Flagstaff has welcomed a new captain to steer its municipal ship as Joanne Keene takes the helm as the city's latest City Manager. The Flagstaff Mayor and City Council, after an open recruitment process that reportedly drew in 34 hopefuls, found unity in their choice. "Joanne is a proven leader with deep roots in Flagstaff," Mayor Becky Daggett proclaimed, as reported by the City of Flagstaff's official announcement. "The City Council was unanimous and enthusiastic in our belief that she is the right person to lead our City."
Selected to begin her tenure effective Nov. 4, Keene's qualifications boasted over two decades of governance experience across various sectors. In her journey through the leadership labyrinths of city, county, and federal agencies, not to mention her strides in higher education, Keene has cut her teeth at several considerable posts. Her previous roles included positions such as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Flagstaff, and quite diversely, as the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Northern Arizona University.
A graduate from Northern Arizona University herself, Keene holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's in English and broadcast journalism. A Flagstaff resident for over 20 years, Keene is no stranger to civic engagement, serving on a spectrum of local committees and boards, which include the Mountain Line Technical Advisory Committee, and even broader, as a Flinn-Brown Fellow. According to the city's announcement, Keene's hallmark administrative values are fiscal responsibility, clear communication, and transparency.
"I am honored to serve as Flagstaff’s City Manager and deeply appreciate the Council’s trust and confidence in me," Keene shared. Her statement, provided by the City of Flagstaff, illustrates her commitment. Balancing her professional life with personal, she, her husband John, and their rescue dog Mabel, find solace and rejuvenation on the trails weaving through their mountain town. It's in settings such as these where Keene draws inspiration to lead, and where probably many more community-driven ideas will take root and grow under her guidance.
