Richland County Council announces four finalists for County Administrator position

Following a nationwide search, Richland County Council announces its four final candidates for the position of County Administrator.

The finalists are: Roderick Bremby, Leonardo Brown, William Shanahan and Dakisha Wesley.

Councilwoman Yvonne McBride, who served as chair of Council’s Ad Hoc Committee overseeing the search said she is pleased with the “very diverse and talented field of candidates, which is reflected in the final four.”

Council is expected to make a final decision within the next few weeks.

“Any one of these candidates would make a strong Administrator,” said Council Chair Paul Livingston. “We appreciate the hard work of the Ad Hoc Committee and the full Council in moving to install a top-flight Administrator.”

The biographies of the finalists are as follows:

RODERICK BREMBY

Roderick Bremby currently serves as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), a human services agency that serves more than a million residents of all ages in over 169 towns and cities. Commissioner Bremby brings more than 30 years of progressively responsible leadership, local government and policy experience. Appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy in 2011, he has become the agency’s longest-serving Commissioner in its 25 year history. During his eight-year tenure, Commissioner Bremby has directed initiatives in such areas as health care program reform and service e-innovation, modernization of technology and business processes, and implementation of significant budgetary and legislative changes. Working directly with the State of Connecticut’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s Offices, Bremby manages an annual agency budget of approximately $8 billion with nearly 2,000 employees.

From 1990 to 2000, he was Assistant City Manager of Lawrence, Kansas, where he was directly responsible for police, fire, medical, public works, water and sewer, parks and recreation, finance, information systems, airport management, and budget preparation functions. Commissioner Bremby also has served as an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Kansas.

Commissioner Bremby holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and psychology, and a Master of Public Administration degree, both from the University of Kansas.

LEONARDO BROWN

Leonardo Brown currently serves as County Administrator for Smith County, Texas, which has a population of approximately 250,000 and a total comprehensive budget of approximately $250 million. During the eight years he has worked in Smith County, he has advanced from the position of director of Human Resources to the most senior position, County Administrator. His areas of responsibility include executive leadership management, financial planning and budgetary issues, human resource development, public works and communications.

Mr. Brown has 19 years of progressive management and leadership experience both in the public and private sectors. Prior to his positions within the Smith County Administration, Mr. Brown was an area Rental Car Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where he was responsible for multiple business units with a combined inventory exceeding $10 million. While in this position, Mr. Brown increased area revenue by 100 percent, while decreasing expense by 40 percent.

A native of Shreveport, La., Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Dillard University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Louisiana State University (Shreveport), and a Certified Public Manager credential from Stephen F. Austin State University.

WILLIAM SHANAHAN

William Shanahan is currently the County Manager for York County. In this position, Shanahan is the chief executive for an agency of more than 1,200 employees. He has direct responsibility for all areas, including Administration, Human Resources, Public Works, Engineering, Finance, the Assessor’s Office, and the Auditor’s Office. With a population of more than 225,000, and an annual budget of approximately $400 million, York County is among South Carolina’s fastest growing counties.

Mr. Shanahan has more than 22 years of progressively more senior local government management experience. Prior to his current position, he was the Deputy County Administrator for the City of Augusta, Ga., the City Manager for the City of St. Marys, Ga., and the County Manager for the Habersham (Ga.) County Board of Commissioners. He is also a retired veteran with the United States Air Force, where he served honorably for 20 years.

Mr. Shanahan holds two Associate’s Degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, one in Criminal Justice and one in Personnel Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Education Studies degree from Southern Illinois University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the City University of Washington.

DAKISHA WESLEY

Dakisha Wesley is the Assistant County Administrator for Lake County, Ill. In her current role, she provides front line support for the County Administrator on an executive team in an organization with more than 2, 600 employees. As a Lake County Assistant Administrator, she focuses her efforts on the County’s “Justice Offices,” including the Judicial Circuit Court, the State Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, the Circuit Court Clerk, the Coroner’s Office and the Sheriff’s Merit Commission. Lake County has a population of more than 700,000 and an annual operating budget of $433 million.

Prior to Ms. Wesley’s current promotion, she served as Interim Budget Director for Lake City, Assistant Director of Municipal Court Services for the City of Fort Worth, and as a Financial Analyst for the City of Grand Prairie in Texas. Ms. Wesley has more than 15 years of local government experience with progressive management and leadership responsibility in each of her positions.

Ms. Wesley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, and a LEAD Government Executive Training Certificate from the University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.