Steven Stuart

Organizational Leadership

• Created and managed extensive collaborative partnerships
• Effectively leading organization and serving elected City Council through COVID-19 pandemic
• Proposed,managed, tracked, implemented findings from recurring community surveys
• Wrote frequent internal and external communications for diverse audiences
• 2018 Daily Journal of Commerce Public Official of the Year

Business and Financial Management

• Managed organization for fastest growing city in Washington State
• Created and managed 6-year organizational business plan
• Consulted with managers to formulate internal and external Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plans
• Appointed and directly managed department heads
• Served role as Economic Development Manager
• Served as interim director for both Community Development and Public Works
• Municipal awards for budget and financial reporting every year since 2016
• Created quantifiable performance measures by department and City Council Goals
• Fostered climate of collaboration between general public, city manager and members of City Council
• Co-created annual budget
• Worked alongside stakeholders to evaluate projects and determine feasibility of implementation

Advocacy and Government Relations

• Represented City and staffed elected City Council with State and Federal legislative delegations
• Participated as Association of Washington Cities representative on multiple workgroups discussing reforms to WA Growth Management Act
• Received funding for, managed, and presented projects on better connecting infrastructure development with uses it serves to WA State Secretary of Transportation and regional directors
• Presented frequently to local and regional business groups, community groups, partner agencies, and elected officials
• Presented at International City Manager's Association national conference

Council Support

• Used background as elected County Commissioner to help successfully interpret between City Council policy direction and staff implementation, focusing on shared goals and unique needs
• Bi-weekly small group Councilor briefings on upcoming City Council agendas and detailed project updates
• Led and staffed annual day-long City Council retreats
• Frequent one-on-one meetings with Councilors to address project questions, constituent issues, and wide variety of other needs
• Provided written communications for Councilors to respond to constituents' questions
• Staffed Mayor and Council at local, regional, statewide, and federal meetings and conferences

Innovation/Improvement

• Introduced and led organizational implementation of continuous process improvement employing LEAN principles, with assistance of Washington State Auditor's Office Center for Government Innovation
• Assisted with marketing strategy creation and advertising initiatives
• Managed, trained and motivated personnel to continuously improve knowledge and abilities in their fields
• Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics
• Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover
• Developed and optimized organizational systems to boost efficiency and keep operations scalable and agile for changing demands

Organizational Leadership

• Created extensive partnerships with general and special purpose local governments
• Chaired Regional Transportation Council, CDBG/HOME Urban Policy Board, Bi-State Coordination Committee (Co-Chair), C-TRAN
• Served on WA State Public Works Board, Columbia River Economic Development Council, Board of Health, Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation, Metropolitan Policy Advisory Committee, Portland State University Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, Southwest Washington Center for the Arts
• Business and Financial Management
• Worked directly with budget, finance, and management staff to plan, research, adopt, and direct implementation of $425 million annual budget.
• Advocacy and Government Relations
• Represented Board of Commissioners with state and federal legislative delegations
• Served on WSAC Legislative Steering Committee (Co-Chair)
• Served as regional representative on taskforces for I-5 Bridge replacement project

Innovation/Improvement

• Visioned and led reorganization of fragmented county environmental services for better efficiency and outcomes
• Led integration of LEAN process improvement principles for permitting services
• Developed strategic jobs program focused on areas County controls – planning, permitting, projects, and partnerships.
• Found creative solutions to promote sustainability by focusing on needs, law, and language

• Recruited and maintained membership base
• Wrote and submitted all grant applications
• Formed coalitions to develop and advocate innovative policy proposals
• Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing resources
• Oversaw and implemented fundraising events
• Created promotional materials and provided insightful information to social media, websites and print media to educate public

• Worked collaboratively with diverse advocates, legislators, and staff
• Drafted and advocated passage of legislation
• Reported issues to higher management and Board verbally and in writing
• 2002 Growth Management Leadership Award for advocacy work