KANSAS CITY, MO— Daniel A. Kleman, dedicated public manager, consensus builder, and advocate of professional local government management, has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the executive board of ICMA, the International City/County Management Association. Mr. Kleman’s selection will be recognized during a “Celebration of Service” ceremony on Wednesday, September 28, as part of the 102nd ICMA Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

ICMA’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to a city, town, or county manager who has retired from and made an outstanding contribution to the local government management profession. ICMA’s DSA recognizes those individuals whose service has been evaluated by their peers as strong or exceptional and who has made major contributions beyond direct service to local government.

Mr. Kleman was cited for his ability to bring diverse parts of a city or county together for constructive dialogue and problem solving and for being an innovator who isn’t afraid to challenge his staff to try new things. His expertise includes utility development/management; economic development and downtown redevelopment, community networking to improve race relations, public-private partnerships, annexation, and labor negotiations and union relations.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized for making contributions to the profession I love,” Mr. Kleman said today. “Service to local government has truly been a joy in my life."

A native of Ottawa, Ohio, Mr. Kleman began his career in 1966 with an internship with the city of Dayton, Ohio. He went on to serve Dayton as an administrative intern (1968), management assistant (1968-70), senior management analyst (1970), assistant to the city manager (1970-73), and deputy city manager (1973-74).

Mr. Kleman launched his career in Florida local government in 1974, when he accepted the position of city manager of the state capital of Tallahassee. He held that post until 1994, when he was named county administrator of Hillsborough County, Florida. In 2004, he became chief operating officer of Jacksonville, and then director of the city’s fire & rescue department, a position he held for four years. He capped off his career in Florida local government by serving as special assistant to the mayor of Jacksonville from 2010 to 2011 and as a part time special assistant to the city manager of Port St Lucie, Florida, from 2012 to 2015. After serving local government for nearly 50 years, Mr. Kleman retired in 2015.

A member of ICMA since 1967, Mr. Kleman served on the organization’s Fund for Professional Management Committee (1989-93), ICMA University Board of Regents (1994-97), and Nominating Committee (1995-97). In 1999, he participated in ICMA’s Japan Fellowship Exchange study tour program, co-sponsored by the Japan Local Government Center.

Elected to a two-year term on the ICMA Executive Board as a southeast regional vice president in 1986, Mr. Kleman went on to serve as the organization’s president (1993-94) and past president (1994-96). He received an ICMA Service Award in 2008 in recognition of his 40 years of service to local government and continues to advocate for professional local government management today as an ICMA Life Member and Senior Advisor.

Mr. Kleman received his undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University in 1967 and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968.

About ICMA

ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government management worldwide. The organization’s mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional management to build sustainable communities that improve people’s lives.