Kevin Knutson Email & Phone Number

Clearwater, Fl, Us

Keller, Texas, Us

Conducting executive searches, facilitating leadership development programs, and other projects for local governments.

Clearwater, Florida, Us

Responsible for Administrative Services (including Purchasing, Risk, Facilities, Real Estate, and Fleet), Construction Management, Communications, Office of Management and Budget, Economic Development, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

Clearwater, Fl, Us

Worked with the incredible team at PCED to help businesses thrive in our community through small business programs, redevelopment, workforce support, and marketing.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Ca

Helped a leading GovTech SaaS organization (2020 GovTech International top 10 and #3 for the 2019 ELGL Haverford Award) ensure the products and services provided significant value to local governments and K-12 education systems in executing strategy, managing performance, increasing transparency, and building trust. Delivered customized workshops and consultation with customers to develop better processes and identify opportunities for improvement to existing performance programs.

Led a highly-experienced team of former local government leaders that helped cities, counties and special districts identify opportunities for improvement in all areas of local government services, completing 202 projects for 142 local governments. Projects included reviews of city and county departments (including police, fire, public works, parks, and internal services), staffing and management assessments, strategic planning facilitation, process improvement projects, performance management studies, and governance assessments.In each case, we were able to partner with staff to identify changes that led to significant service quality improvements and increased efficiency, while ensuring that the changes were tailored to the unique circumstances of each organization.

Management consultant specializing in municipal budgeting, strategic planning, and organizational review. Worked on an organizational review of a large Southern California city and was project manager on a budget review project for a Bay area city.

Reno, Nevada, Us

Responsible for Human Resources, labor relations, Neighborhood Services, intergovernmental and legislative affairs, economic development, redevelopment, community resources, grants, and public information. Staff liaison to Shared Services Elected Officials Committee and the Northern Nevada Economic Development Coalition.Organized Northern Nevada Economic Development Coalition's "ReCharge Nevada" event that brought together more than 200 stakeholders to kick-off a new regional economic development effort. The program helped initiate a number of major new projects and relocations, including an Apple data center (2012), Zulily, eBay (at Massive Switch SuperNap), Urban Outfitters, Petco, Switch, an Amazon distribution center, and Tesla's "Gigafactory" battery manufacturing plant (2014). Google developed a new data center in 2018, in addition to a $1b expansion at the Apple facility.Helped design and promote the City's first "hack-a-thon," a two-day event designed to open government data to local programmers and use a timed contest to develop new applications using City data in 2011.Acted as Emergency Operations Center Director and management liaison during November 2011 Caughlin Fire (2,000 acres, 9,500 evacuated) and January 2012 Washoe Drive Fire (3,200 acres, 10,000 evacuated).

Reno, Nevada, Us

Unanimously appointed interim chief executive officer for a full-service city with a population of just under 218,000, a total budget of $320 million, and 1,123 full-time employees.Prepared, presented and adopted $170 million Fiscal Year 2011-2012 General Fund budget that provided steps toward financial stability by adding $3.8 million to stabilization reserves, investing $4.0 million in capital projects, and shoring up fund balances across all fund types. Negotiated agreement with International Association of Firefighters Local 731 after 15-month impasse before going to binding interest arbitration, that met the City's goal of 7.5% reduction in salaries with related benefits, including no salary increases for the next two years. Negotiated contract with Fire administrative union that had been at impasse for 12 months before going to factfinding by an arbitrator. Closed two-year contracts with three Police bargaining units and a professional group with various concessions. Successfully avoided State takeover of City finances when process was initiated in February 2011. The City of Reno met 11 of 23 conditions defining "severe fiscal emergency" under Nevada Revised Statutes, and was called before Senate Revenue Committee, Assembly Taxation Committee, and the Committee on Local Government Finance. Developed corrective action plan to remedy all issues. Planning and management of a $634 million debt portfolio experiencing severe revenue losses.

Reno, Nevada, Us

Directed the City’s strategic planning, performance management, resource allocation, and capital improvement systems; internal audit; policy analysis; grants and fund development; federal legislative relations; community resources (CDBG, affordable housing, foreclosure assistance, and neighborhood preservation); the Community Assistance Center (homeless shelters for men, women and families with access to social services, faith-based organizations, health care, and substance abuse treatment programs); economic development and redevelopment staff support; media relations, public information, RenoTV PEG channel, and the City’s online communications assets. Staff liaison to a regional Shared Services Elected Officials Committee working on consolidation and shared service projects and the Reno Service Priorities Task Force. Chief spokesperson for the City and developer of the annual Strategic Communications Plan.Designed budgetary response to major revenue losses, including a 30% drop in sales tax related revenues and a 16% drop in ad valorem property taxes. Implemented budget reductions totaling $27 million. Staff reductions totaled 32% over two years, from 1,648 to 1,123.Provided background and analysis on failure of auction rate bonds for City of Reno in January 2009.

Reno, Nevada, Us

Directed the City's strategic communications and public information programs, Community Liaisons, neighborhood services, and customer service call center. Reno's communications assets include the City's Savvy-award winning website, RenoTV (Channel 213 on Charter Communications), Reno Direct, Reno Connect, several social media platforms, and numerous print collateral.Launched Reno's first news blog, Around the Arch, in April 2009. Developed and implemented social media communications outreach using Facebook (13,500+ fans), YouTube (127,500+ video views), Twitter (3,700+ followers), Flickr, LinkedIn (440+ followers), and Friendfeed. Established social media policies. Developed content management approach, using RSS feeds, Wordpress and CoTweet.Developed and successfully implemented City of Reno Strategic Communications Plans in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, identifying audiences, stakeholder needs, strategic messages, message deployment tactics, and measurement.Planned, designed, and implemented Reno's first in-house television production and broadcast facility during a three-month project window, saving the City up to $225,000 a year in expenditures. Installation included live meeting broadcast, channel management and automation, bulletin board, live video streaming, editing stations, video cameras, lighting kits, an audio recording booth, in-house studio, and media servers.

Provided leadership to a redevelopment agency with two districts, a new AAA baseball stadium, numerous catalyst projects, and properties.

Certified Public Pension Trustee, managing contracts, investments, and administering pension benefits.

Project manager of fine art museum construction project, establishing community partnerships, developing strategic plan, and initiating development efforts. After hiring curatorial Museum Director, was the City liaison to the museum board and the museum director's supervisor from July 1996 through January 2008.

Managed and directed various aspects of performing arts facilities hosting 900+ events annually. Managed, produced, or contributed to more than 5,000 live events including major theatrical productions, concerts, conventions, trade shows, meetings, festivals, and sporting events.Developed cultural programming in partnership with corporate booking office and Education Coordinator. Set calendar for facility. Negotiated theater rental contracts, increased net sales income by 58% over prior year. Increased client base by 30% to over 120.

Led organization through privatization of government services, oversaw all operations of 1,500 seat auditorium, gymnasium, and meeting facility.

Information systems and box office management for a 1,500 seat auditorium.

Ft. Lauderdale, Fl, Us

Volunteer management and ticket sales for a 2,000 seat auditorium at Broward College's North Campus in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Carpentry, rigging, lighting, and sound for live theater and music concerts at Omni Auditorium, Bailey Concert Hall, the Hollywood Sportatorium, and other venues.

Lighting and grip work on "Miami Vice," "Hollywood Squares" (live from the Diplomat Hotel), music videos, commercials, and the motion picture "Russkies."

Arlington, Virginia, Us

Managed main support battalion communications office for the 3rd Infantry Division, including telephone land lines, an AM single-side band radio network, and a sign and printing shop. Authored the Division's logistical battle book, a NATO-classified document that set the plan for delivering fuel, ammunition, and medical support to meet the Division's tactical plan. Stationed in Kitzingen, Germany.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Designed the plastic case, screen and keypad for Motorola's PCX portable data system, an RF-based interface between a handheld data entry device and a mainframe computer. Never released to market.

Certificate, Strategic Management

Certificate, Senior Executives In State And Local Government

Certificate, Diversity And Inclusion

Courses, Graphic Design

Certificate, Advanced Government Finance

Certificate, Screenwriting

Mfa, Creative Writing

Ba, English

Aa, English