Stakeholders optimistic about city manager finalist pool

As Springfield City Council focuses on hiring the next city manager, Matt Morrow, president and CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, says the pool is strong.

“Each of the candidates brings a little something different, and all of them are strong candidates,” he said.

Morrow wrote a guest column in Springfield Business Journal on Jan. 17, and in it, he called the city manager search a pivotal moment for Springfield.

He also outlined some of the traits that are needed in a city manager. He cited strong personal leadership qualities, like vision, humility and boldness, plus four specific skills: intentional board management strategy, a proactive partnership mindset, customer service excellence and the ability to empower staff while building accountability.

Council is examining three finalists with a series of interviews, public appearances and meetings with stakeholder groups this month. They include two candidates who are local to the area – Republic City Administrator David Cameron and Springfield Director of Aviation Brian Weiler – and Bob Cowell, the former city manager of Roanoke, Virginia.

“Council will have to determine what the most important set of skills for this moment is,” Morrow said. “Different moments require different strengths.”

Asked which candidate strikes him as the front-runner, Morrow demurred.

“I’m not in a position to handicap it,” he said.

Morrow said Cameron has brought strong leadership to his role in Republic.

“Our members’ interactions with the city of Republic have been predictable and timely,” he said. “From a business perspective, you need to know that things are predictable and will move quickly.”

Members also report good interactions with the Springfield-Branson National Airport under Weiler’s direction, Morrow said.

“There’s a high level of predictability in terms of process,” he said, noting members report speed, good costs, a reasonable attitude and a strong culture.

Morrow said he was not familiar with Cowell prior to the interview process, but he is impressed with the former Roanoke manager.

“He seems to really prioritize partnership and understand what it means to partner well,” he said. “Our best stories in Springfield are stories of collaborative partnership.”

Now, Morrow said, it’s just a matter of deciding which strengths are the ones needed in the moment.

In an SBJ article earlier this month, Sean Thouvenot, an owner and vice president of construction firm Branco Enterprises Inc., said a new city manager needs to get out into the community and engage with businesspeople and developers – people who are trying to grow the city.

Like Morrow, Thouvenot said the candidate pool is strong.

“Having two qualified local contestants is a great spot to be in for longevity in the position,” he said.

He added that he has read up on Cowell and saw that he was a finalist for city manager jobs in Texas cities Wichita Falls and Odessa. According to an April 1 report in the Wichita Falls Times-Record-News, that city chose another candidate – Jeffrey Jenkins of Taylor, Texas – for the post. Cowell removed himself from the running in Odessa, according to Odessa American Online, and the search remains active.

Thouvenot said he appreciates the candor of the process, which includes virtual town hall meetings and other opportunities to get to know the candidates.

“I am extremely happy we waited for the mayor and City Council elections, as I feel it is critical to have them involved in the selection process,” he said.

The current council waited until after the April 8 election to announce finalists and since has allowed new members of council, Jeff Schrag and Bruce Adib-Yazdi, in on the process before the April 21 swearing-in ceremony.

Thouvenot said it is crucial to find the right city manager.

“If these finalists don’t turn out to be a fit then we need to pause and start over,” he said. “We really need to get this as right as we can.”

Don Harkey, co-founder and CEO of People Centric Consulting Group LLC, previously told SBJ the city needs somebody who is very good at building a team.

Harkey declined to comment on the current candidate pool, since he is not involved in the hiring process and has not had conversations with the candidates to learn their perspectives on issues.

Emily Whitty is an architect with Dake Wells Architecture Inc. and president of AIA Springfield, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

In an email, Whitty said the design community would like to see a collaborative city manager.

“From the design community’s perspective, we’re hoping the next city manager brings a strong understanding of how thoughtful planning and design can elevate Springfield – someone who values collaboration and sees walkability, sustainability and placemaking as essential to our city’s growth,” she said.

SBJ readers weighed in on the candidate pool following an online story featuring interviews with the trio. A day after a weekly snapshot poll was posted, 63% of readers favored Weiler for the position, with 31% selecting Cameron and 6% choosing Cowell.

There is no set timeline for selection of the city manager, though two days of interviews and engagements of the finalists ended April 16.