New city manager brings 2 top officials from Dallas with him to Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax is bringing two top city officials with him from Dallas.
Broadnax sent a city memo addressed to the mayor and council members on Monday alerting them of two job appointments to the Executive Leadership Team. Those appointments were Jon Fortune as Deputy City Manager, effective June 10, and Genesis D. Gavino as Special Assistant to the City Manager, effective June 3, according to the memo.
Both Fortune and Gavino follow Broadnax from the City of Dallas, where Broadnax served as city manager for the last seven years.
"I recently announced two appointments and I'm excited about both of those appointments that I shared with the City Council yesterday," Broadnax said in a statement about the hirings on Tuesday.
"We're going through a few more processes. Obviously, there are some vacant positions at many levels in the organization, so I don't have any specific individuals that I am looking to or for as it relates to any new positions that are coming about," he added. "But I am still learning and understanding the team that I've got and finding a way to assess that talent as well as assess what we're doing, and I'll make those decisions as I see fit in the future."
Jon Fortune, Deputy City Manager
Broadnax said in the memo that Fortune will serve and function as the Chief Operating Officer, "assuming critical responsibilities in the absence of the City Manager" and will help oversee city departments and citywide initiatives.
Fortune served as Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager for Public Safety for the City of Dallas from 2017-2024, Broadnax said in the memo. He also served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Denton from 2000-2017, as well as in other city management roles in Denton from 1991-2000.
"Throughout his career, he has navigated complex landscapes, driven change, and fostered cooperation and unity among diverse stakeholders," Broadnax said in the memo. "His experience has been defined by a commitment to transformative change, adept financial management and planning, and skillful crisis resolution."
According to the memo, Fortune is a credentialed manager with the International City Management Association (ICMA). He earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Administration from the University of Oklahoma and has completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University.
Genesis D. Gavino Special Assistant to the City Manager
In her position as Special Assistant to the City Manager, Gavino will "play a pivotal role in driving organizational change and advancing the prosperity of Austin through strategic initiatives and partnerships," Broadnax said in the memo. Broadnax said the focus of her position will be developing and implementing efforts that ensure the long-term sustainability and vitality of the city.
Gavino has a decade of experience in local government, most recently serving as the Chief of Staff and Resilience Officer for the City of Dallas, where she "navigated complex organizational structures and drove impactful change by spearheading initiatives focused on enhancing operational efficiency, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and ensuring strategic alignment with overarching goals," according to Broadnax.
She has also led the implementation of Dallas' Broadband and Digital Equity Strategic Plan since 2020. In her role as the Resilience Officer, she was tasked with the implementation of the Resilient Dallas Strategy since 2019.
Gavino holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus on management and
operations from Washington State University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and
certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Washington, and is a Ph.D. Candidate
in Public Administration and Public Policy at the University of Texas at Arlington.