Following a robust national search, the City of Manzanita, Oregon has designated four finalists for the position of City Manager: Christopher Longinetti, Kevin Orton, Kathryn Schreiner, and Jennifer Watkins.
The Manzanita community is invited to participate in facilitated roundtable group conversations with the finalists on the evening of Tuesday, August 25th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Manzanita City Hall (655 Manzanita Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130).
Participants are asked to attend for the full time period to meet with all the finalists and share their impressions of the candidates with City Council. Please contact Emily Rehder at Jensen Strategies (emily@jensenstrategies.com) for support with accessibility or language accommodations.
About the Candidates
Christopher Longinetti currently serves as the Finance Director for the City of Hood River, OR. He previously held roles as Financial & Municipal Consultant for Oregon Syndicate West, LLC; Chief Financial Officer for McMenamins; Vice President, Finance & Asset Management for Williams & Dame Development; and Senior Vice President for ScanlanKemperBard Companies. Mr. Longinetti holds a Master of Business Administration from University of California Berkley and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Indiana University. Mr. Longinetti said of his candidacy, “I’m honored to be named a finalist for City Manager. I understand what makes this community special, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue that conversation with the Council and residents.”
Kevin Orton is the current City Manager of the City of Fillmore City, UT. He previously served as Business Administrator for Garfield School District in Panguitch, UT; General Manager for Loves Travel Corp in Cedar City, UT; and Branch Manager for Loomis Fargo & Company in Reno, NV. Mr. Orton holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics/Finance from the University of Nevada Reno. Mr. Orton said of his candidacy, “I am honored to be selected as a finalist for the Manzanita City Manager position and grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the community’s priorities. I look forward to discussing how my experience and collaborative leadership can help advance the city’s goals and serve its residents.”
Kathryn Schreiner currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Downtown Billings in Billings, MT. She previously served as Program Specialist for the State of Montana; Community Development Project Manager for Big Sky Economic Development; and Vice President – Senior Project Manager for Asset Engineering. Ms. Schreiner holds a Master in Organization Leadership from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Colorado Mesa University.
Ms. Schreiner said of her candidacy, “It is an honor to have been selected as a finalist for the Manzanita City Manager position. I look forward to sharing my expertise in building community and facilitating economic development with Manzanita and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate on an exciting and prosperous future.”
Jennifer Watkins is the Co-Founder/Director of Operations for the Alliance for Rural Impact (ARI) and as the Principal for LOF, LLC. Ms. Watkins has previously served as the Plan Facilitation Director for Building Communities, INC in Boise, ID; Assistant City Manager & Director of Community Development for the City of Baker City, OR; and Community Development Specialist/Council Assistant for the City of Baker City, OR. Ms. Watkins holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Eastern Oregon University.
Ms. Watkins said of her candidacy, “I’m honored to be selected as a finalist. Manzanita is a community with a strong sense of identity and possibility, and I’m excited for the chance to support the work already being done to shape its future.”
