Stephanou Officially Starts Tenure As Manchester General Manager

MANCHESTER, CT — Steve Stephanou officially started as the new Manchester general manager Wednesday.

He was unanimously endorsed by the town council on Nov. 9.

Stephanou was selected after a nationwide recruitment search that commenced in March after longtime general manager Scott Shanley announced his plan to retire in July. The general manager selection process involved community members, consultant Mike Jaillet from GovHRUSA and the Board of Directors hiring subcommittee which included Mayor Jay Moran, Deputy Mayor Sarah L. Jones, and Director Ellen Dougan.

"The feedback we received from the Manchester community during this process helped to define an ideal candidate for this position," Moran said. "Our unanimous selection reflects our trust in Mr. Stephanou's ability to be hardworking, ethical, and collaborative. He understands what makes Manchester special, and that combined with his municipal experience made him the right choice to be our next general manager."

Stephanou had been serving as Manchester's acting general manager. Prior to that, he was the deputy general manager December 2018.

Prior to Manchester, Stephanou worked for the city of Boston in various roles, including deputy commissioner of administration and finance. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in New York City, serving as a program analyst.

Stephanou holds a master's degree in public administration from New York University, a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of Connecticut and is also a certified public finance officer as designated by the Government Finance Officers Association.

He is an active member of the International City/County Management Association, the Connecticut Town & City Management Association, and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as Manchester's next general manager," Stephanou said. "As someone who was born at Manchester Memorial Hospital, attended Waddell Elementary, Illing Middle, and Manchester High School, and spent my teenage summers working for the Recreation Department, this position represents an incredible opportunity to give back and help strengthen and improve the community that I love and that has given me so much, and where my wife and I have chosen to call home and raise our family. I look forward to working with the Mayor, Board of Directors, Town Staff, and members of the community to ensure that Manchester continues to be a vibrant, thriving, and inclusive community for all and that our municipal government remains effective, efficient, and responsive."