Fleming promotes three in first act as new Kingsport City Manager
KINGSPORT – As his first official act, Kingsport City Manager Jeff Fleming announced Monday three internal promotions aimed at strengthening the visioning, operational oversight and efficiency of city government.
We have the deepest, most well-trained professional staff in my nearly 30 year history with the City of Kingsport, Fleming said. I want to assure the community that we will continue that momentum, while letting staff know they can continue to develop their professional career right here in Kingsport.
“At the same time, just as businesses are ever more competitive, so is our City, as we work with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to build a community that attracts the jobs, workforce, and opportunities essential for our children and grandchildren to stay here, thrive and succeed.”
The new promotions include:
Chris McCartt has been named Assistant City Manager for Administration. In this role, McCartt will be accountable for monitoring, evaluating and recommending actions to streamline and improve internal administrative processes. McCartt will retain his supervisory portfolio in the areas of transit and aquatics, while adding duties assisting the City Manager with economic development planning and the Kingsport Economic Development Board.
McCartt formerly served as Assistant to former City Manager John Campbell. McCartt has 17 years of service with the City of Kingsport serving in Transportation Planning, Development Services Administration, Public Transit and as Leisure Services Director. He has served in the City Managers Office for the past seven years and holds a bachelors degree in geography and masters degree in public administration from East Tennessee State University. He and his wife, Julie, reside in Kingsport with their two children.
Also, Ryan McReynolds has been named Assistant City Manager for Operations. In this role, McReynolds will assume responsibility for operational oversight, management and evaluation of all external City services, capital projects and project development, including essential services in his previous portfolio such as water, sewer, engineering, traffic engineering and road infrastructure. Under the management realignment, the position of public works director will not be filled.
McReynolds formerly served as Public Works Director, and has 20 years of service in local government, including the last 10 with Kingsport. McReynolds holds a bachelors degree in civil engineering from Tennessee Tech and an MBA from East Tennessee State University. He and his wife, Merrie Robin, reside in Kingsport with their four children.
And, Lynn Tully has been promoted to Development Services Director, expanding her portfolio beyond planning, community development and oversight of private construction in the community to include a larger role in evaluating and perfecting the development strategies of the City. With the promotion, she will also join the City’s leadership team.
Tully formerly served as Planning & Community Development Director. She has 19 years in planning and development overall, including eight years with the City of Kingsport. Tully spent 11 years in Atlantas rapidly growing North Metro area. With her promotion, the position of planning and community development director will not be filled.
Tully holds a bachelors degree in architecture and masters in city planning from Georgia Tech. She and her husband, David, reside in Kingsport with their three children. Tully is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, with an emphasis in leadership and economic development.
“These promotions more properly reflect the important role these individuals are already playing and the value they bring to our organization,” Fleming said. “Just as I was named Assistant City Manager for Development 15 years ago, the goal is to allow greater input and standing as we work with the Board to shape the future success of our City.
“Moving forward, I will continue to evaluate and improve the organization by making changes that assist the City in reducing cost, driving innovation and increasing the productivity of the existing City workforce.”
The promotions took effect on June 29.