Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 17: Issue No. 16

For over 15 years, Jack Simpson’s Trackdown Management has published the City Manager Newsletter. Jack is a retired city manager and former Willdan executive. His newsletter content weaves together the personal side of the profession in California and helps keep the city manager community, especially retired city managers, connected with each other.

Picking Up the Pieces

Rocklin Assistant City Manager Sherri Conway has retired and plans to step down in December. She has been an important part of City Manager Aly Zimmermann’s management team. Before coming to Rocklin as assistant city manager, Sherri led the office of economic development for Placer County. She also previously worked as the director of economic development and planning for the City of Colfax and community development director for Lake Placid, New York.

Bessie Marie Scott, former deputy inspector general for the City of Seattle, Washington, is the new city manager for the City of Antioch. She is the fifth Antioch city manager in three years. Bessie earned a BA in law, society and philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MPA from the University of Washington. She succeeds City Manager Cornelius Johnson, who resigned July 14, 2023, and Interim City Manager Kwame Reed. Bessie previously worked as a paralegal and strategic advisor for the Seattle Housing Authority; policy director and interim executive director of the Seattle Community Police Commission; and with the Public Defender Association in Seattle.

A captain for the Emeryville Police Department, Interim Anderson Chief of Police Oliver Collins is the third chief for the Anderson Police Department this year. Riverside Deputy Fire Chief Steve McKinster has been promoted to fire chief starting on October 10. Steve has worked for the Riverside Fire Department for 25 years. He is succeeding Chief Michael Moore, who retired after a 10-year tenure as Riverside Chief. Steve earned his paramedic license from Daniel Freeman Paramedic School, and his AA degree in Fire Science from Mt. San Jacinto College. He also earned a BA in Organization Leadership from Azuza Pacific University. Jennifer Tejada was the first female chief of police for the Emeryville Police Department, serving from 2015 until she retired in 2020

Jaqui Guzmán is the new assistant city manager for the City of Elk Grove. The Elk Grove city manager is Jason Behrmann. Jaqui has more than 17 years of public sector work experience. She most recently served as deputy city manager in Sunnyvale. Previously she worked for the cities of Cupertino and San Jose, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office of the California State Legislature. She earned a BA from Occidental College and an MPP from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jaqui will start her new position in Elk Grove in December.

Montebello Interim City Manager Arlene Salazar filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city and Council Member David Torres, claiming harassment, intimidation and retaliation. The legal action also named City Manager Raul Alvarez. Eight city employees filed actions against the council member. The issues have continued since late 2021.

Melissa Stevenson Diaz has been the city manager for the City of Redwood City since October 2015. She previously worked as the assistant city Manager in Fremont (2006-2010) and assistant to the city manager in Morgan Hill (2001-2006). Melissa earned a BA in European history from Mills College and an MA in public administration from San Jose State University. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). CPSE is the not-for-profit organization that accredits fire and rescue departments (Commission on Fire Accreditation International), provides professional designation for fire and rescue officers (commission on professional credentialing) and provides technical and facilitation services for fire departments to help develop strategic plans and analyze local community risks and hazards (Technical Advisor Program). CPSE is headquartered in Reston, Virginia.

Shorts:

  • Sincere thanks to Crime Stoppers Los Angeles Regional Executive Director Natalie D. Salazar for coming to the September 2024 “Proof of Life” lunch joining many of her former city manager friends.
  • Jennifer Andrews, a Joint Venture Partner for EKA, previously worked as the director of communications for Waste Management, Inc.
  • Andrew Vialpando is the city manager for the City of Lomita taking the position from interim city manager Joe Hoefgen following the resignation of City Manager Ryan Smoot, who left to become the city manager for the City of Bellflower.
  • Former CCMF President and retired Indian Wells, Atascadero and Shafter city manager, Wade McKinney has moved to Missouri and recently bought a home in Springfield, the county seat of Green County, Missouri.
  • Afshin Oskoui is the city manager for the City of Belmont where he previously served as the public works director after a tenure of more than 25 years on the staff of the City of San Diego.
  • Anthony D. Gonsalves of the Joe A. Gonsalves & Son firm, Jose Vera of Raymond James, Mark Risco of Willdan Financial Services, Ashley Lough of Climatec, HongDao Nguyen of Best Best & Krieger, and Reva Feldman of Avenu are all members of the Board of Trustees for the California City Management Foundation (CCMF).
  • Pacifica Deputy City Manager Yulia Carter led the city’s professional team with City Manager Kevin Woodhouse, to receive a CALED Award of Excellence for the city’s Vision 2025 & Beyond initiative.
  • Mountain View Deputy City Manager Kimberly S. Thomas-Singh since May 2023, previously worked for the cities of Costa Mesa, Rancho Cucamonga, and Saratoga.
  • San Francisco Giants baseball fan Tim Kerr served as city manager in Turlock (2005-2009), Ceres (1998-2005) and Livingston (1990-1998). Tim earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barabara and an MPA from Syracuse University, Maxwell School.
  • Carl Simpson, City of Jackson city manager, previously served as assistant city manager for Dallas, Texas.
  • After working with the cities of Moreno Valley (1997-2007); Murietta (2007-2008); Riverside (2008-2015); and back with Moreno Valley (2015- 2016); Bridget Amaya joined the city staff in Glendora (2016-2019) before joining the Dublin, California staff as the assistant parks & community services director in January 2019.