News
Mountain Vista Street Open - Mary Kay Peck Named First Female Henderson City Manager
October 2, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
PLEASE CONTACT CINDY HERMAN, (702) 267-2051
Henderson, Nev. – Mayor James B. Gibson and Henderson City Council accepted Henderson City Manager Philip D. Speight's recommendation to name Mary Kay Peck as his successor. Peck becomes the first female to serve the community as Henderson City Manager. She most recently served as Assistant City Manager appointed in 2005. Prior to that, she served as Henderson's Director of Community Development. She joined the city of Henderson in February 1995.
"Mary Kay brings a vast knowledge of city operations and understands the culture of our organization," said City Manager Phil Speight. "I'm proud to be able to recommend such a talented and skilled professional from inside our organization to head this outstanding team and lead the team into a new era."
Henderson City Manager Philip D. Speight will retire on October 18 after serving nearly 20 years as city manager of Henderson to become chief of staff for United States Congressman Jon Porter. Serving from 1988 to 2007, Speight leaves a legacy in having helped shape Henderson into one of the best places to live in America during a time of unprecedented growth.
As Assistant City Manager, Peck led the development of the Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism through an innovative realignment of city resources. As stated by Mayor James B. Gibson at the 2006 State of the City Address, "the new Cultural Arts and Tourism Department would be created from existing resources and will help (the city of Henderson) take advantage of the many venues in the city to provide more cultural opportunities."
"I'm honored to be considered by Henderson City Council and sincerely appreciate the confidence that Phil has in my abilities to lead this organization," stated Mary Kay Peck. "I'm proud to be part of such an innovative and progressive team and look forward to continuing the level of excellence afforded to residents who choose to make Henderson their home."
Under her leadership as Community Development Director, Peck led a comprehensive revision of the city's development guidelines that were made accessible online through the creation of a new Visual Interactive Code (VIC) program. This program allowed the code to be easily updated and available at no cost to anyone with Internet access. The VIC was one of the first in the United States to allow Internet access to a visually interactive or search-friendly zoning code.
Peck also led Community Development through a number of master-planned projects and planning accomplishments, such as the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) awarding the American Nevada Company and the city of Henderson a DeBoer Award for Excellence in Planning for The District at Green Valley Ranch, a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use development. She also worked diligently on the development of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Management Plan, which protects more than 48,000 acres and the petroglyphs of Native American origin. Peck has played an active role in regional growth summits with the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition.
Peck holds a master's degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a bachelor's degree in Urban Affairs from the University of Evansville, Indiana. She has been recognized for her efforts in establishing quality development in one of the fastest growing communities in the nation, receiving the 2005 DeBoer Award for Distinguished Leadership by the Nevada Chapter of the APA. From 2002 to 2004, she served as president of the 38,000 member APA and previously served on the APA Board of Directors.
Peck previously served as Planning Director for Gallatin County (Bozeman), Montana for 12 years. Prior to that, she was employed as Intermunicipal Planning Committee Executive Director of a suburb of Chicago.
Acceptance of City Manager Philip D. Speight's recommendation by the Mayor and City Council at the October 2 City Council meeting will result in the negotiation of an employment contract. This contract will be on the October 16 City Council meeting agenda for Council action.
With the appointment of Mary Kay Peck as City Manager, this will be the first time in the history of the city of Henderson that all three appointed positions – City Manager Mary Kay Peck, City Attorney Shauna Hughes and City Clerk Monica Simmons – will be held by women.
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