Office of the City Manager

Responsibilities

The Austin City Manager is responsible for:

• Preparing a $5.5 billion budget for Council consideration and managing its passage
• Managing a City staff of more than 16,000 employees, including overseeing recruiting and hiring
• Directing operations
• Recommending policies and programs to City Council, and carrying out Council policies
• Spearheading key initiatives

T.C. Broadnax, City Manager

Staff: Executive Assistant: Virginia Gonzalez 512-974-2594

T.C. Broadnax Biography

City Manager T.C. Broadnax brings more than 30 years of municipal government management experience to the City of Austin and is recognized throughout the country for his significant achievements in tackling complex issues such as public safety, homelessness, financial management, economic development, and organizational leadership. 

Broadnax began his tenure as Austin’s City Manager on May 6, 2024. His prior experience includes serving as City Manager of Dallas from 2017-2024, City Manager of Tacoma, Washington from 2012-2017, and as an Assistant City Manager in both San Antonio and Pompano Beach, Florida. 

Broadnax is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) credentialed manager and brings an emphasis on five core values of service: Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity. His approach to public sector management and community engagement is rooted in values of inclusion and he has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for the residents of the cities he serves. 

Broadnax earned his bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Communications at Washburn University, in Topeka, Kansas and a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas.

Jon Fortune, Deputy City Manager

Jon Fortune Biography

Deputy City Manager Jon Fortune brings over 30 years of municipal government management experience to the City of Austin and is known as a forward-thinking leader and consensus builder. Throughout his career, he has navigated complex landscapes, driven change, and fostered cooperation and unity among diverse stakeholders. His career is defined by a commitment to transformative change, his adeptness in financial management and planning, and his skillful crisis resolution.

Prior to joining the City of Austin, Fortune served as Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager for Public Safety for the City of Dallas from 2017-2024 and Assistant City Manager for the City of Denton from 2000-2017. Other professional roles include Director of Management and Budget, Chief Finance Officer, and Management Services Administrator, also at the City of Denton from 1991-2000.

Fortune is a credentialed manager with the International City Management Association (ICMA). His diverse experience includes leadership and oversight of all aspects of municipal operations, including public safety, emergency management, finance and budget, economic development, planning and development services, and utility and transportation operations.

Fortune earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas, a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Administration from the University of Oklahoma and has completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University.

Assistant City Manager - Vacant

The following departments report to Jon Fortune on an interim basis while this position is vacant.

Departments:

• Austin Fire
• Austin Police
• Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services
• Chief Medical Officer
• Downtown Austin Community Court
• Forensic Science
• Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Veronica Briseño, Assistant City Manager 

Departments: 

• Austin Convention Center
• Development Services
• Economic Development
• Housing
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Planning

Veronica Briseño Biography

Veronica Briseño was appointed Assistant City Manager in January 2022. 

Veronica has extensive experience working for the City of Austin, most recently as the Chief Economic Recovery Officer. She was instrumental in providing leadership to the City of Austin’s COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery. This included leading 12 financial assistance programs for creatives and businesses and coordinating city-wide economic response efforts.

She began her career with the City of Austin over 20 years ago. During that time, Veronica held several positions with progressive responsibilities, beginning as an intern in the City Manager’s Office, working in a Council Office, serving as an Assistant Director and Director in the Small and Minority Business Resources Department, and various other executive roles. Her most recent roles have been Interim Homeless Strategy Officer, Interim President/Chief Executive Officer of Austin Economic Development Corporation, Economic Development Director, and Chief Economic Recovery Officer.

She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and a Bachelor of Journalism and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.

Robert Goode, Assistant City Manager

Departments:

• Austin Water
• Aviation
• Capital Delivery Services
• Transportation & Public Works
• Watershed Protection

Robert Goode Biography

Robert Goode was appointed Interim Assistant City Manager in January 2023. Robert is a veteran executive with more than 39 years of City, County, and private sector experience. He previously directed transportation and infrastructure planning departments at large entities such as the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), City of Austin, City of Fort Worth, Travis County and City of Olympia, Washington. Most recently, he served as the Interim Austin Water Director.

During his previous 10-year career with the City of Austin, Goode served as the Assistant City Manager over the Infrastructure Services Group providing direct executive leadership and oversight over multiple departments including Austin Water Utility, Austin Resource Recovery, the Corridor Program Office, and the Public Works and Transportation Departments. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Idaho.

Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Assistant City Manager

Departments:

• Animal Services
• Austin Parks & Recreation
• Austin Public Health
  • Homeless Strategy Office
• Austin Public Library
• Austin Resource Recovery

Stephanie Hayden-Howard Biography

Stephanie Hayden-Howard was appointed Assistant City Manager on May 10, 2021. Mrs. Hayden-Howard began her career with the City of Austin in 2001. During that time, she held several positions with progressive responsibilities, including supervisor, manager, assistant director, deputy director, and most recently, serving as Director of Austin Public Health. 

Stephanie is a champion for building trust in the community. Her leadership and commitment to public health led us through one of the most challenging health crises our community has ever faced. Under her leadership, APH successfully led the City’s response to COVID-19; developed and implemented the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and successfully administered 300,000 COVID-19 vaccines. During her tenure with APH she developed several programs to meet the needs of the most vulnerable community members, and she initiated the re-accreditation process for Austin Public Health. 

Mrs. Hayden-Howard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Prairie View A&M University and a master’s in Social Work from the Worden School of Social Services at Our Lady of the Lake University.  Mrs. Hayden-Howard is certified as a Youth Program Quality Assessor and Youth Work Management Training Consultant.

Stephanie has spent her career as a public servant, working in the field of public health and social services with more than twenty-six years in management. Prior to working for the City, she worked as the Director of Clinical Services at the Alternative Learning Center with Austin Independent School District and Assistant Director at the Williamson County Mental Health Center.

Stephanie is highly regarded in the community. She has received several accolades in her career including the National Forum of Black Public Administrators for the Distinguished Service award, Austin Area Urban League Founder’s award, Woman of the Year, for her work in the Health and Human Services field from the YWCA Greater Austin, the Bleu Lotus Project Honoree, 2019, the Pandemic Patriot Award in 2020, and she was named with the Austin Public Health Team as person of the year by Tribeza magazine for her incredible leadership during COVID-19.

Susana Carbajal, Chief of Staff

Departments:

• Communications & Technology Management
• Human Resources
  • Labor Relations
• Information Security
• Small & Minority Business Resources
• Strategic Offices
  • Civil Rights
  • Equity 
  • Innovation
  • Resilience
  • Sustainability

Susana Carbajal Biography

Susana Carbajal currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the City of Austin and has served the City of Austin for over 13 years in strategic leadership roles. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Susana strategically managed the airport’s business development, tenant management, legal and governmental affairs, public information office, and administrative teams. As Deputy Director of the Economic Development Department, Susana led the Small Business, Global Business Expansion, Redevelopment Services, Finance and Administrative teams that support Austin’s small business and entrepreneurial community, facilitate domestic and international expansion projects, advance industry development, invest in workforce development, and build complete communities.

Prior to working for the City of Austin, Susana served as Chief Counsel for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, where she was responsible for all legal matters necessary for the planning and production of a national convention that nominated the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for election. Susana began her legal career as an attorney at the law firm of Husch Blackwell, LLP (formerly Brown McCarroll, LLP) in Austin, Texas where she practiced corporate bankruptcy law and focused on reorganizing small, medium, and large companies for an opportunity to have a “fresh start” and continue operations.

Susana’s experience in government began by working for Texas Congressman Ruben Hinojosa in Washington, D.C. as a staff assistant. She later served at The White House for President Bill Clinton in the Office of Presidential Personnel.
Susana currently serves as Chair of Leadership Austin and has served on other boards of various non-profit organizations providing community services including leadership development, early childhood education, health care, and workforce development.

Susana graduated magna cum laude from American University in Washington, D.C., and The University of Texas School of Law.

Ed Van Eenoo, Chief Financial Officer

Departments:

• Building Services
• Financial Services
• Fleet Mobility

Ed Van Eenoo Biography

Ed Van Eenoo has worked for the City of Austin for 11 years, and spent eight of those years as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In his role as Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Van Eenoo was responsible for the development, presentation, and subsequent monitoring of the City’s $4.2 billion annual operating budget and $1.0 billion annual capital budget.

Under his leadership, the City’s budget has been a perennial winner of the Government Finance Officers Association’s award for Distinguished Budget Presentation and the International City/County Management Association’s Certificate of Excellence for performance measurement. In addition, he has developed and led many inclusive and innovative community engagement campaigns including the highly successful Budget-in-a-Box, which was awarded a Municipal Excellence Award for communication from the Texas Municipal League.

Other highlights from Mr. Van Eenoo’s background include:

• Member of the Board of Trustees for the $2.5 billion City of Austin Employees’ Retirement System since 2011 and the $860 million Austin Police Retirement System since 2019
• Selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies to be one of thirty financial leaders from cities across the country to participant in the What Works Cities Budgeting for Equity and Recovery Initiative
• Holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Virginia Tech

Michele Middlebrook-Gonzalez, Chief Strategic Communications & External Relations Officer

Department:

• Communications & Public Information 

Michele Middlebrook-Gonzalez Biography

Michele Middlebrook-Gonzalez was appointed Chief Strategic Communications & External Relations Officer in July 2023. 

Michele Middlebrook-Gonzalez is an experienced communication professional with a tenured career in high-stakes communications, including strategic communications, emergency management, organization and leadership change, budget announcements, stakeholder relations, external communications, and media outreach.  She is adept at working with C-suite executives and writing on their behalf, creating presentations, sensitive email responses, talking points, etc.  Gonzalez possesses exceptional interpersonal skills with a reputation for bringing out the best in peers and colleagues.  Further, she has a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in an expedient, accountable, and decisive manner. 

During her previous 10-year career with the City of Austin, Middlebrook-Gonzalez served as the Public Information Director.  She has experience working in both the government and healthcare industry including working as the Communications Director at Seton Healthcare and as a Senior Communications Specialist with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.  She holds two degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film.

She is married to a retired Austin firefighter and enjoys traveling and reading in her spare time.

Genesis D. Gavino, Special Assistant to the City Manager

Genesis currently serves as the Special Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Austin. In this role, she drives organizational change to advance Austin's prosperity through strategic initiatives and partnerships. She champions forward-thinking strategies that enhance the City's ability to withstand and adapt to various challenges, while leveraging the strengths of anchor institutions to catalyze positive change.

Genesis D. Gavino Biography

Genesis brings more than a decade of progressive experience in local government, most recently serving as Chief of Staff and Resilience Officer for the City of Dallas. As Chief of Staff, she navigated complex organizational structures and drove impactful change by spearheading initiatives focused on enhancing operational efficiency, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and ensuring strategic alignment with overarching goals. As Resilience Officer, she led the implementation of the Resilient Dallas Strategy, Broadband and Digital Equity Strategic Plan, and SmartCities initiatives.

 

Genesis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus on management and operations from Washington State University, a Master’s in Public Administration, and a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Washington, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Public Administration and Public Policy at the University of Texas at Arlington.