Carson city manager candidates set for interviews Thursday

With Carson City Manager Nancy Paulson retiring June 30, the Board of Supervisors will consider three candidates for the job at their meeting Thursday and potentially pick one for contract negotiations and appointment.

The meeting begins 8:30 a.m. in the board room of the community center, 851 E. William St.

Rather than doing a national search or appointing Deputy City Manager Stephanie Hicks, supervisors decided at their February retreat to post the job through human resources channels and bring the top three candidates to the board for interviews.

Those candidates are Hicks, Darren Coldwell and Glen Martel.

Coldwell has been city manager of Page, Arizona since 2019. He was county administrator of Lincoln County, Montana from 2017 to 2019 and mayor of Troy, Montana from 2013 to 2017. Before that he owned a business called Booze n Bait in Troy, Montana, according to his application.

Coldwell holds a bachelor of arts degree in interpersonal communications, organizational emphasis.

“I am confident that my leadership skills, private industry background, government experience that is both city and county, strong financial abilities, communication skills, human resources knowledge, and management style make me an excellent fit for Carson City,” Coldwell said in his application.

Candidates had to write essays about themselves and their goals including what they would do the first 90 days on the job.

Coldwell said his first 90 days “would be focused on building relationships, assessing community needs, and establishing a roadmap for future initiatives.”

“I would prioritize meeting with key stakeholders, including city staff, community leaders, and residents, to gain insight into their perspectives and aspirations for Carson City,” Coldwell said. “Understanding the community’s priorities is essential for effective governance and ensuring that our initiatives reflect their needs.”

Coldwell said he would host community forums and identify “key projects that align with the city’s strategic goals.”

Hicks got her start in Carson City as the city’s real property manager in 2016 and has served as deputy manager since 2019. She was a mitigation planner for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management from 2015 to 2018 and previously worked for R.O. Anderson Engineering Inc., Douglas County Community Development and the Nevada Department of Public Safety, according to her application.

Hicks has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, administration.

“I strive to be a servant leader who demonstrates integrity, character, honesty and ethical behavior,” Hicks said in the application. “I have had the absolute privilege to see first-hand the hard work that the employees of Carson City and their department leaders put into everything they do.”

In her first 90 days, Hicks said she would “focus on gaining a deeper understanding of our city's current needs through open communication and collaboration.”

“My priority will be to listen closely, gather insights from the community, and work hand-in-hand with the Board of Supervisors, our dedicated city staff, and residents and businesses to create a unified vision for the city’s future,” she wrote.

Hicks said she would look to improve organizational efficiency, “set goals for myself and obtain feedback from the board and departments.”

Martel is chief executive officer for the Nevada Builders Alliance. He was city manager of Live Oak, Texas from 2022-23 and assistant city manager of Missouri City, Texas from 2019-22. He also served in the Nevada Air National Guard/U.S. Air Force for nearly four decades, earning the rank of brigadier general. He additionally worked as interim assistant director of public works/environmental engineering for the city of Reno in 2019, according to his application.

Martel holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in business administration.

“I realize that any success I have experienced, personally or professionally, has been the result of a team effort. Carson City clearly has an established record of civic mindedness, focus on a prosperous future with a commendable emphasis on respect,” Martel said in his application.

In his first 90 days, Martel said “developing trust and encouraging openness will be achieved incrementally starting with one-on-one conversations and engagement with all players.”

“Not interrupting the processes, nor timelines, of ongoing necessary programs or projects will be one of my main focuses during this educational period,” he said.

Martel would work to establish “mutual priorities” and engage in “preliminary planning for social media update and presence expansion to encourage citizen cooperation and engagement in city processes.”

According to a staff report, the city manager position was open from March 3 through March 21.

“A screening panel consisting of Mayor Lori Bagwell, Supervisor Maurice White and Human Resources Director Jeff Coulam reviewed the applications and selected five candidates to provide supplemental information and undergo reference checks,” the report stated.

The same panel recommended Hicks, Coldwell and Martel to the board for further consideration.

According to the city’s executive office, the city received 41 applications for the job. Information about the other applicants was not released.

Paulson has been with the city for 26 years, having started as an accountant in the finance department. The Board of Supervisors hired Paulson in 2018 and renewed her contract in 2020.

During the tentative budget hearing May 1, Paulson noted it was here 26th budget and “it will also be my last.”

The city’s human resources department puts the annual salary for the city manager position at $176,282.81 to $228,948.95.

The application materials for Thursday’s meeting are available at legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/3314619/City_Manager_Candidates_Redacted.pdf.