New Hire Brings 30 Years of Experience in City Leadership
Jeffrey J. Mihelich, a Montana resident with more than three decades of experience in city management, will be Rockville’s next city manager, the Mayor and Council announced Monday, June 3.
The Mayor and Council unanimously voted to appoint Mihelich, who will start Monday, July 15.
Mihelich is an International City/County Management Association credentialed manager with more than 30 years of experience in all areas of city management and community planning, including 13 years of executive-level management working directly with elected officials.
He most recently served four years as city manager of Bozeman, Montana. He previously served as deputy city manager of Fort Collins, Colorado, for six years.
With Bozeman, Mihelich was responsible for various daily city operations and oversaw 537 employees and a $500 million budget.
Mihelich’s accomplishments included creating Bozeman’s Inclusive City Initiative, which reviewed city policies, training and frameworks in specific areas of treatment of minority populations; leading the development of the city’s first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion plan, Belonging In Bozeman; and developing a new $2.5 million annual grant program to support local social service providers.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be Rockville’s next city manager,” Mihelich said. “The Mayor and Council have a clear and exciting vision for the city, and I am eager to work with staff to help make their vision a reality. I look forward to engaging and creating lasting partnerships with the community, civic and business leaders, and other stakeholders.”
Mihelich also served as the assistant city manager of Surprise, Arizona, from 2008 to 2014, and assistant village manager of Algonquin, Illinois, from 1996 to 2008. He holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Portland State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin.
“The Council and I are excited to announce Jeff Mihelich as Rockville’s city manager,” Mayor Monique Ashton said. “Jeff Mihelich’s significant experience as a credentialed city manager who is focused on results, in addition to his collaborative and adaptive leadership style, is exactly what we need to foster strong partnerships and drive meaningful change in Rockville. His experience in managing growth communities, supporting sustainability, improving quality of life for all residents and creating successful public-private partnerships will be crucial as we navigate our city’s future opportunities and challenges. Jeff’s leadership will help us build a more connected and resilient community, and our entire Council is excited to work with him to continue to make Rockville the best place to live, work and play.”
Mihelich was selected from four finalists after a nationwide search conducted by Raftelis.
The City of Rockville operates under a council-manager form of government. The city manager is responsible to the Mayor and the Council for the day-to-day management of city operations. Under provisions of the city charter and code, the city manager prepares a budget for the Mayor and Council’s approval; recruits, hires and supervises staff; serves as the Mayor and Council’s chief administrative officer; implements Mayor and Council policies; and provides professional recommendations.