2026 Award Season

A fixture in Minnesota local government for 40 years, Geralyn Barone continues to serve the profession as a senior advisor to both the Minnesota City/County Management Association and ICMA. Barone began her municipal career in 1981 as an intern in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, before joining Brooklyn Center in 1982, later serving in leadership roles in Brooklyn Center and Minnetonka before being appointed Minnetonka city manager in 2012. Among her hallmark achievements was the MERIT Performance Framework, which aligned performance with the city’s strategic goals and strengthened service delivery, accountability, budgeting, and process improvement. She also led Minnetonka’s Parks, Open Space, and Trail System Plan, preserving habitats and expanding public access through land acquisition, conservation easements, and key partnerships. Barone is a Life member of ICMA and MCMA and served on the MCMA board from 2015 to 2021 before being appointed a senior advisor in retirement. She also led professional organizations, helped establish MCMA’s Women in the Profession Committee, championed internships, and spoke to students at several Minnesota universities. Her broader service included work with Local Government Information Systems, Metro Cities, League of Minnesota Cities policy committees, and the Municipal Legislative Commission. Barone’s honors include the 2022 MCMA President’s Award, the 2019 Minnesota Women in City Government Leadership Award, and two Assistant of the Year awards from MAUMA. Her career reflects a forward-thinking approach to local government innovation, mentorship, and professional service, leaving communities and colleagues with proven, adaptable models for success.

A.C. Gonzalez, Jr. began his career at age 23 as one of the youngest city managers in the country and retired 41 years later as city manager of Dallas, Texas, the third-largest council-manager municipality in the United States. Over his career, he served in leadership roles in Dilley, Carrizo Springs, San Marcos, Dallas, and the Austin Independent School District, and he currently serves as an ICMA Senior Advisor. Throughout his career, Gonzalez emphasized developing staff from within, promoting emerging leaders, and giving rising managers opportunities to take on high-stakes projects and present their work to key stakeholders. As Dallas city manager, he led the Neighborhood Plus initiative, a results-driven public/private partnership focused on housing, safety, economic mobility, and service access in targeted neighborhoods. He also guided the city through the Ebola crisis and two violent attacks on the Police Department, efforts for which Dallas received national recognition. Gonzalez is widely respected for his professionalism, neutrality, sound judgment, and willingness to mentor managers navigating governance, organizational, or career challenges. Following the loss of a close friend and peer to suicide, he encouraged the Texas City Management Association to focus more intentionally on mental wellness for city managers and later chaired a task force to raise awareness and support the profession. Gonzalez’s career reflects decades of steady leadership, executive skill, and service to local government, and in June his contributions were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Texas City Management Association’s annual conference.

David M. Limardi’s career reflects a deep commitment to leadership, service, and the local government profession. Since 2013, he has served as managing director of the Midwest Leadership Institute, sharing the insight gained from 34 years in village and city administration and five years as ICMA’s Midwest regional director. Limardi began his career in 1977 in Wilmette, Illinois, later serving as village manager in Lincolnshire and city manager in Highland Park. In those roles, he built high-performing organizations grounded in professionalism, accountability, ethical decision-making, and respect for the public trust. His contributions to the profession include service as ICMA President in 2008–09, president of the Illinois City/County Management Association, ICMA board member, Credentialed Manager, and Life Member. He also chaired and served on numerous ICMA committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee and the Task Force on Organizational Structure and Governance. With expertise in economic development, brownfields, finance and budget, and ethics, Limardi taught at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Northern Illinois University. He also presented at professional conferences for more than 40 years and authored articles for PM Magazine. Limardi’s honors include induction as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, multiple awards from the Illinois City/County Management Association, and ICMA’s Voice of the People Awards. He is also co-founder of the Sommer Foundation, which has provided about $700,000 in scholarships to students who have lost a parent. As one former ICMA leader wrote, no one better exemplifies distinguished service through quality communities, strong organizations, professional leadership, and mentorship than Dave Limardi.

For four decades, he has faithfully served the City of Sierra Vista, Arizona, including thirty years as city manager, making him the longest-serving city manager in Arizona history. His remarkable career reflects a steadfast commitment to public service, visionary leadership, and the long-term success of the community he calls home. Under Chuck’s leadership, Sierra Vista experienced thoughtful and sustainable growth. The city expanded its infrastructure with new public facilities, parks, trails, and transit improvements while maintaining a strong sense of community. Through economic downturns and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, he prioritized people, preserving jobs and protecting employees rather than resorting to layoffs or furloughs. Chuck’s dedication to employees created a workplace culture marked by loyalty, opportunity, and professional growth. Many city staff members have spent decades serving Sierra Vista, and numerous leaders began their careers under his mentorship. His commitment to developing talent and promoting from within has strengthened the organization and inspired future generations of public servants. A champion of inclusion, Chuck worked to ensure diverse representation within the city workforce and leadership team. He also recognized the importance of regional cooperation, helping establish partnerships and initiatives that benefited communities throughout southeastern Arizona. Beyond city operations, Chuck became a respected leader in water conservation and environmental stewardship. His work with regional partners and the Upper San Pedro Partnership helped secure the long-term sustainability of vital water resources. Sierra Vista became a national model for responsible water

Jessica exemplifies the next generation of local government leadership through her commitment to innovation, collaboration, and public service. She has distinguished herself as a visionary leader who combines strategic thinking with a people-centered approach. Throughout her career, Hoffman has championed organizational excellence by fostering collaboration, investing in workforce development, and embracing emerging technologies. Her leadership has helped strengthen municipal operations while creating a culture built on trust, accountability, and continuous improvement. Recognizing the transformative potential of technology, Hoffman has been a strong advocate for responsible innovation, including the thoughtful use of artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and support employees in delivering exceptional service. Her commitment to preparing future leaders is evident through the creation of the Wentzville Innovation Academy, an initiative designed to cultivate creativity, encourage cross-functional collaboration, and equip employees with the skills needed to meet evolving community needs. Beyond her accomplishments within Wentzville, Hoffman is a respected voice in the local government profession. Through presentations, publications, and leadership roles in professional organizations, she has shared insights on innovation, leadership development, and organizational culture with audiences across the nation and internationally. Hoffman’s career reflects the values embodied by the Assistant Excellence in Leadership Award, visionary leadership, dedication to public service, and a steadfast commitment to developing people and strengthening communities. Her influence continues to inspire colleagues and advance the future of local government management.

For more than three decades, Dr. Craig M. Wheeland has made a lasting impact on the field of local government management through his exceptional leadership, scholarship, and dedication to developing future public service professionals. As a longtime professor and former MPA Director at Villanova University, and most recently as Professor of Public Administration, Dr. Wheeland guided the university’s public administration program to prestigious NASPAA accreditation and helped establish innovative programs that became models for others across the country. A respected scholar and author, Dr. Wheeland has produced influential books, journal articles, and case studies that bridge academic research with practical local government leadership. His work has strengthened the profession and provided valuable resources for students, practitioners, and communities nationwide. Equally significant is his commitment to mentorship. Generations of students, faculty members, and local government leaders have benefited from his wisdom, collaborative spirit, and unwavering investment in their success. Through partnerships with municipalities and professional organizations, Dr. Wheeland has helped launch countless careers and fostered stronger connections between academia and practice. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to scholarship, leadership, and public service, Dr. Wheeland is ICMA’s 2026 recipient of the Academic Award (established in memory of Stephen B. Sweeney), a fitting tribute to a career defined by excellence and an enduring commitment to the advancement of local government management.

Susan is recognized for extraordinary commitment to developing people and strengthening organizations through leadership, mentorship, and opportunity. During her tenure with the town of Clarkdale, Guthrie cultivated a workplace culture centered on growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Colleagues describe her leadership style as one that empowers others, encourages innovation, and helps employees recognize and maximize their potential. Through her open-door approach and genuine investment in staff development, she fostered an environment where employees felt valued, supported, and inspired to succeed. Guthrie’s impact can be seen in the many career pathways she helped create for employees across multiple departments. Her dedication to succession planning, coaching, and professional development resulted in numerous promotions and advancement opportunities, strengthening both individual careers and the organization. She also championed the creation of key leadership positions, secured resources for training and growth, and helped build a resilient workforce prepared to meet future challenges. Beyond organizational accomplishments, Guthrie’s legacy is reflected in the confidence, skills, and leadership abilities she inspired in others. Her belief that “we can do hard things” became a guiding principle for many employees and helped create a culture of excellence that continues to benefit the town of Clarkdale. Through her unwavering commitment to helping others grow, Susan Guthrie exemplifies the spirit of the L.P. Cookingham Award and the lasting value of investing in people.

Alexander is recognized for his steadfast commitment to serving communities through ethical and effective management. At just 30 years old, Alex became the youngest city administrator in Amery’s history when he assumed the role in January 2025. Taking the helm during significant fiscal and operational challenges, he quickly established himself as a disciplined leader focused on long-term solutions. His first year brought substantial achievements that strengthened the city’s financial foundation, modernized governance practices, and enhanced organizational effectiveness. Alex led efforts to address a multi-year structural deficit, developed formal debt management and fund balance policies, established a long-range Capital Improvement Plan, and rebuilt revenue and expenditure assumptions that helped restore fiscal stability. He also modernized governance policies, strengthened departmental performance management, and improved transparency and decision-making for elected officials and residents. His leadership extended beyond financial stewardship. He helped guide major infrastructure initiatives, stabilize regional partnerships, and navigate complex development decisions while protecting the city’s long-term financial interests. His commitment to innovation was evident in AI-assisted police reporting technology and Amery’s first narrative-driven, digital-first budget document. Throughout his work, Alex has exemplified the ICMA Code of Ethics through integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for public trust. Through disciplined analysis, steady judgment, and a commitment to excellence, he has delivered measurable results that have strengthened Amery and positioned it for long-term success. ICMA is proud to recognize Alexander Mansfield for his outstanding contributions and congratulates him on this well-deserved honor. His dedication to public service, ethical leadership, and professional excellence embodies the spirit of the Early Career Leadership Award and reflects a bright future for local government management.

Since becoming City Manager in 2020, McCarthy has cultivated a culture of trust, transparency, civility, and collaboration that has strengthened the partnership between the City Council and staff. Under her leadership, Mountain View has institutionalized good governance through clear Council norms, strategic planning, annual retreats, performance evaluations, and a robust orientation program for newly elected officials. McCarthy emphasizes proactive communication, including regular one-on-one meetings with councilmembers, weekly updates, advance question-and-answer documents, policy briefings, and candidate onboarding designed to build relationships and foster mutual understanding. These efforts have created a governance framework that promotes constructive dialogue and informed decision-making. Her leadership extends beyond policy and process. She has fostered a workplace culture that celebrates employees and encourages collaboration between staff and elected officials through appreciation events, recognition programs, and relationship-building opportunities. She also championed employee-focused initiatives, including an eight-week parental leave policy available to both employees and councilmembers. A respected voice in the local government profession, McCarthy regularly shares her expertise with elected officials and city leaders across California and the region. Through presentations, workshops, and efforts to convene leaders around ethical governance and effective policymaking, she has helped advance the principles of good governance far beyond Mountain View. With more than 700 employees under her leadership and a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership, communication, and community engagement, Kimbra McCarthy exemplifies the ideals of professional local government management. Her words and actions demonstrate that good governance is intentionally built through trust, mutual respect, accountability, and a shared commitment to serving the public. The City of Mountain View and the ICMA community are proud to recognize her outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to advancing excellence in local government.