SEAN ACKERSON RESIGNS AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR/ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR
PARKVILLE, MO, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 – City Administrator Lauren Palmer announced the resignation of Sean Ackerson, effective December 11, 2015. Ackerson was hired as Community Development Director for the City of Parkville on July 6, 2004. He was promoted to Community Development Director/Assistant City Administrator on May 8, 2008. During his eleven years of service, Ackerson oversaw numerous planning and development initiatives including the 2009 Master Plan update, Vision Downtown Parkville, Village at the National, enhanced code enforcement, expansion of 45 Highway, dorms at Park University, and significant growth in Riss Lake, Thousand Oaks and the National. Ackerson served as interim City Administrator for an extended period in 2012 to 2013 and frequently served as acting City Administrator in the City Administrator’s absence.
Ackerson is resigning to accept the position of Executive Director of the Southtown Council, a non-profit neighborhood organization that works on community and economic issues in Southtown Kansas City (Southtown, Brookside, and Waldo). He explained his resignation by stating, “I was not actively looking to make the change, but the position with Southtown Council allows me to pursue my career passions in
closer proximity to my home and family. I love Parkville, and I will always value the time I spent in service to this community. The City is better positioned for success now than at any other time during my employment, so I leave with confident optimism for Parkville’s future.”
City Administrator Lauren Palmer stated, “Sean is an exceptional employee who works hard, commands respect, and acts always with professionalism and in the best interest of Parkville. His shoes will be tough to fill, but I have complete confidence in the rest of the staff to manage through this transition. I am so proud of Sean and all he has accomplished for Parkville. I wish him the best as he pursues a new career challenge.” Mayor Nan Johnston said that “Sean guided the Community Development Department during a period of tremendous growth for Parkville. Under his leadership, he managed this growth in a manner consistent with the character of our community. His departure will be a loss for Parkville and he will be missed very much.”
A public farewell reception for Ackerson will be held on December 15, 2015, from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. in the Board Room of City Hall.
The City is currently advertising to fill the vacancy of Community Development Director. The job posting and application instructions are available on the City’s website at http://parkvillemo.gov/community/employment/