The City of Spring Hill will soon welcome three key management team members in the positions of assistant city administrator, infrastructure director and city planning director, demonstrating the City’s strong commitment to planning and infrastructure amid continued rapid growth.
Two of the positions – infrastructure director and planning director – were previously filled but, with their vacancies in 2016, the City took the time to restructure how projects were approached and hire the right candidates, said Spring Hill Alderman Chad Whittenburg, chairman of the Transportation Advisory Committee.
“The board made a commitment during the recent BOMA retreat to hire additional staff to focus on infrastructure, road improvements and ongoing projects,” Alderman Whittenburg said. “We have numerous roadway projects in the hopper with not enough staff to focus on keeping traction on each of them. The hiring of these three positions is crucial for Spring Hill to stay on top of our growth and plan for the future.”
Here’s a look at the new staff members joining our team:
Assistant City Administrator, Charles T. “Chuck” Downham Jr., of Franklin, has over 30 years of public and private sector experience as a senior planning professional, including experience as a municipal manager.
Mr. Downham comes to the City from the Nashville-based Littlejohn Engineering Associates – owned by S&ME, an engineering, environmental and construction services firm – where he has worked since 2012 as Area Manager and Principal Planner, and previously as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Operations Manager/Senior Project Manager/Senior Planner.
Mr. Downham’s resume includes unique experience, including as project director (2008-12) for Lend Lease, an international property and infrastructure group overseeing the largest Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) portfolio in the U.S., valued at over $5.7 billion, with over 40,000 homes. The $377 million military housing project was developed in Fort Wainwright and in Greely, Alaska, one of the most challenging construction environments in the U.S. He also served as Senior Associate/Operations Manager/Business Lead for Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, where he started as a Senior Project Manager (2001-08).
His municipal government experience includes serving as Growth Management Director for the City of Lakeland, Tenn. (2003); Director of Planning and Interim Development Director at the City of Collierville (1998-2001); and Director of Municipal Development/Planning Director for the City of Tullahoma, which led to his appointment as Tullahoma City Administrator (1986-1998).
Mr. Downham holds a Master of Science Degree in Planning and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with honors from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has completed training as a Certified Public Supervisor and the Local Government Leadership Program through the U.T. Center for Government Training, and serves as Chapter Treasurer (2014-18) of the American Planning Association (TN Chapter). His substantial civic involvement has included positions on three separate Chambers of Commerce, Charter President and member of the Board of Directors of Coffee County Leadership in Progress, multiple officer positions for the Tullahoma Lions Club, and volunteer work through Habitat for Humanity.
Mr. Downham starts work Monday, April 17.
Infrastructure Director, Philip Stuckert, of Murfreesboro, comes to the City with 30 years of municipal and state government experience as a professional engineer and manager. He last served as Deputy State Engineer for the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office.
The majority of Mr. Stuckert’s career has been in municipal government, serving as City Engineer and Public Works Director for the City of Lakeland, Tenn. (2007-2014); Public Services Director for the City of Casper, Wy. (1993-2007); and City Engineer for the City of Casper, Wy. (1986-1993). His government service has included a wide range of experience in fiscal management, project capital development, program management, public relations, staff development and management, and nearly three decades experience working with city councils.
Mr. Stuckert’s professional development experience includes: past president for the Wyoming Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Wyoming Section, and the ASCE West Tennessee Branch; recognition by the ASCE TN Section as “Outstanding Government Engineer 2011;” board member and secretary for the Shelby County Municipal Solid Waste Committee; board member of the 15-agency Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Memphis; and board member of the Carrollwood Lakes Home Owners Association in Memphis.
He holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wyoming, and is registered as a professional engineer in three states, including Tennessee.
Mr. Stuckert starts work Thursday, April 6.
Director of Planning, Charles Steve Foote, a certified city planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), comes to the City of Spring Hill from the City of Dunwoody, Ga., a growing Atlanta suburb of 48,733 residents. There he served as Community Development Director managing current and long-range planning, land development, building construction, and code compliance. Mr. Foote was responsible for managing and implementing Dunwoody’s Planning and Zoning, Building, Engineering, Sustainability, GIS and Code Enforcement functions.
He has 30 years of planning and municipal government experience, including 20 years as a department head/manager. Mr. Foote has worked for a wide range of municipal governments, including one of the fastest growing cities in the nation – Gilbert, Ariz. Prior to his work in Georgia, Mr. Foote led planning efforts for the City of Mt. Juliet, providing leadership and direction needed for a plethora of projects and planning activities.
Mr. Foote has managed several award-winning consultant projects. He has a proven record of working collaboratively with elected officials and city management to contribute to the improvement of communities and government functions where he has lived and worked.
“Hiring these positions is not an easy task when you are faced with the challenges Spring Hill has,” Alderman Whittenburg said. “Our city staff took the time and found the right candidates who will continue to move our city forward. I am excited about the days ahead!”
Mr. Foote will begin work by early May.
