The Pequot Lakes City Council on Monday, Oct. 12, chose six finalists for the city administrator position.
These candidates will participate in an interview process Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 28-29. Liza Donabauer, of David Drown Associates Human Resources, Inc., is the consultant hired to help the city in the selection process.
Following is a brief biography on each finalist, in alphabetical order and shared in a news release.
- Richard Baker is executive director of the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation in Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Prior to that, he served as the community development coordinator for three and a half years for Mille Lacs County in Milaca, and as the executive director for three years for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce in Boone, Iowa.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications: public relations, and a minor in economics from Winona State University. Baker is a 2017 graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute with a certificate in economic development. He also holds a certificate in nonprofit management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management.
- Robert Barnes works for the Casper Re-Entry Center/Therapeutic Community and Adult Community Corrections in Casper, Wyoming, where he has served as the deputy director for one year. He was also an addictions counselor with the company for three years. Prior to this, he was an adjunct professor for Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, for three years. He has also served as the president and CEO for the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance for five years and as the director for the Economic Development Joint Powers Board for five years.
Barnes holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications, a master’s degree in city management, and a master’s degree in applied orthodox theology.
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- Kyle Box is the city clerk in Marshall, where he has worked for approximately three years. Prior to that, he worked as an assistant claims representative for North Star Mutual Insurance Company in Cottonwood for two years, and as a route sales representative for Schwan’s Home Service, Inc. in Spencer, Iowa, for nearly two years.
Box holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in management, from Southwest Minnesota State University.
- Mary Lein is a deputy city clerk in Jordan, where she has worked for approximately one year. Prior to this position, she worked for the city of Hopkins as an assessing accounting technician for approximately four years and as a community development services assistant for the Prior Lake for approximately one year. She worked as a commercial sales & business broker for the MN Real Estate Team in Bloomington for approximately nine years and in human resources and payroll as an office manager for Lein Electric in Prior Lake for approximately eight years.
Lein has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bethel University and a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University.
- Joan Macik is the executive director for Kandi Works Developmental Achievement Center in Kandiyohi, where she has served for three years. Prior to this, Macik served as the human resources director for approximately six years and then was promoted to executive director for Heartland Community Action Agency in Willmar for approximately nine years. She also served as the human resources director for Tastefully Simple for approximately one year.
Macik has education and training in business and human resources management from Kaplan University and human resources management from Southwest Minnesota State University. Macik has served in various roles for several nonprofit professional groups.
- Richard Spiczka works for Pequot Lakes Schools as community education director, where he has served for approximately four years. Prior to this, he served as the activities director/program coordinator/coach for Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools for approximately five years. He has also served as a community program director for the YMCA of Greater St. Paul in Mounds View for six months and as the recreation supervisor for BHM Schools in Buffalo for approximately five years.
Spiczka holds a degree in business management from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University.
