The city plugged a major hole in its organizational chart this week but the achievement created a smaller hole lower down the roster.
The new general manager of business and strategic services is Jennifer Jennax, the former senior manager of corporate planning. Jennax moves up a step to the job left vacant when her former boss, Bob Treidler, left in February to pursue an opportunity in the banking industry.
Jennax has been the acting general manager since Treidler's departure.
Jennax holds a master's degree in business administration and is a certified management consultant. She's been with the city for five years as senior manager of corporate planning. Now one of her key jobs will be to fill her old job.
Beyond that, her top priority will be to help the city attract more businesses. This begins with an initiative that's already under way within the department, an analysis of St. Albert and how it fits in the regional market.
"There are some real opportunities in the City of St. Albert so I feel pretty lucky to be able to take part in that," Jennax said. "We can really make a difference in our division."
In her previous role, Jennax was basically an internal consultant who helped various city departments with their long-term strategic planning, said city manager Bill Holtby. She emerged as the top candidate after a nationwide competition, he said.
"I'm really excited about having an internal person be able to move within the organization. She's proven to us that she's got the skills and abilities," Holtby said.
High turnover
In the last four months the city has replaced two general managers and a communications director, all upper management positions. There have also been numerous other departures at city hall. The situation prompted Holtby to request a report on the extent of turnover among city staff.
The results show that, in the first quarter, the city experienced turnover that translates to 12 per cent if annualized, Holtby said. The city's normal turnover rate is around seven or eight per cent.
Holtby's review of the report found there were a couple of retirements but for the most part people are leaving to take advantage of greater opportunities and more money.
"I'm keeping a very close eye on it to see if there's anything deeper … with the organizational culture that's causing people to leave, but from reviewing the report it doesn't appear like there is," he said.
The last time the city experienced turnover rates in the 12 per cent range was during the boom of 2006 and 2007. While one quarter is a short sample, Holtby is getting the sense now that job opportunities are opening up.
"To me what that says is that the economy is taking off a bit," he said.
