With all the comings and goings in California local government, it can be hard to keep track of where your friends are or what’s happening in your neighboring municipalities. But Trackdown Management helps keep the state up-to-date with their newsletter.

PublicCEO presents Jack Simpson’s Picking Up the Pieces.

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Santa Fe Springs City Manager Thaddeus J. McCormack earned a BA from California State University, Long Beach and an MPA from California State University, Fullerton. After working in the private sector for Xerox Corporation for a number of years, he joined the Santa Fe Springs staff in 1998 as an Administrative Intern. Thaddeus became City Manager in February, 2011 replacing the retired City Manager Fred Latham.

U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran Les Robbins retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after 30-years of service. Les served on the Long Beach City Council for 10-years starting in 1988. He is a former Director and 7-times President of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS). He earned an AA at Long Beach City College, and a BA from California State University, Long Beach. He currently is the owner of Greatland Wildlife Photography.

Rosemead City Manager Jeffery B. Allred, 50, has been hired to serve as the President and CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. Prior to coming to Rosemead Jeff held positions in Norco, La Verne, Downey, El Monte, West Covina and Pomona. Jeff will retire from his City Manager position In April, 2016. Jeff served as City Manager in Norco. He was preceded in his new position by former Pasadena City Manager Cynthia Kurtz, who resigned to accept the Director of Operations post with the LA River Revitalization Corporation.

For the first time in its 44-year history, the California Coastal Commission dismissed its Executive Director. The Commission voted to dismiss Executive Director Dr. Charles Lester, who has served as Executive Director for the past 4 and a half years. He took over the position from longtime Executive Director Peter Douglas. Charles is the 4th Executive Director since the Commission was created in 1972. He joined the Commission’s staff in 1997. He became the Senior Deputy Director in 2006. Prior to his Commission staff service he was an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Dinuba City Manager Beth Nunes is among those listed in the ICMA Who’s Who Director as earning an A.A. degree from the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. Others listed include Kimberlee Cruz, Fiscal Analyst in the City of Corcoran, and Life Members Stephen R. Casey, Severo Esquivel, and Phillip Hawes. Phil served as the City Manager in Indian Wells and Indio; Severo served as the City Manager in Pomona; and Steve served as the City Manager in Avenal, Crescent City, Solvang and Marysville.

Former City Manager Daniel G. Hobbs has written two books and is working on a third. Dan, who served as City Manager in the California Cities of West Covina, Fresno and Tracy, is currently a management consultant. Dan writes as “Ben Leiter.” His two books at Amazon/Kindle are: CITY MANAGEMENT SNAPSHOTS: ON THE RUN; and BABY BOOMERS’ LOVE-BETRAYAL.

Mayra Ochiqui is the new City Clerk in the City of Bellflower, taking the place of retired City Clerk Debra Bauchop. Prior to joining the Bellflower city staff, Mayra previously served as the Assistant City Clerk in San Bernardino. Debbie joined the city staff 33-years ago. She served as City Clerk for 28-years, taking over for former City Clerk Deborah Harrington when she left for Solana Beach. Karen Avery is the Deputy City Clerk.

Goleta Deputy Director of Public Works Kathy Garcia has moved to the City of Rancho Cordova as a Senior Civil Engineer.

Last November (2015), Santa Fe Springs City Clerk Anita Jimenez retired after 32-years with the City, and David Barron, who retired as City Clerk in Monterey Park, was appointed Interim City Clerk. Anita began her Santa Fe Springs city service as a part-time child care teacher in 1983. She was promoted to Recreation Department Coordinator in 1986, and moved to the Community Services Department in 2000. She worked for a time in the City Manager’s office as the Environmental Programs Coordinator starting in 2006. Anita became Deputy City Clerk in 2010 and was promoted to City Clerk in 2014.

Marc Puckett is the Assistant Town Manager in Apple Valley. He is responsible for the Towns Finance and Administrative Services. Marc began his career in Michigan in 1985. He worked in Grand Rapids, Pleasant Ridge, Albion, East Detroit and Flint before coming to California in 1999 to become the Director of Finance and City Treasurer in Costa Mesa. In 2010 he took a similar position with Petaluma before joining the Apple Valley staff in December, 2010.

Retired American Canyon City Manager Richard Ramirez, who founded Interim Public Management Services (IPMS) in June, 2011, served as the Interim City Manager in Auburn from January, to May, 2014. Rich may be contacted at telephone no. (916) 769-7598. He started his public management career in South El Monte in 1975. He served as City Manager in Lincoln, Paso Robles, Hemet and American Canyon, as well as holding an Assistant Manager post in Sacramento. Like former Santee City Manager Keith Till, who recently was the Interim City Manager in San Juan Capistrano, Rich earned a BA from Humboldt State University, where he played on the Men’s Soccer Team, and he earned an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC).