Troy City Manager Candidate: Brian Kischnick

The following information was taken directly from the candidate's résumé and questionnaire answers, which are available on the City of Troy's website. 

Name: Brian M. Kischnick

Current Position: Township Manager, Tittabawassee Township (since 2002)

Past Positions: City Manager, Vassar; Assistant City Manager, Largo, FL; Acting Budget Director/Senior Budget Analyst, Ingham County.

Current Salary: $115,935 (plus $9,200 allowance)

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration (MSU); Master of Public Administration (WMU).

Major Accomplishment: "As the lead negotiator for the City/Township, I have successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements with five unions over 17 years resulting in managed cost exposure to the local government. Over the 17 years process, I have received less than 5 grievances. I have established employee appreciation programs in three municipalities to connect with the people on the front lines."

What experience would you bring to Troy?: "Over the past ten years I have managed Tittabawassee Township, one of the fastest growing, complex communities in Mid Michigan. It is situated in the geographic center of Dow Chemical/Dow Corning, General Motors plants and a thriving residential area. Our community is also home to an International Airport, State prison and growing school district. The opportunity allowed me to manage with the involvement of diverse interests and employ sound financial discipline in order to level the peaks and valleys of the economic cycle in Michigan. The dynamics of the diverse interests and stakeholders in our community has provided me with the exposure and experience to collectively pursue progressive and beneficial opportunities. I have over 20 years' experience in Michigan providing me with a long term approach to local government management with a focus on fiscal responsibility, sustainability, collaboration, and quality of life."

Why are you interested in this position?: "The City of Troy, Michigan City manager position is most interesting to me due to its documented quality of life, history of management professionalism, and location in Michigan. It is no secret that Troy has been identified as one of the safest places to life. It can also be argued that it is one of the BEST places to live. This is appealing when narrowing the list of management opportunities. I believe the management of the City of Troy has been very professional and this reputation is one that will be carried on. Finally, I want to be a part of the process and management team to make a great city better. It is not only a challenge, but a passion of mine. Local government has always been a passion even prior to my first city manager position at the age of 25. The City of Troy provides a unique experience to manage a highly professional and successful city with sustainability as the foundation."

How would you handle Troy's divisive political climate?: "The division of local government policy makers is very common and manageable at the local level. I was fortunate to become the manager of a small town after an Open Meetings Act Violation that resulted in the City Manager being fired and the Mayor and two other City Council members being recalled. The professional manager realizes after many years of experiences, mistakes, failures, missteps, opportunities, successes, that employing an approach that is fair, balanced, open and objective will typically be a management style that is successful with councils, boards and the public. It is only through years of experience working for boards and councils as well as DDA's, Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities, Planning Commissions, and many collective groups that we gain the temperament and approach to working with divided individuals and groups. I have always employed a leadership approach that is professional and provides the same information to all elected officials and staff. Over time, I learned to remain engaged professionally and in the community without participating in the politics of division or friendship. It is important to point out that the issue of working for boards and councils whether they are divided or not is a learned skill with a professional background and diverse experience. My career has always been characterized by long terms of employment with different councils and boards. This staying power indicates an ability to work with different factions, parties, interests, and backgrounds. I take pride in the fact that I didn't career jump to bolster my position at the expense of the municipality I served. To do this, one must have the ability to work for a diversity of people and interests.

To view the candidates' full résumés and questionnaire answers, see the attached document.