Staunton City Manage Stephen F. Owen announced today the selection of Steven L. Rosenberg as assistant city manager. Rosenberg replaces James M. Halasz, who left Staunton to accept the position of Halifax County administrator last July.
Rosenberg brings to the position 23 years of private and city, county, and state government experience, which has included land use, real estate, finance, zoning, grant, economic development, parks and recreation, public safety, and personnel matters, as well as intergovernmental relations and legislative affairs.
Rosenberg currently serves as associate general counsel and special assistant attorney general for the University of Virginia. In this position he guided a university team in its participation in an economic development project that led to the organization of two advanced research centers. He worked on the further development of Northridge Medical Park, including the negotiation of agreements that facilitated the establishment of a new Albemarle County fire-rescue station and construction of the University of Virginia Transitional Care Hospital. He has also been involved with public safety training, a HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant, and capital projects and debt financing.
Prior to his position at UVa., Rosenberg served in local government for many years, first as the Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Alexandria, and more recently as the county attorney for Augusta County. In these positions he provided counsel on all facets of local government, including economic development, community planning, parks and recreation, fire-rescue, transportation and utility issues, and public information matters. Preceding his local government service, Rosenberg was employed as an attorney with Hazel & Thomas, P.C. in Fairfax.
Rosenberg earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary with concentrations in history and government. He will officially assume his duties as Assistant City Manager on May 1. He and his wife, Catherine, currently reside in Augusta County but plan to relocate to Staunton within the year.
Owen said of Rosenberg, “We are very pleased to welcome Steve to the Staunton team. His broad and considerable experience in local government and proven record of managing complex projects to successful completion will serve us well in the years to come.”
Owen also noted that, with over sixty applications, he received an overwhelming response to the position advertisement. Four top candidates were interviewed by Owen and a separate seven-member interview panel, and also challenged with a mock media exercise. “We had an outstanding group of well-qualified applicants and the selection process was extremely competitive; however, I believe Steve’s combination of experience and skills is the perfect fit for Staunton at this time,” Owen added.
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