Forward Janesville - TheReport - Second Quarter 2023

I love anything outdoors. Wilderness camping is a passion. I have been going to the Boundary Waters since I was 12 and today that’s something I enjoy with my family. There is no cell reception—it’s just you and nature. That time to disconnect and just be is invaluable. It is so incredibly quiet. It’s amazing how immersive it can be. Creativity comes in handy in city management. When working in Burlington, a commercial development next to a landfill came with some challenges. To establish a clean site and secure DNR approval, we worked with the DNR to excavate a portion of the landfill, removing all recyclable items in the process. It was a complex project that had never been done quite that way. Everyone won—the city got a great new development, and so much waste was properly recycled. What we pulled out of the landfill was incredible—from tires, refrigerators, and pieces of cars to perfectly preserved old newspapers. Bringing the right people together and having open conversations made that project work. HOW DID I GET HERE? s u c c e s s • c h a l l e n g e s • l i f e l e s s o n s • e d u c a t i o n • c a r e e r • f a m i l y • i n s p i r a t i o n s The thing about city management is you never know what you’re going to be facing when you walk in the door. In general, a good deal of our work is on budget and budget analysis, economic development, and seeking out the most interesting and beneficial deals for the city. For me, staff/leadership development is the most important focus area and pays the largest dividends. It’s where my passion lies. If I could offer any piece of advice going forward, I would encourage Janesville residents to get engaged with the city. There are so many opportunities to be involved as a citizen. From something as simple as attending an event to volunteering for a committee, like the planning commission or the library board, or so many others. It’s your city and having a voice matters. • I am so excited about the partnership between the business community and the City of Janesville, and Forward Janesville is a huge part of that. Janesville is fortunate to have an organization like this—not all cities do, and it makes a measurable difference. KEVIN LAHNER CITY MANAGER CITY OF JANESVILLE • { EDUCATION } 2001-2003 Master of Public Administration – MPA, Public Administration University of North Texas 1995-1998 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point B.S., Communications-Journalism { WORK EXPERIENCE } 2023-PRESENT City Manager City of Janesville Janesville, Wisconsin 2015-2023 City Administrator City of Waukesha Waukesha, Wisconsin 2008-2014 City Administrator City of Burlington Burlington, Wisconsin 2005-2007 Assistant City Manager City of Keller Keller, Texas 2003-2005 Assistant to the Town Manager Town of Flower Mound Flower Mound, Texas 14 | FORWARD JANESVILLE