Above / Any visit to the City of Naperville Electric Company comes with a banner reminder to call J.U.L.I.E. at 811 before you dig.
The City of Naperville is pleased to introduce six individuals who have accepted leadership roles within the organization in recent months. Poised to lead and support various teams of employees from several City departments, these managers are well-suited to oversee the City’s staff and daily operations while working toward Naperville’s long-term goals and planning for the future.
Naperville’s electric, fire and police departments have each experienced retirements of management-level personnel recently, prompting the promotion of five internal applicants to new leadership positions. They include:
Naperville Electric Utility Director Lucy Podlesny
Effective June 10, the City’s Electric Utility is under the management of Director Lucy Podlesny. Podlesny has been with the City of Naperville since 1992, when she started as an electrical engineer. She most recently served as one of the department’s deputy directors, a title she has held since 2013.
Naperville Electric Utility Deputy Director Brian Groth
Brian Groth began working for the City of Naperville in 2006 as an electrical engineer. He was promoted to senior electrical engineer in 2011 and most recently held the position of utility technology systems manager. His promotion to deputy director became effective June 10.
Above / Overlooking Lake Osborne, the Naperville Public Safety Center is located at 1350 Aurora Avenue.
Naperville Police Department Emergency Communications Manager Stacey Edwards
Stacey Edwards began working for the City of Naperville as a 9-1-1 telecommunicator in 2000 and was promoted to emergency communications supervisor overseeing Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point in 2010. Her promotion to emergency communications manager was effective June 3.
Naperville Fire Department Deputy Chief Amy Scheller
Amy Scheller has held several management positions within the Naperville Fire Department since starting as a firefighter/paramedic in 1998. She most recently held the position of division chief and was sworn in as the department’s first female deputy chief in April.
Naperville Fire Department Division Chief Scott Salela
Formerly one of the Naperville Fire Department’s bureau chiefs, Scott Salela officially began his new duties as division chief on June 4. He has been in the fire service for 28 years and with the Naperville Fire Department since 2003.
“Naperville is fortunate to retain quality employees, sometimes for their entire careers,” said City Manager Doug Krieger. “The fact that we have such a phenomenal pool of internal candidates when leadership positions become available is a testament to the training we provide, the culture we instill and the quality of the community we serve.”
Naperville Police Department Deputy Director of Administrative Services is new
While the above-mentioned positions were vacated due to retirements and promotions, one additional leadership position recently filled was the result of restructuring at the Naperville Police Department. The newly-created position of deputy director of administrative services returns the department to three divisions – patrol, investigations and administrative services – and oversees non-sworn personnel in emergency communications, records, public safety information technology, accreditation and crime analysis. The deputy director position was filled in April by:
Naperville Police Department Deputy Director Russell Matson
Russell Matson joined the Naperville Police Department as the department’s newest division director after more than 20 years with the Elgin Police Department, where he started as a crime analyst and most recently held the position of director of administration.
“Filling leadership roles is a particularly important task, as these are the individuals who will set the tone and expectations for the employees in their departments,” Krieger said. “We strive as a City to hire the best of the best to ensure that the level of service our residents enjoy is maintained while also taking data-driven and innovative approaches to problems to enhance our community’s future. I have no doubt that these six individuals will contribute greatly to Naperville’s successes in years to come.”
For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.
Story submitted by Kelley Munch, Communications Specialist, for the City of Naperville. (PN File Photos)
