Geneva has named Benjamin McCready as its new Assistant City Administrator and Director of Administrative Services after the position was reinstated into the City’s budget last fiscal year.

McCready will manage the City’s Administrative Services Department, which includes the Administration, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology divisions. His job duties will involve serving as Risk Manager as well as the City’s chief negotiator for collective bargaining agreements; assisting with the City’s budget and strategic planning processes; and handling a variety of special and capital projects. He also will serve as acting city administrator when City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins is out of the office.

“I am excited to welcome Ben as part of the senior management team,” Dawkins said. “His background and experience makes him an excellent fit to assist in achieving the goals the Mayor and City Council have established to serve the community.”

McCready joins Geneva from the Town of Normal, where he worked as the Assistant to the City Manager starting in 2016. In addition to being a member of the Town’s senior management team, he assisted with developing the municipality’s budget and strategic plan, managed a multimodal transportation center, and coordinated a number of joint programs with intergovernmental partners and community organizations.

While working for Normal, McCready led the effort to implement a railroad quiet zone, revived the Town’s Citizen Academy and was a leadership member for both the Illinois City Council Management Association and Engaging Local Government Leaders group.

McCready’s first day at Geneva was May 14.

“I’m honored to be joining the team at the City of Geneva,” McCready said. “The community has a terrific reputation as a place to live and work. The City is a well-managed organization with numerous strengths and tremendous opportunities.”

McCready previously worked as the Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Rock Island from 2012-16 and was a Management Analyst II for the City of Salem, Ore. from 2010-12. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augustana College.