The City of Owatonna announces Jenna Tuma, Parks, Recreation & Facilities Director, has been selected to serve as Assistant City Administrator. Tuma’s promotion was effective August 12, 2024.
This position, new in the 2024 budget, was created to oversee internal operations including Communications, Facilities/Central Services, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology staff. “The addition of this position will help eliminate organizational silos and improve efficiencies,” said City Administrator Kris Busse. “This will also reduce the number of my direct reports allowing me to shift my focus to big picture, visionary work to carry the organization forward.”
The City of Owatonna conducted a comprehensive selection process to identify its first Assistant City Administrator. The position was advertised on local (City website), state (League of MN Cities) and national (Indeed) job boards. The selection process included two rounds of interviews. The interview panel included representatives of the City Council, City leadership, a community member and Mankato’s City Manager.
“Jenna became the clear choice for this position based on her ability to develop strong partnerships and track record of success managing large projects and leading significant initiatives,” said Kris Busse, City Administrator. Tuma has served as Senior Director for the Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department since 2021. She has 20-plus years of experience in park development, programming, operations and maintenance. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Parks and Recreation from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Arts degree in Urban Regional Studies from Minnesota State University Mankato.