HomeMy WebLinkAboutCrawford, Shane - Resume
SHANE BENJAMIN CRAWFORD
214 E. Lloyd Street Milwaukee, WI 53212 Phone: 414-779-1179 E-mail: scrawford_@hotmail.com
SUMMARY
More than 11 years of local government experience with expertise, qualifications, and skills in the following areas:
Labor Relations including being the lead contract negotiator
Operations and Project Management for projects ranging from 2 to 18 million dollars
Media Relations
Budget and Financial Operations
Strategic Planning
Intergovernmental Relations
Lobbying
Organizational Development
Economic Development
Zoning and Development Planning
Elected office experience from 1997 to 2000
I am a team player who is able to work independently within the organizational framework with experience in managing change while being results oriented. I am a demonstrated leader
with organizational, analytical, and communication skills. I have experience on both the elected and “hired/contracted” sides of local politics and I believe that allows me to bring
a unique perspective to any organization.
EDUCATION
University of WI-Oshkosh
Double Major: Public Administration/Political Science
1996-1999 University of WI-La Crosse
Bachelor of Science Degree—Double Major: Public Administration/Political Science
Emphasis in double major: government, management, social interaction, economics, governmental personnel, media use, and budget
I have also taken a variety of Masters Level classes at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI., and at the University of WI—Milwaukee. However, I had to end my classes at Viterbo University
due to my recruitment to Walworth County and I ended my classes at the University of WI—Milwaukee when I was asked to pursue a law degree by my employer instead. I am currently waiting
on my admission to Marquette University.
EMPLOYMENT
Walworth County, WI 2004 – Present
Population: 102,000 – Budget: $160 million
Deputy County Administrator—Central Services (one year and current)
Appointed to this position in July of 2007. This position holds all the responsibilities I previously held as Deputy County Administrator/Director of Public Works and Intergovernmental
Relations but now includes the supervision of Walworth County’s Central Purchasing Department. This additional responsibility includes the supervision of an additional 5 staff as well
as being solely responsible for every contract initiated by Walworth County and being directly responsible for every major purchase within the county’s 155 million dollar budget. Achievements
include:
Successful pilot program of contracting snow plow operators in lieu of filling vacant positions
Integrated the county’s purchasing department under the “umbrella” of already county assigned responsibilities.
Implemented a procurement program which included the initiation of several “checks and balance” systems to allow for employees to carry county procurement cards
Successfully created the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council (ICC) consisting of any municipality (town, city or village) within the borders of Walworth County (that chose to join)
for the purpose of studying possible government cooperation and possible consolidation.
Completed Walworth County’s new Lakeland School ahead of schedule and under budget—an 18 million dollar project.
Created a “green” initiative which is in its formative state right now but will be included in the 2010 budget
Deputy County Administrator/Director of Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations (15 months)
Appointed to this position in April of 2006. The position maintained the responsibilities as the Director of Public Works. However, it now assisted the County Administrator in intergovernmental
relations by acting as the county’s lobbyist and primary resource for state and federal legislation affecting Walworth County. It also assisted in the human resource function of the
county as well as assisted in any tasks deemed necessary by the County Administrator. Major accomplishments included:
Successful lobbying efforts at state capitol in regards to state revenues
Successful construction completion of county owned nursing home--15 million dollar project. This project was completed on time and under budget.
Negotiated an agreement with WI Department of Transportation to uphold state funding for state owned, but county maintained, highways and interstates.
Was appointed as the Parks Manager for Walworth County and created an accounting “lockbox” for future park acquisition and assumed park maintenance within the Public Works Department
without the addition of extra staff.
Director of Public Works—Walworth County, WI (two years)
I was recruited in April of 2004 to head up a newly consolidated department of public works. Previous to this, the county had separate highway and facilities departments. The departmental
budget is approximately 15.5 million with an overall county budget of nearly 160 million. The department of public works employed approximately 80 people. Upon my recruitment, my
major focus was on the county’s new building projects as the public works director was the primary project manager for all building projects. The county, at the time of my recruitment,
was 8 months from opening a new judicial center at a cost of nearly 13 million. This project was in disarray and proved to be the reason for my recruitment. Due to major design flaws,
I was forced to delay opening the building by 7 months but assisted in proving architectural error and all costs spent to remedy the building were recouped. The public works department
is responsible for approximately 2300 miles of state and county roads and I also act as the county’s fleet and parks manager. Currently the county has two county parks that are maintained
by Public Works and I have successfully implemented a fleet maintenance policy that proved cost effective and improved service. Further accomplishments included:
Successfully litigated a damage claim against original architect on the county’s Judicial Center proving architectural error throughout the facility.
Upon recruitment, created a restructure and team atmosphere within the Public Works Department that had been absent since its creation.
Negotiated a “cross jurisdictional agreement” amongst the highway and facilities unions so that labor could be utilized in various capacities in a “cross-jurisdictional fashion.
Buffalo County, WI 2000--2004
Population: 13,500 – Budget: $14 million
County Administrator—Buffalo County, WI (2+ years)
The Buffalo County Board, effective January 1, 2002, made the decision to upgrade my county position of Administrative Coordinator to that of County Administrator. In Wisconsin, the
major differences between the Coordinator position and the Administrator position are two-fold. A County Administrator is empowered to hire and/or fire (terminate) department heads
without county board approval. Also, a County Administrator introduces the county budget to the board. Administrative Coordinators do not have the authority to hire and/or fire nor
do they introduce the budget. Rather, Administrative Coordinators merely assist in the creation of the county budget. Increased participation and responsibility, in regards to all
county issues, resulted because of the change in title. The county also opted to make the County Administrator position the chief negotiator in regards to all union contract negotiations.
During my tenure as county administrator, my budget proposals came with modest property tax levy increases while maintaining both essential as well as discretionary programs. I successfully
negotiated 25% contributions from employees with family health insurance plans as well as negotiated 10% contributions from employees with single plans. Major accomplishments included:
Authored Buffalo County’s first and only Personnel Handbook—directed by the Buffalo County Board
Successful transition to a new 3rd party administrator for the county’s self-insured health insurance plan saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 5 years
Created and codified a budget procedure so the county board and constituency had a “road map” to follow in regards to budget creation.
Administrative Coordinator—Buffalo County, WI (2 years)
Immediately upon my college graduation, I was hired as the Buffalo County, Wisconsin, Administrative Coordinator. My responsibilities included: supervising all county personnel activities,
supervising all county finance activities, monitoring the county’s self-insured health insurance fund (which included changing 3rd party administrators effective January 1, 2002), and
acting as the county’s risk manager and computer/network supervisor. During my tenure as administrative coordinator, the board tasked me to write a code of conduct (a personnel manual)
for the county. I proposed a methodical approach to accomplishing this goal and it was drafted within 10 months and ratified by the board immediately.
City and County of La Crosse, WI 1997-2000
City Council Member, City of La Crosse, WI—(4 years)
I was the recording secretary for the Highways, Properties, and Utilities Committee for the first two years of my city council term. I was then appointed to the Finance and Personnel
Committee for my final two years. This appointment required increased involvement on the council due to the fact that this committee was involved with all employee grievances, contract
disputes, the city’s annual budget, and other various issues that came before the committee of the whole that involved city finances and/or city personnel.
County Board Supervisor, County of La Crosse, WI—(3+ years)
I received the honor of being appointed to the 5th district count board supervisor seat by the county board chairman in the fall of 1997 due to a vacancy. I was then elected in April
of 1998, to a two-year term. During my tenure on the county board, I served on the Parks and Properties Committee, Law Enforcement Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee.
ASSOCIATIONS
Wisconsin Association of County Personnel Directors
Wisconsin Public Employer Labor Relations Association
Wisconsin Counties Association
National Association of Counties
West Central WI Counties Association—Association of Personnel Directors and/or individuals responsible for the personnel function within their respective WI counties
Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission—appointed by the WI Governor
Wisconsin Utilities Tax Association—Vice President
American Public Works Association
WI Counties Highway Association