The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Selects Jeff Jones to serve as next President/General Manager

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- After a national search, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors has named Jeff Jones to serve as the Township’s President/General Manager, effective August 31, 2020.

The Board announced the selection of Mr. Jones during its regularly scheduled meeting, via video conference, on June 24, 2020.

Mr. Jones brings over 25 years of local government experience to The Woodlands Township, including his current position as Deputy City Manager for the City of Mesquite, a large suburb of Dallas that, like The Woodlands, spans two counties.

“The Woodlands Township Board of Directors is pleased to announce Mr. Jeff Jones as our next President/General Manager,” said Township Chairman Gordy Bunch. “In a field of well-qualified candidates, the Board selected Mr. Jones for his enthusiasm and visionary approach to The Woodlands future. He has the skills and experience needed to help guide The Woodlands moving forward as we near community build out, navigate impacts of COVID-19 while potentially incorporating into a City. Mr. Jones has directly supervised of all facets of a City including Police, Firefighters, Public Works, Parks, Recreation, Economic Development, Waste Management, Sewer, Water, Municipal Airport, Planning and Zoning. We are excited that Mr. Jones will join our executive management team with the goal of continuing to improve an already awesome The Woodlands.”

Mr. Jones holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in City Administration from Texas Tech University and is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager. Mr. Jones brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previous success managing nearly all aspects of several high performing communities, including experience in economic development projects and innovative approaches to service delivery.

The selection of Mr. Jones as President/General Manager was the culmination of a national search that resulted in 55 applications.

“I want to extend my gratitude to Chairman Bunch and the Board of Directors for their support in selecting me as the next President and General Manager,” Mr. Jones said. “The Board’s passion for The Woodlands and their commitment to improving upon what is already a very high quality of life were factors that really drew me to the position. This is not only a tremendous professional opportunity; it is a true honor and blessing.”

Mr. Jones will replace retiring President/General Manager Don Norrell, who has served The Woodlands community since 2006.

Mr. Norrell will continue employment until September 6, 2020.

Mr. Norrell has guided the staff of the community’s primary municipal-type service providers through a historic governance transition that created The Woodlands Township as it exists today. During Mr. Norrell’s tenure, the Township has balanced revenues and expenditures while maintaining or enhancing services, maintaining excellent bond ratings and establishing appropriate reserves. This strategy has provided the Township with the flexibility to respond to unexpected events and changing economies.

“We are truly grateful for Mr. Norrell’s contribution to The Woodlands Township and appreciative of his time to help the Township transition during these times,” Chairman Bunch said.

About The Township

The Woodlands Township is the governmental service provider for residents and businesses, providing enhanced law enforcement services, fire protection, environmental services, parks and recreation, economic development and more.

The Township staff and publicly elected Board of Directors are committed to public safety and exceptional levels of customer service. Together, they responsibly fulfill the governance needs
of the community while promoting the economic development of The Woodlands and providing services that enhance property values.

Located about 30 miles north of downtown Houston, Texas, The Woodlands officially began in 1974. The Woodlands is a master-planned community with approximately 118,000 residents and approximately 2,100 businesses. The Woodlands is well known for its extensive parks and recreation, golf, corporate headquarters, schools, places of worship, shopping, dining, hospitality, healthcare and much more.

Jeff Jones Bio

Jeff Jones serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of Mesquite, Texas, a community of 145,000 residents that spans both eastern Dallas and western Kaufman counties. Prior to his current position, Jones served as Mesquite’s Assistant City Manager.

Since joining the City of Mesquite in 2016, Jones has provided oversight of the Police, Fire, Public Works, Planning and Development, Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Human Resources and Risk Management departments, as well as the Mesquite Metro Airport and the Mesquite Arts Center.

During Jones’s time in Mesquite, the City accomplished many milestones including the addition of more than 3,000,000 square feet of new commercial property and 3,000 jobs to the local economy, achieving both state and National Main Street accreditation for Downtown Mesquite, a Comprehensive Land Use Plan and attracting significant private investment in the Metro Airport.

With a record of responsibility ranging from Public Safety to the Arts, Jones has managed and led expanding programming and upgrading of the Mesquite Arts Center, negotiating a contract extension for commercial solid waste services, reducing building permit processing time by more than 60 percent, improving several fire stations (including the reconstruction of Fire Station No. 4), enhancing police recruitment, and negotiating two Meet and Confer Agreements with the Mesquite Police Association.

Throughout his 25-plus-year career, Jones has served four cities – two in Texas and two in Wyoming. Prior to joining Mesquite, Jones served the City of Hurst, Texas, a first-tier suburb of Fort Worth, where he led the effort to help revitalize the Hurst Town Center area with development of the Hurst Conference Center and, later, the adjoining Hilton hotel. Under his leadership, the city also garnered state and national awards for its marketing and communications initiatives.

Jones, a native of Casper, Wyo., earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Sociology from Black Hills State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Texas Tech. He is also a graduate of the Public Executive Institute of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is certified as a Credentialed Manager (CM) by the International City County Management Association (ICMA) and earned ICMA’s 25-year service award in 2019. Jones is also a member of the Texas City Management Association and the North Texas City Management Association. In 2003, he served as president of the Urban Management Assistants of North Texas.