TEMPLE TERRACE, FL. – Steven Spina, Ph.D., was sworn in as the Interim City Manager for the City of Temple Terrace this afternoon. Spina is a senior consultant with Imagine That Performance, a consulting company focused on local government leadership.
The Temple Terrace City Council approved a contract with Imagine That at its regular meeting on Feb. 15 to provide an Interim City Manager and Leadership Transition Team as the city searches for a permanent City Manager. The position of City Manager became vacant on Feb. 1 following the termination of former City Manager Charles Stephenson’s contract.
Spina served as the City Manager for Zephyrhills for 20 years prior to retiring in 2019. Last year, under the auspices of Imagine That, he spent three months as the Interim Town Manager for Kenneth City.
“I am committed to providing the directors and staff of the City of Temple Terrace with the transitional leadership and support they need, while allowing City Council to conduct a nationwide search for the next City Manager without unnecessary time pressure,” said Spina.
“Dr. Spina and the Imagine That team will ensure that the City continues to provide all of the services and oversight that our residents expect and deserve, while the Council and I go through the process of finding a new permanent City Manager,” added Mayor Andy Ross. “But rather than simply maintaining business as usual, we are looking forward to making our City even more amazing under his leadership.”
Spina currently serves as a visiting instructor at the University of South Florida (USF) in the School of Public Affairs, Master of Public Administration
(MPA) program. He previously has taught as an adjunct and visiting instructor at USF, in both the MPA and Criminal Justice programs. Among the courses he has taught are Ethics and Public Service, Labor Relations, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Strategic Planning, and Introduction to Public Administration.
Spina received both an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications and an MPA from USF. He also has a master’s degree and doctorate in Political Science from the University of Florida.
He is a member of the Florida City/ County Manager’s Association, serves as a Board Member for the Suncoast Chapter of American Society of Public Administrators and the International City/County Management Association. Spina is also a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, a public administration honorary society.
Under the contract with Imagine That Performance, Spina will receive assistance from Leadership Transition Team to include Michelle Lee Berger, former Town Manager of Sewall’s Point, FL, and Lynne Ladner, former City Manager of Hart, MI.
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