Kenneth City Selects New Interim Town Manager
KENNETH CITY, FL, June 10 – The Town of Kenneth City voted last night to expand the consulting agreement last night with Imagine That Performance to appoint Steven Spina, Ph.D. as the Interim Town Manager at the conclusion of current Interim Manager Lynne Ladner’s term ending on June 11. Ladner has served as the Interim Manager since the departure of Manager Matt Campbell, Kenneth City’s first Town Manager. In addition to the appointment of Dr. Spina, Jocilyn Martinez, Ph.D. has been appointed as Interim Town Clerk. The Town Clerk role has been vacant following the resignation of Clerk Cindy Matson in April of 2021.
Dr. Spina, a senior consultant with Imagine That Performance, brings more than 20 years of City Manager experience from managing the City of Zephyrhills, Florida, where he oversaw a $56 million budget, including three enterprise funds, and 170 employees. Dr. Spina also currently serves as an instructor at the University of South Florida, in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
Dr. Martinez, also a senior consultant with Imagine That Performance, worked in local government for over 10 years, most recently for the City of Port Richey, Florida as Assistant City Manager. Dr. Martinez has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Public Administration at Florida Atlantic University, Barry University, and the University of South Florida, where she currently teaches.
“The appointments are a short-term solution until the Town Council is able to select a new Town Manager," said Rob Duncan, Managing Director of Imagine That Performance. “We are honored to provide assistance during this time of transition in Kenneth City.” In addition to the appointments, Mr. Duncan will continue to serve as the Assistant to the Town Manager.
The town is currently executing a plan to fill the Town Manager positions by August, with FCCMA Senior Advisors assisting with the search. Applications for the position are being accepted until June 25th.
Outgoing Interim Town Manager Lynne Ladner left a mark in a short term as Interim Town Manager. “The time that you have been here, you have taught me more how this town operates how it should operate and why it operates the way that it does,” said Mayor Robert Howell, “in the short period of time you’ve been here, you taught me the why and how, thank you.” As Interim Town Manager, Ms. Ladner inherited an organization depleted of staff, but found creative solutions to ensure no disruption of services to residents.
Interim Manager Ladner expressed her affinity for Kenneth City, “I have fallen in love with Kenneth City, Pinellas County and the State of Florida during my short tenure with the community.” Ladner informed the Council on May 12th that she was providing 30-day’s notice of her departure to accept a position that she had sought prior to embarking on the interim position with Kenneth City that was her “dream job”.
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For more information, please visit www.kennethcityfl.org