2024 Men of the Year: Sam Rost

Beginning in 1999 as a part-time mower for the city of Marshfield at the age of 18, Sam Rost rose through the ranks to become city administrator in 2021. 

He manages 40 full-time employees and numerous part-timers, according to his resume. He also works with the city finance director to prepare a $9 million annual operating budget, and, since taking over the administrator role, he has coordinated with multiple agencies and the Marshfield Board of Aldermen to get some $30 million of projects approved and under construction.

Rost’s management philosophy is that the most effective workers are empowered ones.

“During my time here, I have worked under many managers where micromanaging was simply out of control,” he says. “When I reflect on how we operated in the past, I am mesmerized with how progress was slowed due to the multiple steps of authorization that were required to do even the simplest task.”

Rost says as he worked his way up in the organization through many different roles, he began to incrementally change the culture.

“I have empowered our employees and department heads to be able to make certain decisions without having to come to me for authorization for issues that they can resolve within reason,” he says. “This led to our employees taking ownership of the organization and has made them responsible for their offices, departments and their actions.”

For tackling issues that arise, Rost believes there is no better time than now.

“I have always had an open-door policy,” he says. “I strive to hit every obstacle head on and not sweep any of them under the rug or put them off for tomorrow.”

He notes this strategy has led to his department leaders having confidence in his willingness to address problems consistently and fairly.

“My elected officials have seen firsthand that I am consistent and that what I tell them, I also tell the public,” he says. “It might not be what people want to hear, but it is the truth, and it is the same no matter who I am dealing with or who is in the room.”

Rost says it’s important to support one’s employees and to stand behind them in their decisions if they communicate why they made them.

“Without the working knowledge that they bring to the job, I cannot efficiently do my job,” he says. “I have held many titles within this organization, but there is no way that I could do them all at the same time. Everyone must pull their own weight, and I have found that if you support your staff and empower them, they will support you, and everyone will succeed.”

Rost is an active volunteer at Marshfield High School, where he participates in mock interviews with graduating seniors and evaluates senior project presentations. He is also active in assisting with MHS’s participation in the national Jobs for America’s Graduates program, which helps students discover options for future careers.