City Names Director of Public Utilities and Interim Director of Human Resources

Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall announced that Robert Steidel has been selected to serve as director of Public Utilities, effective Monday, March 07, 2011. Steidel had served as interim director for the department since Saturday, July 31, 2010, replacing Chris Beschler who had served as director of Public Utilities while serving as deputy chief administrative officer of Operations.

Steidel previously served as the deputy director for the Department of Public Utilities for more than seven years. Prior to beginning city service, he served as the environmental manager for the city of Hopewell’s Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility; industrial surveillance supervisor for the Rock River Water Reclamation District in Rockford, IL; environmental health sanitarian for Winnebago County Department of Public Health in Rockford, IL; and biologist for Winona State University, MN.

“Bob Stiedel has proven to be a valuable asset to the Department of Public Utilities and has provided excellent leadership in managing the stormwater utility,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “We look forward to his continued expertise in providing utility services to city and surrounding county residents, while protecting our region’s most treasured resource in the James River.”

Stiedel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Winona State University, MN and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

In a separate matter, it was announced that Dr. Tyrone Jackson will be leaving his employment with the City of Richmond effective March 11, 2011. Dr. Jackson presently serves as the director of Human Resources and will be leaving his post to accept an appointment with the District of Columbia Courts where he will serve as deputy director of the Human Resources Division.

Dr. Jackson's service with the City of Richmond began in March of 2007. He is credited with having helped usher in the automated Richmond Online Staffing System (ROSS) as well as creating the current centralized Human Resource structure. He was a key member of the team responsible for negotiating the joint health care agreement for the City of Richmond with Richmond Public Schools and has served as the United Way Chairperson for city government over the last several years.

"Dr. Jackson will be missed, but we wish him well in his new place of employment," said Mayor Jones.

Joya Hayes, senior assistant to the CAO, will serve as interim director for Human Resources while a search is conducted for a replacement.

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