Search-CB&A
EXECUTIVE SEARCH & RECRUITING SERVICES FOR
CITY MANAGER
RFP NO. 005-14
Volume I: Proposal
Colin Baenziger & Associates
Project Manager and Contact Person:
Colin Baenziger (561) 707-3537
Colin Baenziger & Associates
2055 South Atlantic Avenue • Suite 504
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
e-mail: Colin@cb-asso.com
Fax: (888) 635-2430
…Serving Our Clients with a Personal Touch…
PROPOSAL TO FIND THE CITY’S NEXT CITY MANAGER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME I
SECTION PAGE
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 1
I. RFP DOCUMENT
Addenda Acknowledgement – No Applicable – There Were None
II. COLIN BAENZIGER & ASSOCIATES - THE FIRM 13
III. PROJECT MANAGER, RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE 17
IV VERIFIABLE REFERENCES FOR SIMILAR ASSIGNMENTS 21
V. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND TIMETABLE 22
VI. PROPOSED PROJECT STAFF AND RESUMES 30
VII. FEE AND WARRANTY 38
VOLUME
II
APPENDIX A: ALL GOVERNMENTAL SEARCH ASSIGNMENTS A-1
APPENDIX B: SAMPLE RECRUITMENT BROCHURE B-1
APPENDIX C: SAMPLE CANDIDATE REPORT C-1
APPENDIX D: RESOLUTION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY D-1
CENTREVILLE, MD DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, FL RHINELANDER, WI
RICHLAND, WA SALT LAKE CITY, UT
February 27, 2014
The Honorable Mayor Carolyn Woods, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Becheknbach, and Commissioners
Maria Mark, Jimmy Hill, and Jonathan Daugherty
Atlantic Beach City Hall
Attn: Ms. Catherine Berry, J.D., Human Resources Director
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Dear Mayor Woods, Mayor Pro Tem Becheknbach, and Commissioners Mark, Hill, and Daugherty:
Colin Baenziger & Associates (CB&A) appreciates the opportunity to submit a proposal to assist in
finding your next City Manager. While selecting key personnel is never easy, CB&A has developed a
problem-free process that has been tested nationwide and found to be extremely effective.
While CB&A is a municipal recruiting firm which has conducted assignments across the country, our
home base is Florida. In fact, we have been selected to perform 83 of the last 119 recruitments where a
Florida city or county has chosen to use a recruiter to find its City or County Manager / Administrator.
We pride ourselves on providing not just high-quality results, but, equally important, providing a great
deal of personal attention to each of our local government clients. To conduct a proper recruitment, we
feel the project manager must do more than just drop by occasionally. He/she must get to know the
appropriate government officials and the community firsthand. That effort takes time, but it is the only
way to ensure the candidates we recommend are well qualified and a good fit for your community. As a
result, we only take a few clients at a time and focus on getting the job done properly. Further, we routinely
complete our work in sixty to ninety days. This timeframe includes preparation of recruitment and
advertising materials, candidate outreach, candidate screening, finalist interviewing, and manager
selection. We also offer the best warranty in the industry.
Not only do we offer unparalleled service at a reasonable price, we focus on finding just the right people
for your organization. We say people, and not person, because our goal is to bring you several finalists
who are so good that you will have a difficult time choosing among them. The proof is in the fact that six
of our local government clients have passed resolutions thanking us for our outstanding efforts in finding
their key staff. We do not know how often you have passed a resolution thanking a consulting firm for its
efforts, but we have rarely seen it happen. Our goal, in fact, would be for you to be our next client to pass
such a resolution.
Some of our searches include City Managers for: Cape Canaveral, FL; Destin, FL; Fruitland Park, FL;
Mount Dora, FL; Tavares, FL; Satellite Beach, FL; Ankeny, IA; Tavares, FL; Roanoke, VA; Scottsdale,
AZ, Miramar, FL, and Tacoma, WA. In addition, we have also recruited County Managers for Clackamas
County, OR, Hernando County, FL, Clay County, FL, St. Johns County, FL, and Union County, NC.
CENTREVILLE, MD DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, FL RHINELANDER, WI
RICHLAND, WA SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Our current CEO level searches include the County Administrator for James City County, VA,
City Managers for Bellevue, WA, Mt. Pleasant, MI, and Winchester, VA; the County
Administrators for Emmet County, MI, and St. Lucie County, FL; and the Executive Director for
the Camden County Joint Development Authority. We are also conducting searches for the Golf
Professional and Assistant Professional for Hobbs, NM; and the Director of Building and
Development for Loudoun County, VA.
We look forward to formally presenting our credentials and working with you in the near future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (561) 707-3537.
Sincerely,
Colin Baenziger
Principal / Owner
…Serving Our Clients with a Personal Touch…
I. Request for Proposal Document
-3-
II. Colin Baenziger & Associates – The Firm
-13-
The Firm, Its Philosophy, & Its Experience
Colin Baenziger & Associates (CB&A) is a nationally recognized executive recruiting firm
established in 1997 and owned and operated by Colin Baenziger. We are a sole proprietorship
headquartered in Daytona Beach Shores, FL, with offices in Centreville, MD; Rhinelander, WI;
Richland, WA; and Salt Lake City, UT. Note: In late December 2013, we relocated our
headquarters from Palm Beach County (where we had been since 1997) to Volusia County.
As a sole proprietorship, we are not registered with any states as a corporation, foreign or
otherwise. Although our primary focus is executive search, we are often involved in operational
reviews of governmental operations. Our consultants live in other areas of the country and
converge wherever the client’s needs exist. We develop an operational plan prior to arrival and our
team of experts quickly studies the issues, identifies problems and opportunities, performs the
necessary analysis, develops solutions, prepares reports and action plans, and completes the
assignment. The client receives prompt, professional service, and its needs are effectively
addressed. We are available for follow-up work, however, our goal is to provide the client with
solutions that its existing staff can implement without additional outside assistance.
Colin Baenziger & Associates’ outstanding reputation is derived from our commitment to
timeliness and quality. Our work is not done until you are satisfied. That means we go the extra
mile and, at times, expend more effort and energy than originally anticipated in our fee or in our
action plan. We do not ask the client for additional fees. Rather, we accept these situations as part
of our cost of doing business. We believe that once a contract is signed we have an obligation to
fulfill its requirements excellently and within the budgeted amount.
Since beginning our search practice in 1998, we have conducted searches and other related work
for clients in nineteen states. Overall our staff has performed over 130 City, County, and Special
District Manager searches and approximately 250 local government searches. The basic approach
we have presented in Section VI is the approach we have used in each of our searches. It has been
refined over the years to the point where it is problem-free.
Our Services:
Human Resources Operational Reviews
Executive Search Performance Improvement
Background Checks Contract Compliance Reviews
Position Descriptions/Classification Studies Project Management
Compensation Studies Performance Measurement Systems
Personnel Policies/Procedures Reviews Standard Operating Procedures Manuals
Employee Handbooks Staffing Assessments
Additional Services Planning
Preparing Grant Applications Strategic Planning
Grant Monitoring Systems and Controls Operational Planning
Start-up Assistance to New Cities Project Planning
II. Colin Baenziger & Associates – The Firm (continued)
-14-
Technical Capabilities and Organizational Structure
Colin Baenziger & Associates has developed its business model over the past 16 years. The model
has proven to be extremely effective in every state where we have applied it and for every type of
position for which we have searched. In fact, we are often called when a government has a particularly
difficult position to fill or where one of our competitors has failed. Overall, we utilize approximately
twenty people. Most staff members are independent contractors and are given assignments on a task
order basis. Consequently we can pay well while having a great deal of flexibility without the
overhead of many firms. In addition to Mr. Baenziger, other senior staff members are former City
and/or County Managers or elected officials. As a result, we understand multiple perspectives and
have been very successful in identifying the right candidates for our clients. CB&A’s other staff are
all competent researchers and writers and most have been with us for a long time.
Colin Baenziger Taelynn Johnson
Owner & Principal Senior Editor
Tom Andrews David Collier John Darrington
Senior Vice President Senior Vice President Senior Vice President
Kathyrn Knutson Sean Baenziger Merv Timberlake
V P - Operations Vice President VP – Financial Recruiting
Internet Specialists (2) Senior Research Associates
(8)
Administrative Assistants
(2)
Completion of Projects within Budget
Colin Baenziger & Associates is proud of its record of completing searches within budget. When we
quote a price to the client, that price is what the client will pay, no matter how difficult the search is
or what unforeseen circumstances may develop. We have never asked a search client for additional
fees, even when we were entitled to do so.
II. Colin Baenziger & Associates – The Firm (continued)
-15-
Completion of Projects on Schedule
Colin Baenziger & Associates routinely completes its assignments in sixty to ninety days. Further,
since CB&A began performing recruitments, it has never missed a project milestone.
Diversity
CB&A has extensive contacts with individuals and organizations representing women and minorities.
We are thus able to identify and bring a diverse group of finalists to the City. The proof is that from
the beginning of 2009 through the end of 2011, forty-three percent of the individuals whom we placed
as City and County Managers were minorities and/or women.
Prior Names and Litigation
Colin Baenziger & Associates has always operated under its current name and has never been
involved in any litigation, except to testify as an expert witness on behalf of one of the parties. Our
performance has never been questioned nor have we or any of our clients been involved in any
legal action as a result of our work.
II. Colin Baenziger & Associates – The Firm (continued)
-16-
Insurance
To protect our clients, Colin Baenziger & Associates maintains the following insurance coverages:
(1) general liability insurance of $1 million combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury,
personal injury, and property damages, (2) automobile liability insurance of $1 million per accident,
and (3) professional liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence. As a small firm, predominantly
utilizing independent contractors, we are not typically subject to the requirements for workers
compensation and employer liability insurance. If required by the client, and if it is available to us,
we will obtain these two coverages prior to contract execution.
III. Project Manager, Relevant Knowledge and Experience
-17-
Project Manager
Colin Baenziger, Principal and Owner, Colin Baenziger & Associates
Statement of Understanding
To assist the City of Atlantic in finding its next City Manager by:
Interviewing the elected officials;
Developing materials to “market” the city and the position;
Conducting outreach, networking and advertising to solicit the applications of highly qualified
candidates nationwide;
Evaluating applications to identify the most highly qualified;
Conducting reference and background checks to ensure the apparently most highly qualified are in fact
very strong candidates;
Coordinating the selection of finalists;
Coordinating the interview process;
Coordinating the selection of the top candidate; and
If requested, assisting in the employment agreement negotiations.
More detail can be found in Section V.
Assignments That Best Illustrate CB&A’s Relevant Experience and Qualifications
City Manager, Cape Canaveral, FL (population 10,200) in 2010
City Manager, Cocoa Beach, FL (population 11,200) in 2012
City Manager, Destin, FL (population 12,000) in 2003 and 2011
City Manager, Fernandina Beach, FL (population 11,000) in 2006
City Manager, Madeira Beach, FL (population 12,300) in 2011
City Manager, New Smyrna Beach, FL, FL (population 23,000) in 2009
City Manager, Satellite Beach, FL (population 10,100) in 2013
Discussion of Specifically Similar Assignments
Note: We could discuss others but they would be similar to the five examples provided below.
City Manager, City of Cape Canaveral, FL (population 10,200)
CB&A was selected to perform Cape Canaveral’s City Manager on January 12, 2010. We sought
candidates from around the country but focused our attention on those from Florida. The City
Council interviewed the candidates we recommended but also requested we evaluate the
credentials of the City Clerk which caused a delay. Ultimately, the City Council selected Mr.
David Greene, formerly the City Manager of Winter Haven, FL, on May 18th.
III. Project Manager, Relevant Knowledge and Experience (continued)
-18-
City Manager, Cocoa Beach, FL (population 11,200) in 2012
CB&A began work on May 14, 2012, to assist Cocoa Beach in in finding its next City Manager.
Our work included scouring the nation to find the right person for the job, interviewing the
candidates, conducting through background checks, recommending finalists for the city to
interview and helping with the contract negotiations. Bob Majka, then Deputy County
Administrator of Bay County, FL, was selected on August 13, 2013.
City Manager, City of Destin, FL (population 11,200)
Destin is located in the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base. Colin
Baenziger & Associates’ contract to find the City of Destin’s City Manager was awarded on
August 15, 2003 and the closing date for applications was September 26th. On November 3rd, the
City Council selected Gregory Kisela, then an Assistant City Manager with the City of Fort
Lauderdale, FL, to be its next City Manager. Mr. Kisela was selected as Florida’s City Manager
of the Year for 2008. He left Destin in 2011 to become County Administrator for Walton County,
FL, and we were retained to find his replacement. We began on May 24th and the Council selected
Ms. Maryann Ustick, formerly the Assistant City Manager for North Las Vegas, NV, to be the
City’s next manager on August 22nd.
City Manager, City of Madeira Beach, FL (population 12,300)
CB&A began work on September 30, 2011. Our effort involved searching the country to locate
the best people for the job, interviewing them, conducting thorough background checks, and
recommending finalists for the city to interview. Interviews were held on September 9th and 10th
with Shane Crawford, Deputy County Administrator, Walworth County, WI, was selected on
November 22, 2011 and remains with the City.
City Manager, City of Satellite Beach, FL (population 10,100)
CB&A began the search for Satellite Beach’s next City Manager on December 27, 2012. As part
of our work, we interviewed the City Council Members to determine what they were looking for
in a City Manager, conducted extensive outreach networking to local governments focusing
nationally, thoroughly researched their backgrounds and provided the material to the City and
then coordinated the interviews. The process was slightly elongated at the City’s request. Ms.
Courtney Barker, Executive Director for Planning and Growth Management of the City of
Titusville, FL, was selected on March 20, 2013.
Experience and Performance Results from Similar Florida Municipal
Recruitments
Please see Appendix A for a list of our recruitments, both those from Florida and those that were
national. In terms of our results, every Florida City for whom we have been selected to perform a
City Manager search has selected a candidate that we recommended.
III. Project Manager, Relevant Knowledge and Experience (continued)
-19-
Retention Data for City Manager Placements
With two exceptions, every placement cited above remains with the City. The first is former Destin
City Manager Greg Kisela who resigned after eight years to become the County Administrator of
Walton County. The second is Michael Cz ymbor who was hired in February 2006 to be the City
Manager of Fernandina Beach and remained with the City until January, 2012. As the Florida
Times Union put it, “The vote reflected a shift in sentiment on the five member commission
following the election of new members Charlie Corbett and Sarah Pelican.”
Since the beginning of 2009, we have participated in the placement of 53 City Managers. Eight
of those managers have since left their positions. Two had their contracts terminated. John
D’Agostino began work City Manager of Monroe, NC, in August 2013 and was fired in December
2013 at the first meeting after the newly constituted City Council took office. Alan Cohen was
hired in 2012 as the City Manager in Sunny Isles Beach and let go in 2013. He was their fourth
City Manager since 2005. He has since been hired as the City Manager of Sunrise, FL. The
remaining six accepted better positions, retired or resigned due to spousal health concerns.
-20-
Some CB&A Clients
City of Coral Gables, FL City of Destin, FL
City Manager City Manager
Union County, NC Loudoun County, VA
County Manager Director – Economic Development
Human Resources Officer
IV. Verifiable References for Similar Assignments
-21-
City Manager, Cape Canaveral, FL (population 10,200) in 2010
Mayor Rocky Randels at (321) 784-5694 or r.randels@cityofcapecanaveral.org, or
City Clerk Angela Apperson at (321) 868-1220 or a.apperson@cityofcapecanaveral.org
City Manager, Cocoa Beach, FL (population 11,200) in 2012
Mayor David Netterstrom at (321) 868-3206 or dnetterstrom@cityofcocoabeach.com, or
City Clerk Loredana Kalaghchy at (321) 868-3286 or cityclerk@cityofcocoabeach.com
City Manager, Destin, FL (population 12,000) in 2003 and 2011
Mayor Sarah “Sam” Seevers at (850) 654-9770 or sseevers@cityofdestin.com
Human Resources Director Chuck Garcia at (850) 837-4242, or
cgarcia@cityofdestin.com
City Manager, Madeira Beach, FL (population 12,300) in 2011
Mayor Travis Palladeno at (727) 239-5549 or aservedio@madeirabeachfl.gov
City Manager Shane Crawford at (727) 391-9951, ext. 228 or scrawford_@hotmail.com.
Note: Mr. Crawford can also be reached through aservedio@madeirabeachfl.gov
City Manager, New Smyrna Beach, FL, FL (population 23,000) in 2009
City Manager Pam Brangaccio at (386) 424-2108 or pbrangaccio@cityofnsb.com, or
Human Resources Director Carol Hargy at (386) 424-2127 or chargy@cityofnsb.com
City Manager, Satellite Beach, FL (population 10,100) in 2013
Mayor Frank Catino at (321) 223-7700 or fcatino@satellitebeach.org, or
Councilman Dominick Montanaro at (321) 777-5876 or dmontanaro@satellitebeach.org
V: Implementation Plan and Timetable
-22-
The following methodology has been refined over the past fifteen years and now is virtually
foolproof. We will modify it to integrate your ideas into the process. Our goal is to ensure you
have the right people to interview as well as the information you need to make the right decision.
Phase I: Information Gathering and Needs Assessment
Task One: Needs Assessment
An important part of the recruiter’s work is selling the community to the very best candidates
(including those that are not actively looking for the next job) while also providing an accurate
portrayal of the community and the opportunity. In order to do this, CB&A must first determine
the needs of the client and the characteristics of the ideal candidate. Our approach is as follows:
Compile background information from the jurisdiction’s website and other sources.
Interview the elected officials. It is important that we listen carefully to the elected officials
– to hear their vision for the City, to understand what challenges they feel the next manager
will face and to hear their expectations for that manager. We will meet with them one-on-
one and then as a group.
Learn from the elected officials what kind of person they are looking for and what type of
person will fit well in the community. Important factors will likely include experience,
education, personality, demeanor, and achievements.
Understand what level of compensation the elected officials are comfortable providing to
the next manager.
As part of our interviews, we will also finalize the timeline so candidates can mark their calendars
well in advance and will be available when the elected officials wish to conduct the interviews.
Further, as noted above, we routinely incorporate meetings with other stakeholders (such as the
business community, the non-profit community, city staff and so on) to gather their insights. These
forums are valuable as they provide additional perspectives and a better understanding of the
community elements. In a sense, they help us develop an underst anding of the community’s
tapestry.
Task Two: Develop Position Description and Recruitment Materials
Based on the information we gather, CB&A will next develop a position description and
comprehensive recruitment profile. We will provide our draft for your review and comment. Your
suggestions will be incorporated, and the final documents prepared. A sample of our work is
included as Appendix B. Other samples can be found on our firm’s website under the “Executive
Recruitments” / “Active Recruitments” tabs.
Phase II: Recruitment
Task Three: Recruit Candidates
We will use a number of approaches to identify the right people for this position. We say people,
and not person, because our goal is to bring you six to ten excellent semi-finalists, all of whom
will do the job extraordinarily well and who are so good you will have a difficult time choosing
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-23-
among them. You then select the top three to five people to interview and ultimately choose the
candidate who is the best fit with you and your community. The approaches we use are:
Networking: The best approach is diligent outreach. We will network with our colleagues
and consult our data base. As we identify outstanding candidates (many of whom are not
in the market), we will approach them and request that they apply. Often excellent
candidates are reluctant to respond to advertisements because doing so may alienate their
current employers. When we approach them, their credentials are enhanced rather than
diminished.
Advertising: While we will seek out the best, we will not ignore the trade press as it often
yields strong candidates. We intend to contact the members of organizations such as the
International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Florida City/County
Management Association and other similar organizations. We will also post it on our
website: www.cb-asso.com. We generally do not use newspapers or generic websites
because while they produce large numbers of applications, they generally do not produce
the type of candidates our clients are seeking.
Email: We will also e-mail the recruitment profile to our listserv of over seven thousand
managers and professionals who are interested in local government management. One of
the advantages of e-mail is that if the recipient is not interested, he/she can easily forward
the recruitment profile to someone else who may be interested.
The Private Sector: Some of our clients ask that private sector candidates be included
among our suggested finalists. While we do not routinely recommend candidates with no
experience in government, we have been very successful in finding highly qualified and
capable private sector people to bring forward.
Phase III: Screening and Finalist Selection
Task Four: Evaluate the Candidates
Based on our most recent recruiting efforts, we anticipate receiving resumes from sixty to one
hundred applicants. We will narrow the field as described above and present information on
candidates to the elected officials. This process requires a mixture of in-depth research and
subjective evaluation. Our process is as follows.
It should be noted that selecting strong candidates is more an art than a science. While we consider
standard ranking factors and the elements of the job, ultimately the most important factor is who
we believe will be a good fit with the City and the community. Typically forty percent of our
finalists are women and/or minorities.
Specifically, our efforts will involve:
Step One. Resume Review. CB&A will evaluate all resumes and identify the top ten to
fifteen candidates. Some of these may be in-house candidates or individuals who have held
high-level positions in other governments but who have never been the Manager.
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-24
Often these people simply need the opportunity. Using a football analogy, Vince Lombardi
was an assistant coach with the New York Giants prior to being hired by the Green Bay
Packers. Hence, we do not believe we should only consider those who have already held
the position we are recruiting for.
Step Two. Screening Interview. Our lead recruiter, and possibly other senior
representatives of the firm, will interview each of these candidates. Using what we learned
in Phase I and our experience as managers and recruiters, as well as our unique ability to
assess candidates, we will determine whether or not to consider them further.
Step Three. Candidate Materials and Background Investigations. For those that
remain in consideration, CB&A will:
Ask the Candidates to Prepare a Written Introduction: We will ask the
candidates to prepare a written introduction to themselves as part of their
preliminary background checks. This is done for several reasons. First, it allows
the candidates to tell their own story and balance the negativity that is so often
characteristic of the press. It also allows the City to evaluate the candidates written
and communicative skills.
Candidate Disclosure Statement: We will ask candidates if there is anything
controversial in their background that we should be made aware of prior to further
consideration. While it is unlikely that we find anything not previously publicized
in the press, we believe redundant checks offer superior security for our client.
Search the Internet and Newspaper Archives: Virtually every local newspaper
has an archive that provides stories about perspective candidates, the issues they
have dealt with, how they resolved them and the results. These articles can also
provide valuable insights into the candidate’s relationship with the public and the
elected officials. Of course, not all news sources are unbiased and we consider that
in our evaluation. This step is conducted in order to quickly discover candidates
with problems in their backgrounds and eliminate them.
This process typically takes two weeks.
Task Five: Presentation and Discussion of Initial Materials
Once we have evaluated the information we have gathered, CB&A will forward its preliminary
candidate report and materials to the City. These will include the candidates’ resumes, the
candidate introduction, and the results of our Internet/newspaper archives results.
The City will then select as many candidates as it would like reviewed further. For each of these,
we will conduct full background investigations. This structure allows the City flexibility and to
avoid paying extra costs for unneeded complete background checks.
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-25-
Task Six: Completion of Comprehensive Background Checks
We will then complete the full background checks. This effort will include:
Legal Checks: Through our third party vendor, American DataBank, we will
conduct the following checks: criminal records at the county, state and national
level; civil records for any litigation at the county and federal level; and bankruptcy
and credit.
Verification of Education: We also verify claimed educational degrees to assure
the candidate is being totally forthright.
Verification of Work History: We verify employment for the past fifteen years.
Interviews of References: We tell the candidate with whom we wish to speak.
These include current and former elected officials, the municipal attorney, the
external auditor, staff members, peers, news media representatives, the director of
the local chamber of commerce, community activists, and others who know the
candidate. We also attempt to contact some individuals who are not on the
candidate’s list. Typically we reach eight to ten people and prepare a written
summary of each conversation.
Note: We firmly believe that all background work we have outlined above should
be completed early in the process. That way the client knows the individuals to be
interviewed are all top performers and do not have anything embarrassing in their
pasts that might come to light after selection. It also means that once our client has
made a selection, it can move forward promptly, negotiate a contract and make an
announcement.
Task Seven: Preparation and Presentation of Additional Candidate Materials
For the selected candidates, CB&A will compile the information we have developed into a written
report for each recommended candidate. Specifically, this information will be the final pieces of
the candidate reports and include: background checks and the references. These pieces can then
be integrated with previously provided information to complete the report for each candidate. We
will also provide some advice on interviewing, a series of questions the elected officials may wish
to ask (as well as some areas that it is not wise to get into), and some logistical information. A
complete sample candidate report is included as Appendix C. The preceding information will be
forwarded to you electronically.
The goal in conducting these checks is to develop a clear picture of the candidates and to determine
which best meet the criteria established in Phase I. Each of the avenues we pursue adds a piece of
the puzzle. We will crosscheck sources, search for discrepancies, and resolve them when we find
them. When sensitive or potentially embarrassing items are discovered, they are thoroughly
researched. If we conclude the situation is damaging or even questionable, the situation reported
to the City and, with the City’s concurrence, the candidate will be dropped from further
consideration.
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-26-
Task Eight: Finalist Selection
Approximately a week after the City has received the candidate materials, CB&A will meet with
the elected officials to discuss our findings and make a final determination concerning who will
be invited to interview. The goal is to select four to six candidates to interview.
Task Nine: Notify All Candidates of Their Status
We will notify the selected candidates by telephone and give them the opportunity to ask additional
questions. CB&A will also contact those not selected to advise them of their status. Part of the
notification will include advice concerning the candidates’ resume and/or cover letter so, even
though they were not selected to go forward, they will have gained something valuable from
participating in the process.
Phase IV: Coordinate the Interview Process and City Manager Selection
Task Ten: Coordinate the Candidate Assessment Process
Prior to the interviews, we will recommend an interview/assessment process for the City’s review
including means to evaluate the candidates’ communication skills, interpersonal skills, and
decision-making skills. As part of the process, we will recommend the elected officials observe
the finalists in a number of settings. We will also recommend you invite the finalists’ spouses so
they can spend time in and evaluate your community.
Day #1: The finalists are given a tour of the community and its facilities by a
knowledgeable staff member. Later, senior staff members meet briefly with the candidates.
This opportunity allows the finalists to ask questions and the senior staff to assess the
candidates.
Later, that evening, the elected officials host a reception for the candidates. The purpose is
to observe how the finalists respond to a social situation. Your next City Manager will,
after all, represent your local government in numerous venues. It is thus important to know
how the individual will respond in a social setting. The reception also serves as an ice-
breaker whereby the elected officials and the candidates get to know one another
informally.
Day #2: Beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m., each candidate interviews individually with
each elected official for approximately 40 minutes. These meetings provide the elected
officials with an opportunity to assess how the candidates might interact with them on an
individual basis. It is very important to know if good chemistry exists. Ultimately,
Managers succeed and fail based on their interaction with the elected officials and the one-
on-one interviews are an excellent way to test that interaction.
After lunch, the elected officials as a group will interview each candidate so that they can
assess the candidates in a formal meeting. Part of the interviews may include a PowerPoint
presentation so the elected officials can observe the candidates’ presentational skills.
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-27-
Task Eleven: Debriefing and Selection
Once the interviews have concluded, CB&A suggests the elected officials adjourn and hold a
meeting a day or two later to select the next City Manager. Although the selection can be made
the same day as the interviews, this decision is quite important and we recommend you take some
time to consider what you have seen and heard.
In terms of the final selection, we have developed a simple methodology that moves the elected
body quickly and rationally to the desired outcome. Once the selection has been made, CB&A will
notify the finalists of their status. Candidates are eager to know and we feel it is important to keep
them informed.
Phase V: Negotiation and Continuing Assistance
Task Twelve: Notification, Contract Negotiations and Warranty
Should the elected officials wish, we will assist in the employment agreement negotiations.
Generally, a member of the elected body and the attorney conduct the actual negotiations while
we provide advice and assistance concerning the compensation package and contract. We can also
take the lead role in the negotiations if desired. We have a standard contract you are welcome to
use. Your attorney, of course, will prepare the final contract. Since the basic parameters will have
been discussed with the candidates and the candidates have been thoroughly vetted, we expect a
relatively prompt agreement.
Task Thirteen: Continuing Assistance
Our work is not done when the contract is executed. We will stay in touch with you and your new
City Manager. Our goal is to be there to assist in resolving any issues that arise before they become
intractable. In fact, at your request, we will conduct a team-building workshop, at no charge, to
resolve any difficulties. We simply feel it is part of our job to assure a successful relationship.
Communications: We will provide biweekly reports about the status of the search, in writing or
by phone, depending upon your preference. At significant milestones we will make the reports in
person. We are also available at any time, day or night, to address any questions you have along
the way. To do so, we will provide you with our cellphone numbers and you should feel
comfortable contacting us whenever you have a question whether it is directly related to the search
or, for that matter, anything else related to local government. We want to be responsive and to
assist in any way we can.
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-28-
Sample Project Schedule
The following is the schedule we would suggest and assumes CB&A is selected to complete the
search by March 17th. Of course, we can adjust the schedule to accommodate the City wishes.
Note that the schedule is slightly more aggressive than the RFP suggests. We think it is important
that we move quickly because if the process is elongated, the best candidates may find other jobs
prior to the interviews.
Phase I: Needs Assessment / Information Gathering
March 20th: CB&A begins meeting with the Mayor and Commissioners to understand the
job and its challenges. Specifically, the purposes of these interviews will be
to: (1) get to know the elected officials, (2) understand the issues the next City
Manager will face, (3) understand the elements of the job, (4) develop a
description of the ideal candidate, (5) determine the desired compensation, and
(6) finalize the project schedule.
March 21st: CB&A begins drafting the position description and recruitment profile for
publications and prospective candidates.
March 26th: CB&A submits the draft of the full recruitment profile to the City for its
review. Comments will be due back by April 1st.
Phase II: Recruiting
April 7th: CB&A posts the full recruitment profile on its website and submits it to the
appropriate publications. It is also e-mailed to over 8,600 local government
professionals.
April 25th: Closing date for submission of applications.
April 26th: CB&A begins screening the candidates.
April 30th: CB&A reports the results of the recruitment to the Elected Officials
electronically.
Phase III: Screening, Reference Checks and Credential Verification
May 9th: CB&A forwards its preliminary candidate report and materials to the City.
These will include the candidates’ resumes, the candidate introduction, and the
results of our Internet/newspaper archives results.
May 13th: CB&A reviews the semi-finalists’ qualifications with the City officials.
City officials select candidates for complete background checks.
Section V: Implementation Plan and Timetable (continued)
-29-
June 2nd: CB&A forwards complete background checks and candidate profiles to the
City for its review before interviews.
June 9th: City selects / confirms finalists.
Phase IV: Interview Process Coordination and City Manager Selection
June 20th: City holds reception for the finalists.
June 21st: One-on-one and full Council Interviews.
June 23rd: City selects its next City Manager.
Phase V: Negotiation, Warranty & Continuing Assistance
Post-Selection: CB&A works with City representatives and the selected candidate on an
Employment Agreement. Typically this process takes a week before a contract
is ready to be ratified. CB&A will stay in touch to ensure the elected officials’
relationship with the new City Manager is a strong one.
VI. Proposed Project Staff
-30-
Project Team and Involvement
Colin Baenziger & Associates is an experienced recruiting firm which strongly believes that the
majority of the search work should be conducted by one knowledgeable person. Colin Baenziger
will be that person—he will serve as your project manager. He will conduct the interviews with
the elected officials, search for strong candidates, discuss the position with those candidates,
recruit them, conduct the interviews with the candidates, conduct the background investigations,
oversee the interview process, and assist with the contract negotiations. In addition to fifteen years
as a consultant, Mr. Baenziger spent ten years in government as a senior manager. Overall, he has
been the firm’s Project Manager for more than one hundred and twenty five city and county
manager searches.
Tom Andrews, senior vice president, will be the Deputy Project Manager and support for Mr.
Baenziger. Mr. Andrews will assist in virtually every aspect of the search effort but will focus on
the search for strong candidates and candidate evaluation. Mr. Andrews served as County
Administrator for Fulton County, Georgia, Chief Administrative Officer for Anne Arundel
County, Maryland, and in high-level state government positions in Maryland.
David Collier, senior vice president, will serve as the recruitment manager and assist with the
identification and screening of candidates. He has over thirty years of experience as a senior level
local government manager in several states including Maryland. He is a past president of the
Maryland City Managers Association and the Florida Association of County Administrators.
Sean Baenziger, Vice President, will serve as deputy recruitment manager and assist with some of
the client liaison. He has over ten years of total experience with CB&A and in local government.
He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and
his Masters of Social Work from the University of Utah.
Kathyrn Knutson, Vice President for Operations, will be responsible for coordinating the
advertising and production of the materials we will present to you as described in the Recruitment
Approach.
Colin Baenziger Tom Andrews
Project Manager Deputy Project Manager
David Collier Kathyrn Knutson
Recruitment Manager Operations Manager
Sean Baenziger Research Associates
Deputy Recruitment Manager
VI. Proposed Project Staff (continued)
-31-
Colin Baenziger, M.P.A.
Principal
Colin Baenziger is a student of local government and responsible for
the executive recruitment functions at Colin Baenziger &
Associates. Over the years, he has worked with a number of cities
on recruitments and on management, operational, and organizational
issues. As a former manager and someone who actively consults
with governments, he understands what it takes to do the manager’s
job effectively. Furthermore, because he is active in a number of
professional associations, he knows many of the nation’s managers
on a first-name basis.
Some of Mr. Baenziger’s searches for local governments include:
City Manager, Coral Gables, FL (population 42,000)
City Manager, Cottonwood Heights, UT (population 34,000)
City Manager, Fife, WA (population 8,200)
City Manager, Fayetteville, NC (population 208,000)
Village Manager, Key Biscayne, FL (population 11,000)
Economic Development Director, Loudoun County, VA (population 326,000)
Community Development Director, Miami, FL (population 373,000)
Borough Manager, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska (population 88,000)
City Manager, Mount Dora, FL (population 12,000)
County Manager, Clackamas County, OR (population 380,000)
City Manager, Palm Coast, FL (population 51,000)
City Manager, Portland, ME (population 65,000)
City Manager, Roanoke, VA (population 96,000)
City Manager, Tacoma, WA (population 200,000)
General Manager, Tampa Bay Water Authority (serving a population of 2.4 million)
County Manager, Union County, NC (population 290,000)
Other recent efforts include a strategic planning session for the Florida Association of Special
Districts, an operational review of Tamarac’s water utility, a business practices review for a
division of Martin County government, an operational reconciliation for Palm Beach County
Water, development of an automated system to pay royalties to featured recording artists for the
Recording Industry Association of America, and a review of financial procedures for a division of
the Marriott Corporation.
Mr. Baenziger has a master’s degree with distinction in public administration from Cornell
University’s Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton
College. He is also active in the International City Management Association and the Florida City
and County Management Association. He has also been called upon frequently to speak at
conferences of the Utah and Florida City/County Managers ’ Associations, and the Florida Public
Personnel Association.
VI. Proposed Project Staff (continued)
-32-
Tom Andrews, M.S.
Senior Vice President
Tom Andrews is CB&A’s management guru. With over thirty years
management experience in federal, state and local governments, he
has been there, done that. With his no-nonsense approach to
problem-solving and his keen ability to recognize management talent
and leadership potential, he is an asset to any client. His talent for
mentoring has resulted in former employees occupying senior local
government positions from Maryland to Florida.
In addition to his comprehensive and successful experience as a
generalist, Tom possesses technical expertise in water resources
management, environmental regulation, and public health
programming.
Some of the top leadership positions that Tom has held include:
County Manager of Fulton County, GA; Chief Administrative Officer for Anne Arundel County,
MD; Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment; Assistant Secretary, Maryland
Department of Natural Resources; Director, Maryland Water Resources Administration; and Chief
of Staff for Maryland Acting Governor Blair Lee III.
Some of the many recruitments Tom has been involved in for CB&A are:
Borough Manager, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska (population 88,000)
Director, Watershed Management, DeKalb County, GA (population 691,900)
City Manager, Fife, WA (population 8,200)
City Manager, Greensboro, NC (population 259,000)
City Manager, City Attorney and Planning Director, Roanoke, VA (population 96,000)
County Manager, Brevard County FL (population 536,000)
Deputy City Manager, Durham, NC (population 220,000)
Director, Economic and Workforce Development, Durham NC (population 220,000)
Budget Director, St. Petersburg, FL (population 248,000)
Director of Economic Development for Loudoun County, VA (population 326,000)
In addition, Tom has conducted numerous leadership seminars for state and local government mid-
level managers.
Tom earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his
master’s in natural resources administration from the Institute of Public Administration of the
University of Michigan. He has been a member of the Georgia County-City Managers Association,
the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, and the National Association of Counties.
Tom has also served as President of the Maryland Association of County Health Officers, Member
of the Anne Arundel County YMCA Board of Directors, and President of the Providence Center
Board of Directors, a non-profit agency serving the developmentally disabled.
VI. Proposed Project Staff (continued)
-33-
Dave Collier, M.P.A.
Senior Vice President
Dave Collier brings to the client over thirty years of management
experience in county and city government. Since there is not much
that he has not seen previously, Dave quickly produces efficient and
effective solutions to problems for his clients.
One of Dave’s specialties is executive search. With his many years
of experience, he can quickly find the right person to join your senior
staff or to be your department head. He also has successfully
conducted organizational reviews, team building sessions, and
strategic planning workshops. He has developed strategies and action
plans for coping with the tough financial problems that local
government often experience.
Dave has overseen the recruitment and selection of:
County Manager, Brevard County FL (population 536,000)
City Manager, Coral Gables, FL (population 42,000)
City Manager, Cape Canaveral, FL (population 10,200)
City Manager, Dania Beach, FL (population 28,000)
City Manager, North Miami, FL (population 62,000)
City Manager, Orange City, FL (population 10,200)
City Manager, West Melbourne, FL (population 15,000)
City Administrator, West Park, FL (population 12,000)
Finance Director for Tamarac, FL (population 55,500)
Police Chief, St. Augustine Beach, FL (population 6,200)
While serving as City Manager of Stuart, Florida for 14 years, he improved the professionalism of
City Department Heads and staff through an emphasis on professional development and team
building. He also used his hands-on management style to emphasis the need for effective project
management and maintaining tight timelines which showed citizens that the city government was
effectively managed and had a strong commitment to its customers.
Prior to serving in Stuart, Dave was a County Manager in Florida, Kansas, and Michigan. He also
has extensive experience in local government consulting.
Mr. Collier earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and his master’s degree in public
administration from the American University in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the
International City/County Management for over thirty years and served as President of the
Maryland City Managers Association and the Florida Association of County Administrators. Mr.
Collier is involved in his community as a member of the City of Stuart ’s CRA Advisory Board
and as a Director of Stuart’s Main Street Association.
VI. Proposed Project Staff (continued)
-34-
Kathyrn Knutson
Vice President for Operations
Ms. Knutson is a skilled professional with a wealth of public and
private sector experience. Her particular expertise is in special
projects, compensation surveys, and background checks for our
executive search candidates. She feels that each client must be
properly served, and that can only be done by devoting her utmost
attention to their particular concerns and by finding creative ways to
solve their problems. In her book, the client comes first.
Since beginning her working relationship as a subcontractor with
Colin Baenziger & Associates, Ms. Knutson has been involved in
virtually every executive search the firm has conducted. Some of the
more notable searches include:
Public Works Director, Chandler, AZ (population 250,000)
City Manager, Town of Bay Harbor Islands (population 5,200)
City Manager, Coral Gables, FL (population 42,000)
City Manager, Cottonwood Heights, UT (population 34,000)
City Manager, Cutler Bay, FL (population 35,000)
City Manager, Fife, WA (population 8,200)
City Manager, Greensboro, NC (population 259,000)
City Manager, Homestead, FL (population 59,800)
Village Manager, Key Biscayne, FL (population 11,000)
City Manager, City of Marathon, FL (population 11,500)
Village Manager, Village of Palmetto Bay, FL (population 24,000)
City Manager, Portland, ME (65,000)
City Manager, Roanoke, VA (population 96,000)
City Manager, City of West Melbourne, FL (population 15,000)
As noted, a major part of Ms. Knutson’s work has been on special projects. For example, she is
responsible for the firm’s annual City Manager compensation survey and also has worked with
Palm Beach County Water Utilities reviewing a portion of its b illing database. The utility’s
concern was possible under-billing, and our work involved a review of billing records for
reasonableness and consistency, as well as extensive work in the field. Thanks to Ms. Knutson’s
work, the Utility recovered our fee several times over.
Ms. Knutson’s prior employment includes stints with Palm Beach County’s Department of
Building, Planning, and Zoning, and with the County Health and Rehabilitative Services. She has
also worked with the State of Florida’s Department of Corrections and with the State’s Department
of Employment Services. She has also been involved with a number of private and non-profit
concerns, such as the Visiting Nurses Association and Oakwood Mental Health Center of the Palm
Beaches. Ms. Knutson has an associate’s degree in business education from West Georgia College
in Carrollton, Georgia. Kathyrn currently resides in Oneida County, WI.
VI. Proposed Project Staff (continued)
-35-
Sean Baenziger, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., EMT-P
Vice President
Sean Baenziger brings a strong background in research and analysis
to CB&A. As a former Firefighter Paramedic and current Licensed
Psychotherapist, he has ten years of experience working with state
and local governments through public and private sector
organizations. Since joining CB&A in 2004, his incisive ability to
promptly get to the heart of a problem and accurately assess the facts
have led him to quickly become the firm’s background check guru.
His experience and training allow him to rapidly determine which
candidates are the right fit for your organization.
Since beginning his work with the firm, Mr. Baenziger has been
involved as a background specialist in virtually every search CB&A
has conducted. Notable examples include:
City Manager, Yakima, WA (population, 91,000)
Village Manager, Key Biscayne, FL (population 11,000)
City Manager, Key West, FL (population 25,000)
City Manager, Tacoma, WA (population 200,000)
Town Manager, Bay Harbor Islands (population 5,200)
City Manager, Coral Gables, FL (population 42,000)
City Manager, Portland, ME (population 65,000)
City Manager, Roanoke, VA (population 96,000)
City Manager, Cottonwood Heights, UT (population 34,000)
City Manager, Cutler Bay, FL (population 35,000)
City Manager, Fife, WA (population 8,200)
City Manager, Greensboro, NC (population 259,000)
Village Manager, Palmetto Bay, FL (population 24,000)
County Manager, Clackamas County, OR (population 380,000)
As noted, the majority of Mr. Baenziger’s work has come in the form of background examinations
with the firm. Due to his extensive psychological training, he is quickly able to assess candidates’
personalities and styles and determine if there are concerns in their past as well as if the candidates
would be a good fit for CB&A’s clients. In the past Mr. Baenziger has served in a variety of
municipal capacities such as being a consultant for several private sector agencies with contracts
with the State of Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services, as well as playing a principal role
in the revision of North Port Fire Rescue District’s Infection Control Plan.
Mr. Baenziger obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and
his master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. He is a certified
Firefighter/Paramedic in both Florida and Utah. He currently resides in Wellington, FL.
-36-
More CB&A Clients…
City of Fruitland Park, FL City of Leesburg, FL
City Manager City Manager
City of Fife, WA City of Hallandale Beach, FL
City Manager City Manager
-37-
More CB&A’s Clients
City of Portland, ME City of West Palm Beach, FL
City Manager Deputy City Manager for Utilities,
Parks & Recreation Director,
Fire Chief,
Employee Relations Manager
City of Albany, GA City of Durham, NC
City Manager Deputy City Manager – Community
Building
Director - Economic and Workforce
Development
VII. Fee and Warranty
-38-
Fee
CB&A offers a firm, fixed fee of $19,000 (which covers all of our firm’s costs - staff time, travel,
advertising), and then $750 per finalist comprehensive background check we conduct. CB&A
affirms that the City will only pay CB&A the agreed upon fee. CB&A has never asked for any
additional fees from any client. The only other costs the City will be responsible for are the costs
associated with the candidates’ (and spouses’, if invited) travel, accommodations, and meals for
the interview process. This fee structure is advantageous to both the City and CB&A: the City can
have a certain amount of flexibility in the overall price of the search and can decide exactly what
it will pay, and CB&A will not need to track of every minor expense.
We will bill the fee as the phases are completed and according to the following schedule:
Phase I: Needs Analysis / Information Gathering $3,500
Phase II: Recruiting $9,000
Phase III: Preliminary Screening $2,500
Phase IV: Full Background Checks (per candidate selected for interview) $750
Phase V: Interview Process Coordination and City Manager Selection $2,500
Phase VI: Negotiation and Continuing Assistance $1,500
As an aside, our fees are not scientifically calculated. Instead they are based on average costs and
have been found to provide the firm with a reasonable profit.
If the City asks us to perform work that is clearly beyond the scope of this proposal, it will be
billed at a rate of $125 per hour. No such work will be performed without your written
authorization. Please note that we have neither billed nor requested additional funds beyond our
originally quoted fee even when we have been entitled to it.
Warranty
Colin Baenziger & Associates offers the best warranty in the industry. We can offer it because we
have confidence in our work. Provided the City instructs us with conducting a full search and
assuming it selects from among the candidates we recommend, we warrant the following:
1) We will not approach the selected candidate for any other position as long as the
individual is employed by the City.
2) If the selected individual leaves for any reason other than an Act of God (such as total
incapacitation or death) within the first year, CB&A will repeat the search at no charge
for our services. If the selected individual leaves for any reason other than an Act of God
in the second year, CB&A will repeat the search for the cost of expenses only.
3) If you are not satisfied with the candidates we present, CB&A will repeat the search until
you are satisfied.
4) Our price is guaranteed and will not be exceeded for any reason, even if conditions
change after the contract is executed.