WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – Four municipal managers from Minnesota and one from Ohio have been named as finalists for the city administrator job in Woodbury.
In a news release, the city says the candidates will be interviewed by the city council, select staff, and community members at the end of the month. City Administrator Clint Gridley is retiring June 6 after serving in the role for 21 years.
The city hired Baker Tilly, an executive search firm, to help conduct a national search to find Gridley’s successor. A job posting lists the starting salary range as “$220,000 – $260,000, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.”
The news release provides this biographical information about each candidate:
Larry D. Burks: Burks most recently served as the township administrator for West Chester Township, Ohio, for seven years until February. Previous leadership positions include assistant city administrator and economic development program administrator for Bellevue, Neb., and city administrator for Onawa, Iowa. Burks holds an M.P.A. degree and a B.S. degree in the environmental studies honors program: geography and planning option, both from the University of Nebraska – Omaha.
Jeffrey Dahl: Dahl has served as city manager and HRA executive director for the City of Wayzata, Minn., since 2016. Previous leadership positions include assistant city administrator and economic development director at the City of Chaska, Minn., and as city administrator and development services director for the City of Osseo, Minn. He began his career as a community development Intern with the City of Woodbury in 2005. Dahl holds an M.A. degree in political science with an urban studies/planning emphasis and a B.A. degree in international relations, both from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
Dana Hardie: Hardie has served as the city manager for Victoria, Minn., since March 2019. Previous leadership positions include interim city manager and director of administrative services for Burnsville, and operations manager in property tax services for Ramsey County. Hardie holds an M.A. degree in public and nonprofit administration from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, and a B.A degree in Spanish and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Matt Stemwedel: Stemwedel has served as city manager of Coon Rapids, Minn., since June of 2015, after being promoted from his position as assistant city manager. Prior to joining Coon Rapids, he was the assistant to the city administrator in Woodbury. Stemwedel holds a master of public policy degree from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, at the University of Minnesota with a public and nonprofit management and leadership concentration, along with B.S. degrees in public administration and political science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Jay Stroebel: Stroebel has served as city manager for Brooklyn Park, Minn., since August of 2015. Prior leadership positions include Minneapolis deputy city coordinator, and Minneapolis director/manager of planning and management. Stroebel possesses an M.S. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. degree in economics with a concentration in environmental studies from St. Olaf College.
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