THE
HONORABLE
SHENG
THAO
•
MAYOR
OF
OAKLAND
CITY
HALL
•
1 FRANK
H.
OGAWA
PLAZA
•
OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA
94612
•
(510)
238-3141
May16,2023
DearEsteemedColleaguesontheCityCouncil,
I urgeyoutoapprovetheattachedappointmentofJestinJohnsonasCityAdministratorfortheperiodbeginningJune5,2023andendingJanuary30,2027.
Mr. Johnson’sover15yearsoflocalgovernmentexperience,whichincludesexperienceinlarge,complex,full-serviceorganizationssuchastheCityofAtlantaandtheCityofTucson,willallowforaseamlesstransitionandorganizationalfit.Notonlydoeshehavethebreadthandleadershipdepthofexperienceinallfacetsoflocalgovernment,buthealsoplacesapremiumonbuildinginterpersonalequitythroughouttheorganization,community, andtheCouncil.
Currently, Mr. JohnsonservesasIBM'sCorporateSocialResponsibilityManagerinSandySprings,GA.Inthisrole,heisresponsibleforestablishingpartnershipswithlocalgovernments,NPO,andworkforcedevelopmentboardsthatdesiretoimplementandenhanceskilling/reskillinginitiativesinunderservedandunderrepresentedcommunities.
BeforejoiningIBM,heservedastheDeputyChiefOperatingOfficerfortheCityofAtlanta.Inthisrole,hehadthepleasureofleadingtheinfrastructureandpublicsafetydepartmentalportfolioandsignificantcapitalprojectsrelatedto"TheGulch,"whichwasoneofthemostsubstantialeconomicdevelopmentprojectsinAtlanta'shistory. Also,heledorsupportedseveraljusticereforminitiatives(UseofForceTaskForceandDiversionCenterDevelopment),whichrequiredpartnershipwiththePoliceExecutiveResearchForum(PERF).Inaddition,heservedastheExecutiveSponsorforAtlanta'sCOVID-19responseplan,andwastaskedwithleadingacollaborativeefforttocreatetheCityofAtlanta'sWestsideParkEquitableDevelopmentFramework.
BeforejoiningtheCityofAtlanta, hegainedexperienceinkeyrolesthatwillallowforsustainedsuccess,includingservingastheAssistantCountyManagerfortheUnifiedGovernmentofAthens-ClarkeCounty, GA,asCityManagerofBisbee,Arizona,andasManagementAssistanttotheCityManagerfortheCityofTucson,AZ.Intheseroles,hewasinstrumentalinhelpingtocollaborativelyestablishcreativewaysofcontinuingservicedeliverybyinstitutingpartnershipswithneighboringjurisdictions,utilizinggrantfundingforpublicworksprojects,andelevating
thecapacityofstaff andcommunitygroupswithauthenticcommunityengagement.
Inclosing,notonlydoesMr. Johnsonpridehimselfonhiscollaborativeapproachtobuildingandworkingwithteams,buthisapproachtoequityinservicedeliverywhilemaintainingahumancenteredmanagementphilosophywillbeanassettotheCityofOakland.I amconfidentinMr.Johnson’sabilitytoethicallyandeffectivelycarryoutthedutiesofCityAdministratorforthegoodofOakland.
Sincerely,
MayorShengThao