Paul Wenbert, Regional Manager

Mr. Wenbert has more than thirty years of professional local government experience including twenty-four years of executive level experience with thirteen of those years as a city manager. Mr. Wenbert joined Slavin Management Consultants in 2007 as Western Regional Manager. He is headquartered in Mesa, Arizona. Most recently, Mr. Wenbert completed seven years of service as Deputy City Manager of Mesa. His career highlights include nine years as City Administrator for Newton, Iowa; four years as Village Manager for Villa Park, Illinois and four years as Assistant City Manager for Ames, Iowa. Early in his career Mr. Wenbert served as an administrative intern for Fort Wayne, Indiana and Marion, Indiana and as an administrative assistant for Mesa, Arizona.

Mr. Wenbert earned his Masters in Public Administration degree from Arizona State University and his Bachelor of Science degree From Indiana University. He is also an ICMA Credentialed Manager.

His career highlights include:

• Chaired Keep Maytag In Newton Task Force which facilitated retention of more than 2,000 jobs and addition of 440 jobs and $41 million of investment
• Instituted Productivity Improvement Programs in Newton, Iowa and Villa Park, Illinois resulting in more than $3 million of savings
• Negotiated revised 28E agreement with twelve local governments for regional landfill operated by City of Newton and involved in many other intergovernmental relations activities in Newton, Villa Park and Mesa, Arizona
• Supervised city departments with $33 million budget and 240 employees in Ames, Iowa
• Directed $80 million five-year Capital Improvements Program budget in Ames
• Served as chief negotiator on collective bargaining team for police, fire and blue collar union negotiations in Ames
• Worked for the City of Mesa during the time period when it was the fastest growing community in the United States and was involved with many growth issues such as infrastructure planning and financing, freeway interchange decisions and allocating resources equitably to newly developed and existing areas of the community
• Designed and administered first personnel and wage classification system for City of Marion, Indiana
• In all positions enhanced citizen connection to city government through various methods including citizen-based strategic planning, citizen focus groups, regular community attitude surveys, citizen academies and providing highlights of items on Council agenda
• In all positions improved staff team-building through city-wide staff development and training and city-wide committee work assignments
• Served as Vice-President of International City/County Management Association
• Served as President of Iowa City/County Management Association
• Received ICMA Program Excellence Award for Collaborative Children and Youth Initiatives
• Received Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce Key Award for Chairing Keep Maytag In Newton Task Force

• ICMA (Past Executive Board Member and Chair of the three ICMA Committees
• Iowa City/County Management Association (Past President)