Mansfield’s Deputy City Manager Shelly Lanners retired last month, capping a 34-year career in public service.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to serve this community,” Lanners says. “We build great facilities, we have a great community, and we have great people who live here. It’s been a wonderful career here.”
Early in her tenure in Mansfield, Lanners established a reputation for being a hard worker who was dedicated to the people she served.
She attributes her work ethic to her “PaPa” and wanting to make him proud. Lanners grew up in the farm town of Sunray, Texas, before moving to the DFW Metroplex upon completion of her post-graduate studies at West Texas A&M University.
Lanners began her 22-year career with the City of Mansfield in Parks and Recreation in August 2000. She served multiple roles, including Recreation Superintendent, Parks and Recreation Director, Community Services Director, and Deputy City Manager.
Through the course of her career, Lanners supported departments like Parks and Recreation, Library and Historical Services, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“The things that make a community a community are its park system, special events, the experiences we provide over and above the basic services; and Shelly Lanners has been vital to all those things,” City Manager Joe Smolinski says. “So when you notice Mansfield is a special place to be, that it’s a special hometown, we have Shelly to thank for a lot of that.”
In recognition of Lanners’ contributions to Mansfield, the city is naming the Parks and Recreation and Convention and Visitors Bureau administrative offices, located at 1164 Matlock Road, the Shelly D. Lanners Administrative Offices.
“I have had a job since I was 14 years old, and I’m ready to relax,” Lanners says. “I plan to travel with my partner for extended vacations, seeing major league ballparks and national parks.”
Following Lanners’ retirement, Chief Financial Officer Troy Lestina was named the new Deputy City Manager, and Vanessa Ramirez was named Assistant City Manager. These appointments fill the office, which also features Smolinski and Assistant City Manager Matt Jones.
“The strength of an organization is its people, and these two provide proven leadership that guarantees continued proactive financial stewardship, innovative thinking, and professional operations,” Smolinski says.
