Todd, Amber

From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:

City Administrator
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 12:40 PM
Announcements
Appointment of Two New Directors for the departments of Race & Equity and Human
Resource Management

DearCityStaff,

Iampleasedtoannouncetheappointmentsoftwocriticalpositionswithintheorganization.Thefirstisthe
appointmentofMs.DarleneFlynnasOaklandsfirstDirectoroftheRace&EquityDepartment.Thesecondappointment
isofMr.IanAppleyardastheDirectoroftheHumanResourcesManagementDepartment.

DarleneFlynnisoneoffewhighlydistinguishedveteransinthefieldofraceandequityspecifictothelocalgovernment
sector,andwearefortunatetohaveherserveinthiscriticalnewposition.Shehasmorethan12yearsofexperience
implementingsystemicchangeandincreasingracialequityincitygovernment.Shewasonthegroundlevelin
developingtheRaceandSocialJusticeInitiativeintheCityofSeattlesOfficeforCivilRights.Shehasworkedextensively
withcrossracialteamsseekingtobringaboutinstitutionalandstructuralchangetocreateracialequityinthecity's
communitiesofcolor.Inherapproach,sheincorporatesperspectivesthatsupportpeopleofcolorintheirleadership
developmentandorganization.

Darlenesappointmentistheresultofanextensive,nationalrecruitmenteffortledbyTheHawkinsCompanyand
involvedcommunityinputandparticipation.

Darlenebeganherpublicservicecareermorethan20yearsagoastheLegislativeAssistantforaCouncilmember.She
hasalsoworkedforSeattlePublicUtilitiesandinSeattlesDepartmentofNeighborhoods.In2004,shejoinedtheSeattle
OfficeforCivilRights,asaPolicyLeadonthefirstRace&SocialJusticeInitiativeCoordinatingTeam.Shewillreportto
theCityAdministratorwithdaytodayoversightfromtheDeputyCityAdministrator,andstartworkintheCityof
OaklandastheDirectorofRace&EquityonOctober17,2016.

IanAppleyardhasmostrecentlyservedastheDirectorofHumanResourceswiththeCityofEmeryville.Hehasworked
inthepublicsectorformorethan20yearsinhumanresourcesandlaborrelations.Inhiscurrentposition,Ianoversees
allaspectsofthehumanresourcesprogram,includinglaborandemployeerelations,benefits,recruitment,trainingand
organizationaldevelopment.BeforeworkinginEmeryville,IanworkedfortheCityofOaklandformorethan12yearsas
aPrincipalLaborRelationsAnalystandaClassificationandExaminationAnalyst.Hegraduatedwithhonorsfromthe
GraduateSchoolofPublicAffairsattheUniversityofColoradoatDenver.

Ianiswellrespectedinthehumanresourcesprofession.HehasbeenamemberofCaliforniaPublicEmployersLabor
RelationsAssociation(CALPELRA)since2003,aProgramCommitteemembersince2010andaBoardMembersince
2015.HeiscurrentlytheProgramChairforthe2016annualconference.HeisalsoamemberoftheInternational
City/CouncilManagementAssociation(ICMA).

IanwillstartworkintheCityofOaklandonSeptember26,2016andreplacedepartingHumanResourcesDirector,Anil
Comelo,whohasacceptedapositionwithanotherlocalgovernmentagency.

ReadmoreaboutDarleneandIaninthemediarelease.

IalsowanttosharemyappreciationofAnilComelosservicetotheCityofOaklandasHumanResourcesManagement
Director.AnilslastdaywiththeCitywillbeSeptember9.
1


AnilsaccomplishmentsduringhistenurewiththeCityincludesignificantimprovementstotheCitysonboarding
process,trainingcurriculum,andemployeerecognitionprogramtonameafew.Anilisdistinctiveinhisabilityto
understandtheviewpointsofhiscustomers,eagertomeettheneedsofhiscustomers,andnotafraidtospeakfromthis
perspective.WeappreciateeverythingthathehasdonefortheOaklandorganization.

GiventhattheHumanResourcesManagementDepartmentservesacentralroleintheCitysorganizationalstructure,I
especiallyappreciatethatAnilprovidedtheCitywithadvancenoticeofhisintenttoseeknewopportunities,whichhas
allowedtheorganizationtoprepareforaseamlesstransition.

PleasejoinmeinwelcomingDarleneandIanandthankingAnil!

Sincerely,

SabrinaLandreth
CityAdministrator