure, Brady has reorganized City departments, streamlined business operations, improved customer service and professionalism of City staff, and steered the City through some of the most difficult economic times in recent history.

Working with the Mayor, City Council, business and community leaders and residents, he has been instrumental in improving the City's financial and budgeting models earning the respect of his peers, and more importantly, Mesa residents. These efforts included the passage of several capital bond initiatives for streets and public safety, with debt service being tied to a secondary property tax (the first in more than 65 years). The City's general obligation bond rating was upgraded by Standard and Poor's Rating Service to AA and in 2010, the City's Aa2 general obligation bond rating was reaffirmed by major rating agencies.

Brady has also used his experience and expertise in economic development to guide the City's business attraction and retention efforts including the executive role in the City's H.E.A.T. initiative which focuses economic development activity on Mesa's key industries - Healthcare, Educations, Aerospace, Tourism and Technology. Some of these successes are First Solar, Banner Health facilities expansions, Able Engineering, Crescent Crown Distributing, Embraer, Cessna, Waxie, Air Force Research Lab and the Chicago Cubs Western U.S. Headquarters and Spring Training Facility.

Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Brady served as Assistant City Manager of the City of San Antonio for ten years. He also served in various executive management and administrative positions for Bellaire, TX, Houston, TX, and Provo, UT.

Mr. Barton is the City Manager for the City of Phoenix and oversees the largest council-manager form of government in the United States, with 14,500 city employees, including seven employee unions and associations, and a $3.4 billion annual budget.

Mr. Andrew Ching began serving the City as City Manager in April 2013, following his appointment as Interim City Manager in January 2013. He served as the City Attorney from August 2006 to January 2013. Mr. Ching started his career in the Tempe City Attorney’s Office as a volunteer in 1992, became a law clerk in 1993 and served as a contract attorney from 1995 to 1996. He left briefly from 1996 to 1998 to work in the Mesa City Prosecutor’s Office, where he was named Prosecutor of the Year in 1997.

Returning to the City, Mr. Ching worked as Assistant City Attorney from 1998 to 2005, and was named Senior Assistant City Attorney in 2004. He left the City in 2005 to work as an associate at Phoenix firm Moyes Storey in the areas of civil litigation, land use litigation, zoning law and local government law.

Mr. Ching was born in Tucson and raised in Tempe, and has been a Tempe resident for over 30 years. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1991 and earned a law degree from Arizona State University in 1994.

During their June 16, 2015 meeting the Apache Junction City Council formally appointed Bryant Powell as the new city manager starting July 1, 2015.

Bryant has been with the city of Apache Junction for over 14 years starting as the Assistant to the City Manager. He was promoted to Assistant City Manager in 2003. Bryant holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Brigham Young University, as well as an undergraduate degree in Spanish, with a minor in Political Science from Southern Utah University. In 2014, Bryant received the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). He is the first ICMA-Credentialed Manager to work for the City of Apache Junction. Bryant also received the Catherine F. Connolly Outstanding Assistant City/County Manager Award from the Arizona City/County Management Association.

Bryant has been a member of the Rotary Club of Superstition Mountain since 2010 serving as their president from July, 2014 to June, 2015. He also serves on the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce’s Board as an Ex-Officio member.

Bryant and his wife Jenny have three daughters and have lived in Apache Junction for 14 years. Bryant is a native of Arizona, having been raised in Safford.

Jennifer Toth was appointed director of the Arizona Department of Transportation on January 5, 2023, to lead the agency responsible for planning, designing, building, maintaining and operating the state’s multimodal transportation system, managing transportation revenue, and providing motor vehicle title, registration and driver license services.

Jennifer has over 25 years of experience in the public works field. She has spent the majority of her career working in the public sector and was most recently the Director for the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) as well as the Maricopa County Engineer. Before joining MCDOT in 2014, Jennifer served as State Engineer and Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. She has also worked in the private sector as a transportation consultant.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of New Mexico. She brings a passion for public service and meeting the transportation needs of the residents of State of Arizona.

Ron Corbin’s career in public service began in 2002, spanning over two decades in the sectors of Municipal Management and Human Resources. Mr. Corbin joined Avondale as the City Manager on Monday, November 14, 2022, after serving as the Cottonwood City Manager for almost 4 years.

While serving as Human Resources Director in the City of Yuma, the Town of Oro Valley, and as Deputy Human Resources Director in Yuma County, Mr. Corbin championed employee engagement, retention, and training; enhanced the employee recruitment, selection, and onboarding process; restructured performance evaluation systems; reduced unemployment claims; led union contract negotiations; improved relationships with public safety; refined employee health plans; and repaired and reinforced trust and mutual respect of Human Resources.

As Town Manager in Cottonwood and Deputy City Administrator in Yuma, Mr. Corbin focused his efforts on improving interdepartmental communications and City Administrative services; enhancing staff accountability; improving Council relations; strategic performance management; increasing general fund cash reserves; creating an internal “Open for Business” mentality; increasing community inclusion in City government; and creating an atmosphere of accountability, respect, and integrity.

Mr. Corbin holds a Master’s degree of Administration with Distinction from Northern Arizona University, and both a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Eastern Washington University. Mr. Corbin serves as a member of the International City/County Manager Association (ICMA).

Biography coming soon.

Biography coming soon.

Joshua Wright was named City Manager in August 2021 after serving as Acting City Manager since March 2021. He joined the City of Chandler as Assistant City Manager in May 2017. He previously served as town manager of Wickenburg, Arizona, from 2011 to 2017. Prior to Wickenburg, Wright worked at the Town of Marana, Arizona, from 2006 to 2011 in a variety of roles, including assistant to the town manager and director of strategic initiatives.

Wright is a past president of the Arizona City/County Management Association and received its Associate's Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2010. He also was named Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development in 2011. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies from the University of Arizona.

Crystal Dyches was appointed El Mirage City Manager in June 2018. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City, implements City Council policy and oversees a budget of $58 Million. Dyches has nearly two decades of municipal experience having served as the City Manager in Page, Arizona and Waseca, Minnesota, and as the City Administrator in St. Charles, MN. Dyches also worked as the Neighborhood Programs Administrator in Chandler, AZ and as a Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator and Management Assistant II for the City of Mesa, AZ.

Career achievements include: the oversight of the design master plan and Phase I construction at the iconic Horseshoe Bend overlook (in partnership with National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area representatives), the completion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance System expansion and adaptive reuse project of an existing retail building to a Public Safety Facility.

Ms. Dyches received her Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts, Social Science from Metropolitan State University. Ms. Dyches, her husband Mark and 12-year-old son, Jack reside in El Mirage.

Russ Martin began serving as the Town Manager of Florence, Arizona in March of 2023. He has over 25 years of local government experience and has served in the Town Manager role in Hayden, CO, and Camp Verde, AZ since 2004. Previously, Mr. Martin was the Regional Planner for the Six County Association of Governments in Central Utah and worked as Planner and Human Resources Specialist in Minturn, CO. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from New Mexico State University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Utah State University. Mr. Martin has dedicated his life to serving the communities he has lived in and cherishes the personal connections he makes while serving.

Phil Dorchester, a Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation tribal member, has progressively worked toward the tribal council’s vision for the betterment of the community by ensuring efficiency of tribal government operations.

Prior to taking up his current position, Phil regularly involved himself in various committees. These committees are subordinate advisory to the Council and serve as consultative interests in performing departmental functions.

Phil’s experience with the Nation’s enterprises and tribal government began in 1992. Starting as a Gaming Inspector, Phil learned the regulation of the gaming enterprise. He took the position of Casino Manager in 1996, before becoming Assistant General Manager and then Acting General Manager. Phil has held his present position since 2007; as General Manager he oversees the nation’s tribal operations.

Rachael Goodwin was appointed Interim Town Manager for the Town of Fountain Hills effective April 1, 2023. Rachael has been a part of the Town staff for more than nine years and has served in municipal government for almost 20. She started her career with the Town of Fountain Hills as the Recreation and Events Manager, and in 2017 took over the role of the Community Services Director. In July 2023, she was named one of two Deputy Town Managers to help represent the town on regional and statewide platforms. She is a Lumberjack and Sun Devil with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. She has served on several regional boards, including the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. She is a national judge for the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administration Gold Medal program.

Patrick Banger is Gilbert’s Town Manager, a position he has held since August 14, 2011. Banger served as city administrator of O’Fallon, MO, for six years prior to working in the private sector, in a role that emphasized smart planning during a period of tremendous growth, and increasing efficiency and the value of government while decreasing employee turnover and cost of services.

Banger has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Missouri State University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University.

Banger has also taken part in several executive education programs: Strategic Thinking & Executive Team Dynamics, at The Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania; Strategy & Organization as well as Negotiation Tactics at Stanford University Graduate School of Business; Corporate Financial Analysis at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business; and Sr. Executives in State & Local Government at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

Banger lives in Gilbert with his wife, Belinda, and her daughter Sydney. He has two other daughters Brittany and Erin.

Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps is the top executive for the city of Glendale, which is part of a growing area of Maricopa County and the sixth largest city in AZ. His responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations and policy implementation for all city departments and divisions and ensuring prudent fiscal stewardship for the city.

Mr. Phelps was appointed in November 2015 and considers it his priority to bring effective and transparent government practices to the community he serves with an emphasis on leveraging technology and innovation.

Recognizing that it is in Glendale’s interest to have a robust business sector, his desire is that Glendale become both a major job center, and the most business-friendly city in the Valley. His focus is on encouraging initiatives that will grow the city’s economy, increase employment and encourage growth for businesses’ large and small. Glendale is a full-service community offering public safety, water, public works, library and recreation services for residents as well as offering business development services to support a strong economic base.

Mr. Phelps began a comprehensive strategic planning process using the City Council’s newly created mission, vision and value statements. The intent is that Glendale will demonstrate measurable results toward being the community of choice for residents, businesses and employees. To accomplish this work, he has introduced the Balanced Scorecard approach to lead organizational development and set priorities for city staff.

Under his leadership, the city has continued to stabilize financially and operationally after experiencing a serious fiscal crisis that occurred several years prior to his hiring. The turnaround has resulted in credit rating upgrades and a growing fund balance that has been achieved through policy reforms, growth of new revenue streams and a long-term financial plan.

Kevin Phelps is a board member of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, a member of International City/County Management Association (ICMA)and a member of the Arizona City/County Management Association ACMA.

Mr. Phelps’ government leadership includes serving as the highest ranking appointed official in Pierce County, Washington, an area that includes greater Tacoma and is the states second largest county. Prior to that, he was a deputy auditor for the Washington State Auditor’s office, and was a councilmember for the city of Tacoma, Washington.

Before his tenure in government, he was the founder and managing partner of the Landmark Convention Center in Tacoma.

Wynette Reed was appointed City Manager in February, 2023. Wynette has more than 36 years of municipal government experience, including over 25 years in management/leadership roles.

She came to Goodyear in 2011 as the city's Human Resources Director and was soon promoted to Deputy City Manager in March 2013 and has overseen every department in the city during her tenure.

Prior to joining Goodyear, Reed held the Human Resources Director position for the City of Peoria for 3½ years. Before making her home in Arizona in 2008, she served as HR Director for Larimer County and Assistant HR Director for Fort Collins, Colorado. Reed has experience in strategic planning, organizational development and human capital planning. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. She was also awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, July 2015, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education. Reed has demonstrated her leadership acumen throughout her career through building collaborative relationships and a focus on innovative thinking.

Jeff Kulaga was unanimously appointed Town Manager / Clerk for the Town of Guadalupe, Arizona on September 28, 2017. He also serves as the Town’s Zoning Administrator, Business License Administrator, Cemetery Administrator and Community Development Director. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Town, implementing Town Council policy and overseeing the $11.8M annual budget. He has more than 30 years of Arizona municipal government experience, previously serving as Assistant City Manager in Tempe for 9 years and multiple roles in Mesa and Scottsdale, including Government Relations Director and Executive Assistant to the Mayor.

Kulaga is a double Devil earning his Bachelor of Science Degree and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. He is a member of the Arizona City and County Management Association, the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association and the Urban Land Institute. He is a lifetime member of the Arizona State University Alumni Association and is mentor in the Arizona State University, Student Athletes Mentorship Program. He presently serves as Vice Chairman of the City of Phoenix, Arizona at Works Board, Workforce Development Committee.

Biography coming soon.

Ricky A. Horst was appointed City Manager for the City of Maricopa, Arizona on June 25, 2018. As the City Manager, he is responsible for the implementation and execution of Council policies, strategic planning, fiscal sustainability and oversight of all city personnel.

Prior to his appointment, Rick served as City Manager for cities in Florida, Utah, and California and brings over thirty-five years of progressive experience in the field of public administration with a proven and verifiable record of creativity, innovation, honesty, and as a results oriented leader “who gets things done.”

Rick received his Associated of Arts degree in Music Education from Okaloosa Walton Junior College followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree in Youth Leadership and Recreation Management and a Master’s Degree in Recreation Management and Community Resource Development from Brigham Young University. He later completed certain course work in the field of Public Administration at Troy State University. Rick is a member of the International City/County Manager’s Association and obtained his Credential City Manager certification in 2004.

Married to his wife Cynthia for thirty-eight years, they enjoy a diverse family of six children and fourteen grand-children that speak eight languages and represent multiple customs and cultures.

Jen Pokorski has worked for Maricopa County since 2005. Prior to being appointed County Manager, she served as an Assistant County Manager, the Planning and Development Director and the director of the Ombudsman Office. As County Manager, Jen oversees more than 40 county departments and works to implement the vision of the elected Board of Supervisors, which includes efficient use of county tax dollars, creating safe and healthy communities, and improving quality of life for all residents through county programs and services.

Jill Keimach joined the Town of Paradise Valley in May 2019 and serves as the Town Manager. As the Town Manager, Jill is responsible for working with staff to implement the policies adopted by the Mayor and Town Council. Jill is also responsible for the day-to-day operations of all departments and staff within the town.

Town Manager Keimach joined Paradise Valley after serving as the City Manager of both Alameda, CA and Moraga, CA. Prior to that, she was the Community Development Director for both Fremont, CA and El Cerrito, CA.

Jill has her Masters of City Planning and Bachelors of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a member of the International City/County Managers Association, American Institute of Certified Planners, and the American Institute of Architects.

Henry Darwin brings more than 26 years of experience serving in numerous leadership and executive positions. He most recently served as an Environmental Attorney/Shareholder at Gallagher & Kennedy. Previously, Darwin served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As EPA COO, he single-handedly designed and led deployment of the first agency-wide lean management system in the US federal government, known as the EPA Lean Management System (ELMS).

Prior to joining the EPA, Darwin served as the State of Arizona’s COO, where he oversaw the operations of its 35 state agencies and over 35,000 employees. As COO, Darwin implemented Arizona government’s first intentional management system based upon lean principles known as the Arizona Management System (AMS).

Darwin holds a Bachelor of Science, Hydrology in Engineering from the University of Arizona, and a Juris Doctorate from Lewis & Clark College's Northwestern School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the State of Arizona.

Leo Lew was appointed County Manager by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors March 3, 2021, stepping up from the role of Deputy County Manager, a position he held since 2013.

Leo is a Credentialed Manager with the International City/County Management Association, an association of more than 11,000 members dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. He has been serving in local government for over 15 years and here in Pinal County for over a decade.

As a strong proponent of leadership development, he has completed the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia and the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School. He has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and is a Certified Public Accountant, having begun his professional career with a Big Four professional services firm.

Leo enjoys surfing, mountain biking, and spending time with his family.

Bruce Gardner is the Town Manager for Queen Creek, Arizona, a position he assumed in January 2023. With more than 28 years in the public sector, Bruce previously served as Queen Creek’s Assistant Town Manager since 2015. Bruce joined the Town of Queen Creek in 2007 as the Human Resources Director. When his duties expanded to include Information Technology, Bruce was promoted to the Workforce and Information Technology Director. Prior to working with the Town of Queen Creek, Gardner served as the Human Resources Administrator for the City of Tempe.

Bruce holds a Master in Public Administration and a Bachelor in Business degrees from Arizona State University. He also received certification as an executive for Human Resources from the Public Sector Human Resources Association (PSHRA).

For the past seven years, Bryan D. Meyers has served as the Community Manager on behalf of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC). In his role as Community Manager, Meyers oversees 25 departments of which he has direct oversight of 11. The Community employs more than 2,000 employees and provides valuable services to more than 8,700 tribal members.

Meyers is responsible for leading and managing all of the personnel, operations and logistics of the Community government.

"My duties are similar to the duties of a City Manager for a municipality, although the Community cannot be only compared to a City," Meyers says. "The SRP-MIC has duties and responsibilities similar to that of the federal, state and county governments as well as private industry all rolled up into one tribal government."

As a full-service government, SRP-MIC operates the daily government operations of the Community which includes Administration, Council, the Office of General Council, Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Budgets and Records, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Treasury, Internal Audit, Purchasing, Cultural Resources and the Community Regulatory Agency.

Other Community operations include: Public Safety, Education and Community Enrichment, Health and Welfare, Public Works-Transportation, Community and Economic Development and Criminal Justice, which all operate numerous programs and offices within their respective departments.

Meyers also serves as a liaison between the Community Council and the Community Government. He carries out administrative requests by the Community Council, assures the day-to-day operations of the departments and programs to ensure that the needs of the Community are met.

Since 1993, the Community has significantly increased services to Community members, said Meyers, who first started with SRP-MIC in 1993. They include the Memorial Hall, the Lehi Community Center, two fire and police substations, housing projects, new school facilities and construction of the new 150,000 square-foot Two Waters Tribal Complex, which includes the 12,800 square-foot Council Chambers and the 12,000 square-foot Community Cafeteria, which are scheduled to open in 2009

Jim Thompson was appointed as Scottsdale City Manager in January 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Thompson served as the city manager of Casa Grande, Arizona; Bothell, Washington and Bullhead City, Arizona. He has over 30 years of experience as a city manager. Mr. Thompson has also served on the Arizona State Personnel Board since 2004 and as an adjunct professor in Arizona State University’s Department of Public Affairs since 2011. Mr. Thompson has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University, a master’s degree in business administration from Regis University, a PhD from La Salle University and attended the Senior Executive Program at Harvard.

The Surprise City Manager is Bob Wingenroth, who began June 11, 2014. Prior to his appointment as manager by the city council, Wingenroth was the Surprise Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Assistant City Manager overseeing Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology, posts he assumed when he started with the city in June, 2013.

Wingenroth is the former City Manager of Anaheim, California and spent 28 years with the City of Phoenix, departing as the Phoenix Finance Director in 2009 to become Chief Financial Officer in Huntington Beach, CA. He was the CFO in Anaheim in 2010 before accepting the city manager position in 2012.

As the City Manager of Tolleson, Reyes Medrano, Jr. is charged with ensuring the delivery of municipal services to the community, economic development initiatives, budget creation and administration, strategic planning for the city, fiscal accountability, and employee relations. As a Tolleson native, Reyes has seen the growth of the city from a small farming community to a strong commercial and industrial base that allows for the delivery of many amenities and cultural activities to Tolleson’s citizens.

Reyes began his involvement with the City of Tolleson as a dispatcher and administrative assistant to the Chief of Police for the Tolleson Police Department where he served for five years while completing his Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix. After completing his graduate education, he served as the management assistant in the City Manager’s office. Two years later, he was promoted to the post of Assistant City Manager. He was appointed City Manager in October 2005. In addition to his roles with the city, he has held an Adjunct Faculty position with Estrella Mountain Community College for five years, teaching courses in business and psychology.

As a proponent of smart economic development, Reyes was instrumental in the attraction of CarMax to Tolleson. His current focus is to ensure that Tolleson is seen as a viable and attractive option for retail developers through economic development strategies and the downtown redevelopment initiative.

His passion for empowering and soliciting greatness in all people has led to the implementation of a Total Quality paradigm shift, which ensures educational opportunities for all city employees. He has been a powerful mentor for the city’s youth and government employees alike, imparting the knowledge he has gained throughout his years of community service.

Professionally, Reyes has been a keynote speaker on a variety of topics for numerous organizations, including the Arizona Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, the Maricopa Community College District, and the Gas Light Sustainable Design Expo. He has also been selected to serve the Housing and Urban Development Agency as a member of the Federal National Review Committee and moderated a panel on Diversity in Arizona Municipalities for the Arizona City Manager’s Association. In addition, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” for Leadership West Class IV, was selected as a member of the Business Journal’s Inaugural Forty under 40 Class of 2001, which recognizes the top executives under the age of 40 throughout the State of Arizona. He was honored by West Valley Magazine as their first “Mover” of their Movers and Shakers program for 2007.

Community involvement has been a cornerstone for Reyes throughout his lifetime. He has served as a Little League coach for more than 20 years, was the former PTA president for P. H. Gonzales Elementary School, and assisted with the introduction of the civic involvement process and heightened awareness of careers in public affairs through the Tolleson Teen Council. Further, he has worked with teen parents in the parenting program at Tolleson Union High School.

Reyes has been married for 17 years to his wife, Elisa, and is the proud father of six children who are actively involved in the Tolleson community.

As CEO of Valley Metro, Jessica Mefford-Miller is responsible for the operations and expansion of the regional public transportation system in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. Mefford-Miller is leading the Valley Metro organization through system expansion and evolution, ensuring that Valley Metro is positioned to deliver and sustain transit projects and programs that connect people and places throughout the fast-growing Phoenix region. Mefford-Miller and the Valley Metro team are committed to creating excellent customer experiences by focusing on safe, reliable operations and maintenance, expanding transit infrastructure and technology and making our services more convenient and accessible for communities across the Valley.

Throughout her 20-year transportation career, Mefford-Miller has focused on social equity, environmental sustainability and contributing to thriving regional economies.

Previously, she held posts at Metro Transit in St. Louis, MO as Executive Director, the National Park Service, the Ohio Department of Transportation and The Ohio State University. She holds a bachelor’s in Geography from Southern Illinois University, a master’s in Geography from Texas State University, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Geography from The Ohio State University.

Stephen Erno has more than 30 years of public service experience. In June 2022, he was appointed the Town Manager for the Town of Wickenburg, Arizona. Prior to Wickenburg, he served as the Acting Community Services Director and Neighborhood Services Manager for the City of Chandler, Arizona for six years. Erno has also previously worked for the City of Avondale, Arizona, City of Glendale, Arizona, the City of Phoenix, Arizona, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Erno is actively involved with the Arizona City/County Management Association, previously serving on the board as well as being honored with its Associate's Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2020. He is also an active member of the International City/County Management Association. Erno holds a master’s degree in public administration from Arizona State University and completed his undergraduate degree at Ottawa University.

Jeanne Blackman was appointed Town Manager on July 2, 2013 by the Mayor and Town Council and is responsible for all operations of the Town in accordance with policies and directives set forth by them.

The Town Manager oversees all Town employee operations and serves as a liaison between our elected officials, residents and local businesses in our community. The Town Manager also serves on a number of Metro Phoenix and West Valley committees and organizations representing our community on a number of important regional issues.