Arlington County Board Names Barbara Donnellan Acting County Manager on Nov. 1

County Board seeks public input on desired qualities for new manager

The Arlington County Board today announced that it will name Deputy County Manager Barbara Donnellan as acting county manager, effective November 1 and until a new manager is in place. The Board will seek input from the community on desired qualities for the new manager and has retained Springsted Incorporated to lead a national search. It hopes to have this individual on board at the beginning of the New Year.

“Barbara is a natural choice for the acting county manager position,” said Barbara Favola, chairman of the Arlington County Board. “Her leadership will provide continuity as we proceed with a search for a permanent manager. We are in good hands.”

Ms. Donnellan has served as deputy county manager since October 2005, with oversight responsibility for the departments of Human Resources, Management and Finance, Libraries, and Technology. She is also responsible for capital, communications, and legislative programs. Additional duties include day-to-day contact with elected Constitutional Officers, Courts, Sheriff, Police, Fire and Office of Emergency Management. She has served Arlington County for 26 years, including six years as director of Management and Finance.  

In 2009, Leadership Greater Washington presented its highest honor -- the 2009 Fannie Mae Volunteer of the Year Award -- to Ms. Donnellan, who was honored for her role in expanding the Youth Leadership Greater Washington program through enhanced planning, fundraising, and recruiting. 

“I am honored to be asked to serve as acting county manager,” said Ms. Donnellan. “I will work hard to maintain Arlington’s momentum during this interim period and I look forward to supporting Arlington’s next county manager in taking the community to a new level of success.”

Springsted Incorporated to conduct national search

Since its start in the early 1970s, Springsted’s work has expanded to a wide range of executive search, human resource and organizational management areas, serving more than 600 local government and public sector clients.

Over the last 25 years, Springsted has conducted more than 150 executive searches for local governments and public agencies throughout the country. Each Springsted staff member assigned to Arlington’s team has direct local government management experience and has participated in numerous executive searches. The Arlington search project will be managed out of the firm’s Richmond, Virginia office by John A. Anzivino.

Public input invited

As part of the search process, the Arlington County Board will seek input from the public and stakeholder groups on the desired qualities for the new county manager.   

Community members are invited to give their input at a public forum on Monday, Sept. 28, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Washington-Lee High School cafeteria (1301 N Stafford St, Arlington, VA?). Individuals will also be able to provide input online through a web-based survey, which will soon be accessible on the County’s web page.  

Visit the County Manager Recruitment page

On August 3, County Manager Ron Carlee announced that he will leave his position to join the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). In November, Carlee will join ICMA as executive-in-residence and director, Strategic Domestic Initiatives. He also will continue his long-standing relationship with The George Washington University, where he teaches in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. Carlee retires on October 31 after a 29-year career in Arlington; he has served as Arlington’s county manager since 2001.