Athanasia Lewis
Hugo
Summary
Professional in municipal management, prepared to enhance city operations and public services. Proven ability to streamline administrative processes and implement effective policies. Focused on team collaboration and achieving impactful results, known for reliability and flexibility in dynamic environments.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim City Administrator
City of Centerville
02.2025 - Current
- Company Overview: The City of Centerville, population of 3,912 and 2.4 sq. mi., MN., is a charming community located 25 miles north of the Twin Cities
- Oversee daily operations of the city, ensuring accountability, exceptional service, and efficiency
- Building relationships in the community, with the council, and with partner organizations
- Facilitating interdepartmental collaboration on key initiatives, fostering teamwork across city functions.
- Developing and enforcing city ordinances to maintain a safe and orderly community.
Assistant City Administrator
City of Centerville
01.2022 - 02.2025
- Company Overview: City of Centerville (population 3,916) – Centerville, MN
- Represent the city at various meetings, events, functions
- Oversee the city’s economic development initiatives and serve as the executive director for the Economic Development Authority (EDA)
- Secure grants for city initiatives
- Oversee various programs and projects
- Serve on the League of Minnesota Policy Committees
- Promote the city throughout the state
Assistant City Administrator
City of Cambridge
04.2021 - 11.2021
- Company Overview: The City of Cambridge, population of 9,611 and 7.7 sq mi., is a rapidly growing rural community located 46 miles North of Minneapolis along the Rum River and the BNSF Railway
- Oversaw daily operations of Community and Economic Development and Parks Programming
- Left as result of a restructure
Town Administrator
Town of Atoka
06.2018 - 11.2019
- Company Overview: The Town of Atoka, population of 9,600 and 12.3 sq mi., is a rapidly growing rural community located about 25 miles north of Memphis
- Oversaw daily operations of the town, ensuring accountability, exceptional service, and efficiency
- Prepared and directed implementation of $10,000,000 operating and capital budget
- Managed capital improvement program, monitoring costs, project schedules, and regulatory compliance with state and federal agencies
- Performed human resources duties, including maintaining optimal staffing levels, handling employee conflicts, fostering cross-functional relationships, providing training opportunities, and implementing strategies to retain and attract talent
- Streamlined the development review process to support growth consistent with the town’s character
- Left to care for an ailing parent
Assistant Town Administrator
Town of Collierville
01.2016 - 12.2018
- Company Overview: The Town of Collierville, population 50,000 and 36.39 sq mi., is a well-planned full-service community located 20 miles southeast of Memphis
- Supervised daily operations of assigned departments, providing guidance and support as needed
- Responded to inquiries from the Board of Mayor and Alderman and citizens
- Researched and reviewed policies, ensuring alignment with the community’s vision and core values
- Assisted in the oversight of the capital improvement program, monitoring project costs and schedules
- Negotiated lease agreements, revising terms and conditions that maximize benefits for the town
- Coordinated interdepartmental efforts for streamlined project completion and resource sharing among various town departments.
- Improved town operations by streamlining internal processes and implementing best practices.
- Left due to budget shortfall resulting in a layoff of myself, the other assistant town administrator, and several others
Public Management Consultant (Interim)
Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS)
04.2018 - 06.2018
- Company Overview: The Municipal Technical Advisory Service provides technical assistance and guidance to cities, towns, and agencies in Tennessee
- Advised 30+ municipalities in west Tennessee on various topics including legislative concerns, budget questions, personnel matters, and compliance-related inquiries
- Coordinated with MTAS subject matter experts on legal and utility-related inquiries
- Interim assignment after an MTAS consultant retired
Public Management Fellow - 2-year Contract
Municipal Technical Advisory Service
07.2014 - 06.2016
- Company Overview: The Municipal Technical Advisory Service provides technical assistance and guidance to cities, towns, and agencies in Tennessee
- Conducted a salary study, evaluating employee pay, pay ranges and the correlation between salary and tenure to better understand the distribution of salaries in the organization
- Developed performance measures and edited the budget document, resulting in Farragut's first Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Award
- Compared development scenarios in 13 Tennessee communities to better understand the fee structure across the state, providing justification for a fee schedule adjustment
- Prepared marketing materials that highlight community assets and support local economic development initiatives
- Created council orientation packets, equipping elected officials with useful documents, resources, and tips that are easily accessible in one location
- Completed competitive two-year fellowship program
Community Development Specialist
City of Oak Ridge
01.2010 - 12.2014
- Company Overview: The City of Oak Ridge, population 30,000 and 90 sq mi
- Is an innovative community located 25 miles west of downtown Knoxville
- Implemented sustainability initiatives from the City's Climate Action Plan (CAP) to improve operational efficiency and reduce the city’s carbon footprint
- Managed grant programs ensuring state and federal regulatory compliance of $220,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) along with sub-recipients, and $150,000 Transportation grant for Demand Transportation services
- Directed proposal development for successful $800,000 Transportation Enhancement Grant to revitalize the historic town square
- Researched and prepared reports for public meetings, events, forums, and design charrettes
- Assisted the city manager’s office by leading special projects, initiatives, and campaigns
- Managed a team of five on blighted housing project offered through Virginia Tech’s Center of Excellence for Environmental Management
- Left to pursue competitive two-year municipal management fellowship
Intern
City of Oak Ridge
01.2008 - 12.2010
- Company Overview: The City of Oak Ridge, population 30,000 and 90 sq mi
- Is an innovative community located 25 miles west of downtown Knoxville
- Led strategic planning effort for development of the City's first Climate Action Plan (CAP), a plan to reduce the City's carbon footprint; the plan includes recommendations on how to achieve specified emissions reductions targets
- Several meetings were held with city boards and commissions, community stakeholders, citizens, special interest groups, and city council to effectively build consensus
- Served as liaison to the City’s Environmental Quality Advisory Board (EQAB), facilitating dialog between the Board, staff, council, and citizens
- Hired full-time by the City
Education
Master of Science - Public Administration
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TNBachelor of Arts - History and Minor in Political Science
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TNCertificate - Environmental and Sustainability Management Institute
Virginia Tech Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement
Roanoke, VACertificate - Basic Economic Development Course
University of Wisconsin
Certificate - Certified Professional Project Manager (CPPM)
University of St. Thomas
Skills
- Organizational leadership
- Intergovernmental collaboration
- Public engagement
- Strategic Planning
Affiliations
- International City/County Managers Association (ICMA), Regional Conference Education Committee, 2021
- Minnesota City Management Association, Member, 2022
- American Planning Association (APA), Member, 2020
- Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), Member, 2020
- League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), Policy Committees: Improving Service Delivery & Fiscal Futures, 2022
Awards
- Technical Assistance Award, EPA’s Sustainable Communities Building Blocks Program, 2011
- Platinum Status Designation, TVA Valley Sustainable Communities Program, 2012
- Scholarship for team of 5 to attend the Virginia Tech Center for Excellence in Environmental Management, 2014
- Scholarship to attend the TN Economic & Community Development/Retail Academy Workshop, 2019
- League of Minnesota City (LMC) City of Excellence Award for Centerville Junior Councilmember program, 2023
Locations
- Hugo, MN, 55038
- 33770, Collierville, TN
Timeline
Interim City Administrator
City of Centerville
02.2025 - Current
Assistant City Administrator
City of Centerville
01.2022 - 02.2025
Assistant City Administrator
City of Cambridge
04.2021 - 11.2021
Town Administrator
Town of Atoka
06.2018 - 11.2019
Public Management Consultant (Interim)
Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS)
04.2018 - 06.2018
Assistant Town Administrator
Town of Collierville
01.2016 - 12.2018
Public Management Fellow - 2-year Contract
Municipal Technical Advisory Service
07.2014 - 06.2016
Community Development Specialist
City of Oak Ridge
01.2010 - 12.2014
Intern
City of Oak Ridge
01.2008 - 12.2010
Bachelor of Arts - History and Minor in Political Science
The University of Tennessee
Certificate - Environmental and Sustainability Management Institute
Virginia Tech Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement
Certificate - Basic Economic Development Course
University of Wisconsin
Certificate - Certified Professional Project Manager (CPPM)
University of St. Thomas
Master of Science - Public Administration
The University of Tennessee
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