Tempe fills 3 admin jobs in Community Relations, Development
After an extensive search, Tempe has hired two Development Services Department deputies and a community-relations manager.
Lusia Galav is the new deputy development services manager for the Building Safety, Planning and Permits and Design Review departments, which involve plan check, inspection and customer service functions.
Chris Salomone has been named deputy development services manager for revitalization and redevelopment, overseeing redevelopment, housing
assistance and grants, neighborhood rehabilitation and revitalization, and code compliance programs.Jeff Kulaga was named community-relations manager, responsible for the Government Relations, Communications and Media Relations, and Neighborhood Services departments. He also will be responsible for support functions for the mayor and city council. Galav has more than 20 years experience in both the public and private sectors.
In Florida, she has been city planner for the city of Coconut Creek; planning director for Pompano Beach; planning and community development director for Sunrise; principal planner for Boynton Beach and project manager for a private consulting firm in Ft. Lauderdale.
Her areas of expertise include planning administration, growth management, land-use law and site planning, which she taught at Florida Atlantic University.
She received a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Pittsburgh and holds planning certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Salomone has more than 20 years experience in the public sector. He comes from Chula Vista, Calif., where he was community development director responsible for redevelopment, housing and economic development.
Prior to Chula Vista he was director of housing and redevelopment in Carlsbad, Calif.
He is a graduate of San Diego State University and has completed most of the course work for a master’s of public administration degree.
Kulaga has 18 years of municipal government experience in Arizona, beginning with the city of Mesa. He spent 15 years at the city of Scottsdale, where he served as executive assistant to Mayors Drinkwater, Campana and Manross. At Scottsdale he was responsible for managing the mayor and council offices, coordinating citizen inquiries and gathering background information on various issues.
He also served as transportation planner and government relations director.
Other work experience includes a year as assistant director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, where he was primarily responsible for lobbying on behalf of municipalities at the Arizona State Legislature.
Kulaga earned bachelor of science and master of public administration degrees from Arizona State University. He is a lifetime member of the Arizona State University Alumni Association and teaches a planning class for ASU's housing and urban development program.
"Tempe is proud of the quality staff we employ to provide service to the community," City Manager Will Manley said.
"These three managers will be a great asset to the employees they lead and the community they serve."