HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20170711_CMgrGillenIntro.docxPRESS RELEASE: Contact: Sharon Shaver, Assistant to City Manager
For immediate release (912) 472-5072
Tybee Island Introduces New City Manager, Shawn Gillen
Tybee Island, Ga. – (July 11, 2017) After Diane Schleicher’s retirement late last year, Tybee Island’s City Council had been in a search for a new city manager to replace her until announcing
the selection of Dr. Shawn Gillen in April. Dr. Gillen took up the position in June, helping to shepherd the 2018 fiscal year budget to passage at the last Council meeting in June.
Dr. Gillen is a veteran city manager with diverse experience in municipalities of about the same size as Tybee Island.
Dr. Gillen grew up in western Illinois, attending college not far away at the University of Iowa. While at Iowa, Dr. Gillen was a member of the storied Iowa Hawkeye football team under
legendary head coach, Hayden Fry.
After earning a BS Degree, intending to become certified as an English teacher and coach, Dr. Gillen decided to run for mayor of Monmouth.
As his term as mayor came to an end, Dr. Gillen helped the city transition to a full-time City Administrator. For the next two years, he served as Council Administrator for the Lexington-Fayette
Urban County Government, in Kentucky. As Dr. Gillen became more interested in government management, he decided to pursue it as a career and enrolled in the Master of Public Administration
program at the University of Kentucky. The University offered him a fellowship to continue. Dr. Gillen received his PhD in Public Administration. He completed both degrees in four years.
Following a brief stint as assistant professor of public finance at Eastern Kentucky University, he became the City Administrator in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. After six years in the
Northern Minnesota cold, Shawn and his family decided to move south to Doraville, Georgia, where he became Doraville’s first City Manager as they transitioned from a strong mayor form
of government.
One of the major projects during his tenure as Doraville City Manager was the redevelopment of the former General Motors manufacturing site, one of the largest economic development sites
in the Southeast.
During his career, Shawn has worked in large and small cities in both rural and urban environments.
One of his favorite parts of the job is getting involved with and circulating throughout the community. This may be, in part, because of his small town upbringing. He, his wife Katie,
and their three daughters have vacationed at Tybee Island for several years, absolutely loving it, and would like to retire on Tybee someday.
The City of Tybee Island Mayor and City Council invite you to meet new City Manager Shawn Gillen and family, Sunday, August 6, 2017, between 2:00pm and 4:00pm at the Guard House, 31
Van Horn.
About Tybee Island, GA.: The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast. With a wild bird sanctuary, over three miles of ocean beaches,
and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation activities abound for visitors to the island. As a key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven, Tybee
Post Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for history buffs.
Attracting a strong artistic community, there are several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate Fest,
the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off the Walter W. Parker
Pier and Pavilion. The Marine Science Center cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching for nests, protecting their eggs, and making sure hatchlings
make it to sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.visittybee.com/, and to find more about the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.org/.
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