Here is the press release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, followed by the optimistic statements he made to CBC upon being hired to run Winnipeg City Hall 2 1/2 years ago.
New Chief Administrative Officer appointed by Council
(Fort McMurray, AB – September 14, 2010) – The search to fill the Municipality's top administrative position has concluded with Council appointing Glen Laubenstein as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
“I am pleased to say that Mr. Laubenstein will be joining this Municipality as its new CAO,” says Mayor Melissa Blake. “He has a long and proven track record of success in municipal government, as well as a strong desire to lead the development of one of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada. While I am satisfied there were a number of high caliber applicants to choose from, Mr. Laubenstein was unanimously chosen by the Selection Committee and endorsed by all members of Council as the best candidate to lead our 1,200 strong organization.”
Laubenstein brings a wealth of expertise to our region including over 30 years of municipal experience. He will be joining us from his position as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Winnipeg. Prior to that, he worked as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Kingston, Ontario, and served eight years as City Manager for the City of Brandon, Manitoba.
Laubenstein’s distinguished career also includes experience in managing the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo at the time of our amalgamation, as well as serving as municipal treasurer and audit accountant with the Province of British Columbia. He is eager to get back to Wood Buffalo and help to lead our future growth.
“A thriving municipality must offer opportunity and hope to every member of the community, without respect to income, circumstance, or background,” says Laubenstein. “In order to take advantage of the opportunities that are pending, a collaborative approach to development must be established between the Municipality, other levels of government, the oil industry, and the residents of Wood Buffalo. I look forward to working with the Mayor and Council to help create a sustainable shared vision for this community.”
Following the resignation of former CAO, Rodney Burkard, in March the Municipality was led by Interim CAO, Kelly Kloss. Kloss was appointed by Council to ensure sustainability within the organization while an executive recruiting firm conducted a nation wide search to fill the position permanently.
“On behalf of Council, I extend our sincere respect and appreciation to Kelly Kloss who provided us with critical leadership during a key period in the history of Wood Buffalo,” says Mayor Blake. “Mr. Laubenstein will continue the valuable work begun by Kelly and will remain keenly focused on developing the long term strategic vision of this region. Upon his arrival, Kelly will resume his position as Deputy CAO where he will have a key voice in the development of this organization.”
“We felt it was this Council’s duty to see the appointment of a new CAO carried forward prior to our dissolution,” continues Mayor Blake. “It was this group that reviewed the applications, conducted the interviews and put the time and dedication into finding the right person for the job. We felt it was our responsibility to complete the process and leave the new Council positioned for action.”
“Serving as the Interim CAO has been a great experience,” says Kloss. “I am proud of the substantial work that my team and I have accomplished during my short tenure. I appreciate Council’s support and look forward to working with our new CAO. I remain committed to this organization and to building a strong and influential municipality located in the heart of Canada’s energy future.”
Recognizing this region’s growing importance to Canadians, last fall senior administration initiated steps to see the Municipality emerge as an exceedingly respected
best practice organization. Part of this initiative was to build the bench strength of the
Municipality’s current Senior Leadership Team. The appointment of Laubenstein as the new CAO builds on that initiative.
Laubenstein will be joining the Municipality in mid November. Until that time Kelly Kloss will continue to service as the Interim CAO.
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New Winnipeg CAO expects 'renaissance' in local government
Last Updated: Monday, February 25, 2008 | 5:02 PM CT
CBC News
Winnipeg is poised to do great things, Glen Laubenstein said Monday, as officials announced he would become the city's new top bureaucrat.
Laubenstein, currently the chief administrative officer of Kingston, Ont., will become the new CAO for the City of Winnipeg, Mayor Sam Katz announced Monday.
Laubenstein beat out two local candidates for the job: Alex Robinson, who has been interim CAO for the past six months, and city clerk Richard Kachur. The position became vacant in 2007, when Annitta Stenning abruptly resigned after four years as the city's top civil servant.
"Winnipeg is a city progressively moving in the right direction and I am excited to play a role in building on this momentum," Laubenstein said Monday.
Laubenstein said most cities are struggling with a shortage of money to repair aging infrastructure — everything from transit to roads — and those that are "nimble" will have the advantage.
"To be blunt, we don't have the taxing authorities that other cities in the U.S. have, but I believe it's only a matter of time before there is a real renaissance in the way local government operates," he said Monday.
"The cities that are poised and past the rhetoric and ready to go with the action plans are the ones that will succeed when that breakthrough happens, and I believe it already has started."
Previously Brandon's city manager
Laubenstein also plans to take a more collaborative approach to city hall, he said, as opposed to having departments operate in "silos," as often happens with police departments.
"Police departments, to be effective in the issues that they deal with, probably don't have all the money they'd like to have to do community policing," he said.
"But there's a community services department in every city — so why do the police department and the community services department not collaborate better on making neighbourhoods better? Because I think most of us know one of the best ways to deal with crime is to deal with poverty."
Long-term planning, in which departments come up with common goals and share resources, is the solution, he said.
The move is a homecoming of sorts for Laubenstein, who was the city manager in Brandon, Man., for eight years before moving to Kingston. He has also managed the municipalities of Wood Buffalo, Alta., and Richmond, B.C.
Winnipeg's executive policy committee and city council must approve the selection committee's decision, which is expected to happen at meetings later this week.
Laubenstein is expected to take over the position in April.
