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CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
MEMORANDUM
May 14, 2014
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Shana K. Yelverton, City Manager
SUBJECT: Confirm City Manager's Appointment of Shannon D. Hamons as Director
of Economic Development and Tourism
Action
Requested: City Council confirmation of the City Manager's appointment of
Shannon D. Hamons as the Director of Economic Development and
Tourism.
Background
Information: Chapter 4 of the Southlake Charter requires that "The head of each
department shall be a chief, director, or superintendent who shall be
appointed by the City Manager subject to the approval of the Council
and such chief, director or superintendent shall have supervisory
authority and financial control over his/her department."
Shannon D. Hamons has more than 20 years of economic
development experience, eight of those working in the private sector
for Pizzuti Companies in Ohio. In his role as Vice President in the
Columbus Ohio Region, Mr. Hamons was responsible for managing
Pizzuti Solutions team's consulting and development efforts, including
complex public and private partnerships. Mr. Hamons has spent 14
years working in the public sector for the Cities of Grove City, Ohio,
Upper Arlington, Ohio and Westerville, Ohio serving as Economic
Development Director. During his time in the public sector, he secured
projects valued at more than $300 million which created approximately
7,000 new jobs. Mr. Hamons has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Education from Bowling Green State University and has been
designated as a Certified Economic Developer by the International
Economic Development Council.
As the Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Hamons
will assume full management responsibility for the Department of
Economic Development and Tourism. He will manage and supervise
all activities related to the administration of the department including
business attraction, business retention and expansion, community
support and interaction, financial analysis and support, marketing and
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 14, 2014
Page 2
ITEM 4N
promotion, and tourism. He will be responsible for managing the
development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives,
policies and priorities in alignment with the City's Strategic
Management System and Southlake's 2030 Comprehensive Plan
elements, including the Economic Development and Tourism Strategic
Plan. The department consists of four full-time employees, including
the director, and has a FY 2014 general fund budget of $279,071 and
Hotel Occupancy Tax budget of $846,844.
Mr. Hamons' appointment brings extensive economic development
experience to the organization and provides no negative budgetary
impact. With your approval, Mr. Hamons will begin work on June 2,
2014.
Financial
Considerations: An offer of employment has been extended to Mr. Hamons with a
monthly salary of $9,833 plus the standard executive benefit package.
Strategic Link: Performance Management and Service Delivery: attract, develop and
retain a skilled workforce.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: N/A
Legal Review: N/A
Alternatives: N/A
Supporting
Documents: Mr. Hamons' Resume
Staff
Recommendation: City Council confirmation of the City Manager's appointment of
Shannon D. Hamons as the Director of Economic Development and
Tourism.
Shannon David Hamons, Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)
600 Ipswich St. Westerville, OH 43081 sdhamons2013@vahoo.com 614-602-9047
Professional Experience:
➢ 14 years — public economic development director
➢ 8 years — private economic development company executive
➢ 6 years — editor and general manager of two separate newspaper chains
➢ 3 years — school district community relations manager
Relevant Experience:
➢ 20 years — member of Mid -Ohio Development Exchange, founding member and past president
➢ 7 years — CEcD designation from International Economic Development Council
➢ 6 years — local chamber of commerce board member
➢ 4 years — local convention & visitors' bureau board member and marketing chair
➢ 3 years — vice -chair of local community Planning Commission, recently appointed to BZA
➢ Complete understanding of local/state legislative processes, funding sources and incentive programs;
effective communication/marketing strategies; public policy/relations
Current — Vice President Columbus Region — Pizzuti Companies, Columbus Ohio
■ Project Executive for Solutions Division
■ Manage complex public/private development projects and Pizzuti Solutions team
■ Direct teams of architects, planners, construction and finance personnel
■ Secure development opportunities, manage due diligence, negotiate agreements /land purchases
■ Create/manage project priorities, pro formas, budgets and reports for executive team and clients
■ Manage planning/consulting projects for public entities
Current project management:
Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center - $17 million
New Public Library, Grove City, OH - $17.5 million
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Northside Mixed -Use facility - $30 million
Columbus Crew MLS Soccer Training Facility - $18 million
1991 to 2005 — Economic Development Director - Cities of Grove City, Upper Arlington and Westerville, Ohio
■ Manage all economic development strategies — attraction, retention & expansion
■ Create and implement investment, incentive and funding programs including CRAB, TIFs, JEDDs, etc.
■ Manage CIC and Tax Incentive Review Councils and issue annual program reports
■ Track and analyze industry sector data and create corresponding target -market programs
■ Review transit, building/planning code and provide strategic economic/community enhancements
■ Effectively communicate with city council, administration, staff, developers, brokers, architects,
engineers, media outlets, community constituents, corporations and local businesses
Program successes:
More than $300mm invested and more than 7,000 jobs created and 2,500 retained
1986 to 1991— Newspaper Editor and General Manager, Hirt Publications and CNS/ThisWeek, Columbus, OH
■ Responsible for all editorial content and general manager for 6 Hirt Publications
■ Managed editorial, advertising, production and distribution staffs of 18 ThisWeek editions
Education: Bachelor of Science in Education, Bowling Green State University
Graduate courses in Public Policy/Management; City Regional Planning, Ohio State University