Richmond Mayor Avula appoints city’s first-ever transformation manager

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor Danny Avula has appointed the city's first-ever transformation manager, who will lead the implementation of Avula's Mayoral Action Plan.

According to an emailed announcement from the city on Wednesday, Feb. 11, Shannon Paul was appointed to be the city's first transformation manager.

According to a city spokesperson, Paul will be charged with implementing the Mayoral Action Plan, using it as guidance to identify problems to improve customer service, efficiency and performance throughout city government.

She will reportedly lead these efforts alongside contracted strategic support and internal staff, with specific service area expertise regarding data, process improvement, and organizational problem-solving, among others, to address issues as they are found.

The city said Paul will coordinate with executive leaders, including deputy chief administrative officers and department directors, to report their findings, share recommendations, and provide regular progress reports to the Mayor and chief administrative officer.  

A city spokesperson said key functions of the transformation manager will include: 

• Overseeing the new performance management system tied to the Mayoral Action Plan, which the city has established to collect, assess, and use data tied to specific goals 
• Using this data and other information to assess the city’s progress towards Mayoral Action Plan goals, and make recommendations to the Mayor and chief administrative officer  
• Undertaking problem-solving within departments to identify and implement process improvements in problem areas.

Paul is currently the deputy director of financial and administrative services for the Department of Justice Services.

In that role, the city said Paul spent 11 months on part-time assignment to the Mayor's Office to lead and support the initial implementation of the Mayoral Action Plan.

In addition to her role with the Department of Justice Service, the city said Paul has served in several strategic and management roles in the city of Richmond since 2000, including in the Office of Budget and Strategic Planning.

“Establishing the Transformation Manager is a clear step toward making Mayor Avula's vision of a well-functioning government a reality,” said chief administrative officer Odie Donald II. “Ms. Paul’s unique skillset, including Green Belt in Six Sigma process improvement methodology, coupled with a more than twenty-year track record of identifying issues and resolving them across the City, positions her to help lead the administration's march toward developing a world class municipal government.” 

“As a devoted city resident, Richmond Public Schools graduate, and someone who has spent her career in service to the city, I’m excited about this opportunity to help move the city forward and see it thrive,” Paul said. “Mayor Avula and his team came into office not only with inspiring goals but with a detailed vision and plan for achieving them. If we approach the Mayoral Action Plan with commitment, focus, and resolve, there’s no stopping Richmond, as an organization and a community. I’m honored to lead the Mayor’s transformation efforts and I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work.” 

Paul's first day in the role will be March 9, according to the city.