Interim Director of Planning and Development Brendan Griesemer plans to retire in January 2024 after 27 years in planning roles with the City of Springfield, according to a news release.
The announcement comes shortly after Ozark City Administrator Steve Childers was named as the new director of Planning and Development. Griesemer has served as the interim director since the resignation of the previous director, Susan Istenes, in May of this year. Prior to that, Griesemer was Springfield's assistant director of planning and development.
“I have had the privilege and honor to work for the city for 27 years, and it’s time to close this chapter as I look forward to writing the next chapter in my career,” Griesemer said in the release. “I am excited about Steve Childers taking over the leadership of the department and am disappointed that I will not have an opportunity to work with him. I wish him and the entire team the best of luck.”
In addition to his planning and leadership roles in Springfield, Griesemer has planning experience with the City of Nixa, the City of Shawnee, Kansas, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.
In the press release, Springfield City Manager Jason Gage said Griesemer delayed his retirement to serve as interim director, and that the staff at City Hall are grateful for Griesemer's “impressive legacy” in Springfield.
Griesemer helped establish the Springfield Community Land Trust, implement the Forward SGF comprehensive plan and develop a neighborhood cleanup program.
In 2022, Griesemer was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners, only the fourth planner in Missouri to achieve the honor, according to the release.