Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher Names Deputy Managers

Phoenix AZ

19 April, 2021

12:16 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Phoenix: April 19, 2021 After a national recruitment, Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher has named Ginger Spencer and Gina Montes deputy city managers, effective May 10, 2021. Spencer and Montes will oversee a variety of departments and functions in the fifth largest city in the nation, with more than 14,000 employees. "Ginger and Gina bring to their new roles strategic expertise and experience that will enhance and complete our executive leadership team," said Zuercher. "Both have vast experience leading some of the largest public-facing departments in their respective cities and have been on the frontline, navigating through the pandemic. This experience will be critical as we continue to rebound as a city." Montes has served in local government for 26 years, most recently as assistant city manager for Avondale, Arizona, overseeing a diverse range of city services including police, fire and finance. She began her local career at the city of Phoenix as an internal auditor and was promoted to a variety of positions including deputy city auditor and deputy director of the Human Services Department before being named founding director of Avondale's Neighborhood and Family Services Department. She is active statewide having served as president of the Arizona City/County Management Association. Montes holds a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Christian University and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She has completed a certificate program at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Spencer began her career in local government at the city of Phoenix in 1998, serving as a management assistant in a variety of departments. She served as director of the Family Advocacy Center, acting administrator of the Office of Arts & Culture, special assistant to the city manager and deputy and assistant Public Works director, before being named Public Works director in 2017. She is a recognized national leader in solid waste, recycling, and the circular economy and was recognized by Emerging Local Government Leaders in 2018 as one of the top 100 influencers in local government. Spencer also leads the city's COVID-testing efforts to ensure access and equity for the city's most vulnerable communities. A native Phoenician, Spencer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. The city of Phoenix has a Council-Manager form of government. The city manager is appointed by the Mayor and City Council and is responsible for the city's day-to-day management and operations of the city. The city manager's executive team includes an assistant city manager and six deputy city managers overseeing more than 30 departments that provide critical city services, including public safety, water and trash collection, as well as managing the city's finances and budget. This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author's own.