gmhTODAY 24 gmhTODAY Feb March 2019 | Page 30

“As someone who lives and works in Morgan Hill, I’ve seen fi rst-hand how the leadership of our city council and city staff has shaped our community in so many positive ways. I love the work that I do. It’s a privilege to help innovate and improve our services to the community.” Chris Ghione Community Services Director City of Morgan Hill Chris Ghione is known in the Morgan Hill community as a passionate public servant. He’s respected by his teammates at the City of Morgan Hill as an effective and innovative leader. After four years as Morgan Hill’s Community Services Director, he was promoted to Public Services Director in 2017. In this wide-ranging role he oversees the Community Services and Engineering & Utilities Departments, the Capital Improvement Program, and the Water and Waste- water Utilities. Chris also acts as Logistics Section Coordina- tor for the City’s Emergency Operations Center. In addition, he provides leadership for its partnerships with YMCA of Silicon Valley and other organizations. Among his many accomplishments, Chris coordinated the planning, design and construction of Morgan Hill’s Downtown Parks Project. He also developed and implemented the Senior Services Support Strategy, which led to increased services for the 30 older adult community, and he led efforts to have Morgan Hill designated by the World Health Organization as an Age Friendly City. Chris has participated in working groups supporting major Citywide projects and functions, including the Downtown Placemaking and Investment Strategy, infra- structure planning, capital projects, Safe Routes to School, Vision Zero, and the RDCS Handbook Development. He was named City of Morgan Hill Employee of the Year in 2009. Previously, he held positions as Executive Director for Mt. Madonna YMCA, Recreation Manager for the City of Morgan Hill, and Recreation Supervisor for the City of Campbell. Chris holds an MS degree in Recreation Administration and a BS degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies/Park Resource Management from San Jose State University. Chris and his wife Michelle, an elementary school teacher, and their two teenage sons live in Morgan Hill.