The city manager is in charge of day-to-day operations for all city divisions. The city is one of the region’s largest employers, with 492 employees, and city commissioners approved a $43 million budget for this year.
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Internal candidates include Tom Franzen, assistant city manager and director of economic development; Bryan Heck, the city’s deputy manager; and Shannon Meadows, the city’s community development director. The deadline for submissions was Sept. 28, and city officials released the list after a public records request from the Springfield News-Sun.
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“The city of Springfield is moving in the right direction after enduring tough economic times following the Great Recession of 2008,” said Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland. “The next city manager must be prepared to lead the administration of a city with challenges and real opportunities to move forward.”
At 10 years, Bodenmiller is the second longest-serving city manager in Springfield’s history. Former City Manager Matt Kridler served for 20 years, according to information from the city. Bodenmiller’s salary this year was $143,660.
Springfield City Commission is expected to narrow the list of candidates in an executive session after their meeting today, and a first round of interviews could begin in November.
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In Springfield, Meadows has worked for the city since 1998, when she started as an intern in the city manager’s office. She was promoted to economic development assistant in 2000. She has also served as acting director of human relations, housing and neighborhood services. Since 2008, she has served as director of community development for the city.
Franzen has served as Springfield’s assistant city manager and director of economic development since 2013. Franzen served in the U.S. Air Force from 1988 to 1991 and began serving the Chamber of Greater Springfield as vice president of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Division in 1997. Franzen began working for the city in 1999 as deputy economic development administrator. He served as economic development administrator from 2000 to 2013.
Like Meadows, Heck began working for Springfield through an internship with the city manager’s office in 2006. He was promoted to assistant to the city manager in 2008 and served as Springfield’s planning and zoning manager from 2011 to 2015. He was promoted to his current role as deputy city manager in 2015.
Other candidates include:
• John Ardaugh, an attorney with Fahey and Associates based in Chicago, Ill.
• Michael L. Brillhart, a self-employed executive planning consultant based in Cincinnati and former county manager in Camden County, N.C.
• Gary Burkholder, the city manager for Brookville, Ohio
• Michael G. Ciaravino, city manager for the city of Newburgh, New York
• Aaron J. Dagres, an adjunct professor of political science at Indiana University
• George P. Doorley, an assistant controller-treasurer for the County of Santa Clara in California
• George J. Ducas, an architect based in Austin, Texas
• Chester E. Gallant, a faculty member at the Pioneer Career School and Technology Center in Shelby, Ohio
• Subhajeet Ghose, director of Louisville Parks and Recreation in Louisville, Ky
• Sam Gibboney, a former executive director for the Port of Port Townsend, Wash. from June 2018 to August 2018
• Peter M. Hager, who served as director of the Department of Central Services in Dayton from July 2007 to Jan. 2018
• Brian K. Housh, Midwest policy manager for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Yellow Springs
• Grant A. Kleinhenz, town manager for the town of Brownsburg, Ind.
• Angela Montgomery, a management consultant and former assistant county manager in Alachua County, Fla.
• Joseph T. Pichert, bureau chief and project manager for the State of Ohio Department of Medicaid
• R. Mark Rohr, city manager for League City, Texas, from March 2014 to December 2016
• Dennis R. Sparks, a management and aviation consultant in Hopewell, VA.
• William M. Vance, city manager of Pickerington, Ohio from July 2010 to May, 2018
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