City of Tyler Appoints New Managing Directors

TYLER — The City of Tyler has promoted two long-term key leaders to the positions of managing director of development and social services and managing director of culture, recreation and tourism services. Stephanie Rollings has been promoted to managing director of culture, recreation and tourism. Rollings has worked for the City of Tyler for more than 12 years in various leadership roles, most recently as the director of Parks and Recreation. In that role she oversaw operations for Parks and Recreation, Rose Garden, Harvey Hall, Keep Tyler Beautiful and Library Services. Her new role will include those duties as well as Main Street, Liberty Hall, oversight of the Innovation Pipeline and contract management of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Rollings is a graduate of Texas State University and recently completed a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Heather Nick has been promoted to managing director of development and social services. Nick has 12 years of professional experience in municipal government serving in a variety of City departments and divisions including Geographic Information Systems, Planning, Historic Preservation, Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Transit. She has served as the planning director since 2012 and will continue leading the Planning Department, Historic Preservation and the Building and Development Services Divisions. She will also represent the City of the Business Education Council and the Mayor’s Homelessness Roundtable. Nick holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler and recently completed a Master of Public Administration degree, also at the University of Texas at Tyler.

The City has also appointed Julie Goodgame, senior public relations specialist, to the position of interim communications manager. Goodgame has 10 years of public relations and communications experience, six years public sector experience and is credentialed as a Certified Fundraising Executive. Goodgame is a graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler with a degree in journalism, public relations and advertising and is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration program, also at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Last month, the Tyler City Council voted to appoint Assistant Police Chief Jimmy Toler as Police chief designate. Toler is a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (T.C.O.L.E.) instructor, a certified firearms instructor and has received his Master Peace Officer Certification. He is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas/Leadership Command College and the F.B.I. National Academy (Session 251). In addition, he is a graduate of Leadership Tyler (Class 28) and is a current participant in Catalyst 100. “We have tremendous confidence in these appointments,” said City Manager Ed Broussard as quoted in a news release. “Our ability to promote from within for these leadership positions reflects the tremendous talent and dedication within the organization.”