Hello GVR Members!
I am thrilled to finally be on board as the Chief Executive Officer of this fine organization and in this great community. My name is Scott Somers and I began my tenure with GVR on January 4. I have spent the first few weeks meeting one-on-one with members of the Board, candidates for the Board, department heads and staff. I have toured facilities and participated in various Board and committee meetings. Over the next few months, I plan to work with the Board, Audit Committee, and finance staff on the annual audit, which will be presented in March; continue familiarizing myself with the organization and Green Valley; attend club events and club meetings, meet with members, and become engaged with the community.
I am particularly excited about moving GVR’s next 5-year strategic plan forward. This will be a great and welcomed opportunity for members to contribute and help shape the direction of GVR. Watch for announcements that provide opportunities to participate in member surveys, community forums, and other means to be heard.
Starting in February, I am planning to meet with small groups of members on a weekly basis so that we can get to know one another. COVID has made this difficult, but not insurmountable. We will likely provide a variety of meeting styles and times so that those that prefer to meet in person (socially distanced, of course!) and those that prefer to meet virtually, will be able to do so.
A little about me…
I have been in local government management for 17 years. I am the former City Manager of College Park, Maryland, home to the University of Maryland. Prior to College Park, I held the positions of County Manager for Clatsop County, Oregon; City Manager for Reedsport, Oregon; Assistant City Administrator for Savage, Minnesota; Assistant to the City Manager for White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Management Intern for the City of Tucson, Arizona; and Staff Assistant for an Arizona U.S. Senator.
I have a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arizona and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Arizona State University. I was admitted to Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration in 2003. I am a member of the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) and an ICMA Credentialed Manager. I am a previous member of the board of the Maryland City/County Managers Association and a previous member of the Maryland Municipal League, Legislative Committee.
I am a past board member of the Oregon City/County Managers Association. I was a member of the Finance Focus Group for the League of Oregon Cities and a member of the Legislative Committee for the Association of Oregon Counties. While in Minnesota, I was a member of the Minnesota City/County Managers Association and am a past president of the Association of Public Management Professionals of Minnesota.
I was first on skis when I was two years old and I remain an avid downhill skier. I am a native Tucsonan and could not be happier to be back home with family and friends and living in the beautiful Sonoran Desert that I love. I am passionate about fitness and nutrition. I enjoy gardening, landscaping, hiking, traveling, and adventuring.
I want to thank to the Board of Directors for bestowing upon me their confidence with this appointment as their CEO. I also want to thank so many of you for going out of your way to provide me with a very warm and touching welcome to GVR.
Interested members can view my employment contract at gvrec.org.