MTAS Staff, MTAS Executive Director Search Committee, and MTAS Advisory Committee:

It’s my pleasure to announce the selection of Mike Tallent as executive director of UT MTAS.
In addition, I’m pleased to tell you that Melanie Purcell of Reno, Nevada, will join MTAS as assistant director in late-September.

Mike has served as interim executive director of MTAS since December 2007 and had served as senior program manager since May 1996. He joined MTAS in 1979 as a municipal management consultant and has covered West Tennessee and Southeast Tennessee over the years, advising cities that range in size from Englewood to Chattanooga. Mike’s knowledge of MTAS’ history and development—along with years of solid relationships with Tennessee cities—has equipped him to effectively lead MTAS staff and to anticipate the needs of municipalities in our state.

Melanie brings to MTAS the strength of financial management and more than 15 years of experience in city and county management. Most recently, she served as budget manager of Washoe County, Nevada, coordinating an $887 million budget. Prior to that, she served in various city management positions in municipalities in Michigan, including the cities of Howell, Flint, Plymouth, and Ann Arbor. She has overseen downtown development authorities; supervised various city departments including Water, Building & Zoning, and Parks and Recreation; and directed tax and utility bill collection, fund investments, and debt management.

The combined leadership of Mike and Melanie will benefit both MTAS staff and our customers in Tennessee municipalities, as they are committed to providing innovative, high-quality service to cities statewide.

Mike and Melanie were selected for these positions after an extensive recruitment process that involved MTAS employees, IPS staff and representatives of affiliate organizations. My thanks to the search committee of Chuck Shoopman, IPS; Richard Stokes, MTAS; Margaret Mahery, Tennessee Municipal League; Mitchell Moore, city of Athens; and Mike Garland, CTAS.

Please offer your congratulations and support to Mike and Melanie as they enter these leadership roles.

Mary H. Jinks, Ed.D.
Vice President of Public Service
Suite 105 Student Services Bldg
Knoxville, TN 37996-0213
865-974-6621

mary.jinks@tennessee.edu

www.ips.tennessee.edu