3 April 2024
TOPEKA (KSNT) — On Wednesday, the City of Topeka announced the five finalists for the Topeka City Manager Position.
The finalists will be participating in two interview panels on Monday, April 8. The interviews will not be open to the public, but a meet and greet will be held for members of the public on April 8 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Hotel Topeka Emerald Ballroom at 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard.
Jeffrey Dingman
Currently serving as Deputy City Administrator for the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Dingman has over 20 years of government leadership experience.
Dingman has a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas and has been a Credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association since 2006. Dingman has also worked in Baldwin City and Sebastian County, Arkansas. Dingman has worked on plans for communities of varying populations and has managed city budgets ranging from $13-160 million, according to the City of Topeka.
Alan Howze
Howze has more than 20 years of government experience and is currently serving as an administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. He has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Anthropology from James Madison University.
Howze has worked in government on the local, state and federal levels, and has a background in information technology and communications, according to the City of Topeka.
William Jones
Jones has over 24 years of government management experience. He is currently the City Administrator for the City of Mequon, Wisconsin, and has also worked for the Village of Glencoe and the City of Highland Park, Illinois. Jones has a Master’s in Public Administration from Indiana University and is a credentialed manager with the International City/County Management Association, Certified Public Finance Officer from the Government Finance Officers Association, and a Certified Labor Relations Professional from the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association, according to the City of Topeka.
Jones has helped expand the tax base, assisted with debt issues, developed an asset management plan, revised an ethics ordinance, restructured organizational staffing, hired a new police chief, initiated a full-time staffing model for Fire and EMS and enhanced health and safety in schools via a new water source and an additional school resource officer.
Robert Perez
Perez is an Assistant City Manager of Infrastructure for the City of Dallas. Perez gained over 20 years of municipal government experience while working for the City of Dallas and the City of San Antonio.
Perez holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a concentration in organizational leadership, a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a
minor in political science, according to the City of Topeka.
Perez’s background is in public works and has written articles ranging in topics from the data and infrastructure relationships to innovation in local government. Perez currently provides leadership to the City of Dallas.
Abbe Yacoben
Yacoben is the Chief Financial Officer of Washoe County, Nevada, and has served on the Board of County Commissioners for a year and a half.
Yacoben has nearly 20 years of municipal government leadership experience and has held roles in Arizona, Illinois and her home state of Maine. Yacoben holds a Master of Public Policy with a finance concentration from the University of Chicago and is a Certified Public Finance Officer, according to the City of Topeka.
Yacoben currently leads Washoe County Commissioners in its strategic planning process and works on human resources initiatives in the county.
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