For Dana McDaniel, Michelle Crandall, Angel Mumma, Matt Earman and Donna Goss, the idea of having a career in public service was a seed that was planted early in life.
“My mom and dad volunteered a great deal in my hometown,” says Dublin City Manager McDaniel, who grew up in Franklin, Ohio. “As a result, I gained an appreciation and a passion for local government. Through military service and internships early in my career, I was hooked on public service and learned that to be a public servant you have to be all in, all the time! I think it’s that challenge that continues to drive my passion for service.”
Assistant City Manager Crandall relates a similar experience.
“When I was 6 years old, my parents wouldn’t let me walk along a section of our rural roadway in Doylestown, Ohio because part of the blacktop had been washed away, revealing a sharp metal culvert running down to a stream,” she says. “My mom suggested I write a letter to the village mayor asking that the roadway and culvert be repaired, which I did, with a little help from my parents.”
A few days after she mailed the letter, the mayor of Doylestown, a Chippewa Township Trustee and a township engineer knocked on the Crandalls’ door. They were there to take a look at the roadway and discuss the issue. The following week, the repairs were made.
“That experience left an impression on me all the way through college of how effective local government could be and how close it puts you to those you serve,” Crandall says. “I always knew that local government was a place where I could make a difference in people’s lives, and I owe it all to three public servants who took time out of their day to visit a 6-year-old.”
Mumma, the City’s finance director, had been looking for a part-time job while in college and ended up as a clerk for the City of Gahanna’s Mayor’s Court. The job would eventually lead to different opportunities, culminating in Mumma serving as Gahanna’s finance director before obtaining the same position with the City of Dublin in 2011.
“While it wasn’t planned, I quickly realized that public service, especially at the local government level, is where the rubber meets the road,” she says. “It is so rewarding to know that what we, as an organization, do every single day contributes to the health, safety and welfare of each of our residents.”
Parks and Recreation Director Earman was 15 years old when he began working for a regional parks department in northern Virginia. He says the experience gave him so many opportunities to serve the public.
“I knew at an early age that this was my calling,” he says. “I chose the path of parks and recreation due to my love for the outdoors and the inherent benefits it has to enhance the public’s quality of life in so many ways.”
For Development Director Goss, the connection was made closer to home.
“I first learned about the power of local government when I was 8 years old,” Goss says. “Our councilwoman, Florence Fitzgerald, lived right around the corner. She was responsible for starting a fund appeal to bring 16 county servicemen home for the holidays from Vietnam. One of them was my brother Phil.”
It’s those kinds of lessons, positive attitudes and commitments that drive the professional staff McDaniel has assembled on his senior leadership team. These are the people who put the policies set forth by Dublin City Council into action. Below are snapshots of the individuals who make up this dynamic team empowered by their passion for public service.
Meet the Team
Dana McDaniel
City Manager
“I appreciate the history and tradition of this City, as well as the vibrancy of continuously innovating and striving to stay on the cutting edge.”
Dana was named the fifth city manager for the City of Dublin in December 2014 following a distinguished 27-year career with the City. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public
administration from Miami University and his master’s in public administration from The Ohio State University. McDaniel also received a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
During his tenure, he has been instrumental in the development of DubLink, the City’s state-of-the-art broadband fiber optic network; is co-founder of the Central Ohio Research Network and helped create the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center. As director of Economic Development, he oversaw the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses, which resulted in more than 14,000 jobs.
In 2011 McDaniel was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award from OSU’s John Glenn School of Public Affairs and, in 2013, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Intelligent Community Forum. In 2014, he was named to Business First’s list of 20 People to Know in Economic Development, and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce presented him with the President’s Award for his dedication to the Dublin Chamber and its business community.
A brigadier general, he is a 33-year member of the Ohio National Guard and currently serves as director of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Ohio. McDaniel is an Iraq War veteran and recently received confirmation by the U.S. Senate for appointment to major-general pending assignment commensurate to the rank.
He and his wife, Lisa Patt-McDaniel, are the parents of two daughters, Caitlyn and Colleen.
Michelle Crandall
Assistant City Manager
“Our residents are the best part of working for the City of Dublin. The passion and commitment they have for their community is evident in their everyday participation. Currently, we have more than 3,000 residents who give their time and talent to Dublin through our municipal volunteer program. You just don’t find that high of a number in other communities of our size. I look forward to the daily interactions we are able to have with our citizens and working with them to build a better community.”
Michelle began her career with the City of Dublin 23 years ago, and has served in a variety of roles, including several years as director of administrative services and as a management assistant.
She holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree in public administration from OSU. She is certified in Myers-Briggs Type Indicators and the Lominger Leadership Architect program, and serves on the board of directors for the Alliance for Innovation and on the International Committee of the International City/County Management Association. She previously served as a regional vice president on the executive board of ICMA, and is a recipient of the Business First 40 Under 40 award.
Michelle enjoys golfing, hiking, reading and traveling anywhere and everywhere.
Matt Earman
Director of Parks and Recreation
“From the first day I started working for the City of Dublin in 2004, I immediately felt welcomed as a part of the ‘family,’ which has continued throughout my career with the City.”
Matt began working for the City of Dublin in 2004 as a Recreation Services administrator and was promoted to director of Recreation Services before being named director of Parks and Recreation in 2015. In his current role, he oversees the divisions of Park Operations and Development, Recreation Services, Community Events Administration and Volunteer Resources, which includes 79 professional staff and approximately 600 part-time and seasonal employees. Before coming to the City, he held various roles with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
A graduate of Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and wildlife with an emphasis on natural resource management and park management, Matt has served as the president of the board of directors of the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, as well as on various committees for the organization, and continues to serve on the board of directors. He has been recognized as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional by the National Recreation and Park Association for the past 12 years.
Matt and his wife, Judy, have three children: Kelly, Nicholas and Laura. His hobbies are working on home improvement projects, boating, fishing and golfing.
Donna Goss
Director of Development
“The City of Dublin provides a unique environment that combines leading edge technological capabilities, such as DubLink, with the serene natural beauty of places like Indian Run. I am proud to be a part of shaping this City’s future.”
While working in the commercial banking industry, Donna became interested in real estate management and development. She founded a property management business in Ithaca, N.Y., which she successfully owned and operated for 12 years. During that time, she co-owned and renovated several historic buildings, including four properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Tompkins County, N.Y.
Donna joined the City team last July after collaborating with the City while planning the Dublin campus of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in her previous role as director of real estate management, community engagement and economic development for Ohio University. She previously held positions in internal communications and facilities services for Cornell University.
She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in higher education public policy at OU and earned her bachelor of science and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Maryland University College, where she focused on strategic and entrepreneurial management.
In addition to playing the piano, Donna enjoys the creative arts and produces pottery and tile in her home studio.
Douglas McCollough
Chief Information Officer
“While Dublin is a historic community, it is quite young as a City. Working here provides opportunities to not only deliver superior services, but also to be a part of building the template that will set the tone for the city for years to come. Today, we are designing a culture that will drive future successes many of us will not be around to see. This is a unique opportunity in working for a City I am grateful to have.”
Doug began his professional career as a musician after attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz composition. He says music has informed the way he organizes information, and the discipline attained from creating jazz arrangements allows him to use creativity to organize teams. Following a stint in the music industry, Doug returned to school, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo in information systems and operations management and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He holds certifications in Information Technology Infrastructure Library and as a Project Management Professional.
Prior to joining the Dublin team, Doug held positions within the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Department of Commerce, Industrial Commission and Department of Medicaid. Most recently, he served as director of information technology for the city of Richmond, Va., where he led the establishment of the IT Governance Model establishing prioritization of enterprise-level IT projects and applying auditable accountability to investment decisions. He also has worked as a project manager for Nationwide Insurance and Alcatel-Lucent.
He and his wife, Angela Abram, have four children. In his spare time, Doug enjoys running. He recently completed his fourth marathon. He describes himself as a great cook and a terrible golfer.
Angel Mumma
Director of Finance
“My favorite thing about Dublin is its beauty. From sitting outside on a patio in Historic Dublin having lunch to sitting on a bench alongside the river, there are so many wonderful places to experience its beauty. In the fall, I feel like I have a front-row seat looking outside my office window at the leaves changing in Coffman Park.”
Angel served as director of finance, deputy director of finance, assistant to the mayor, accounting clerk/intern for the Division of Taxation and administrative clerk in Mayor’s Court – all for the City of Gahanna – prior to joining the City of Dublin in 2011.
She earned a master’s of business administration degree from Ashland University and a bachelor of science degree in business administration from OSU. She is a member and secretary for the Municipal Finance Officers Association of Ohio, a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association and a board member of the Central Ohio Risk Management Association. Angel was named CFO of the Year by Business First in 2011.
Angel and her husband, Matt, are the parents of a daughter, Emerson. Angel annually participates in Pelotonia – the bike tour to raise funds for cancer research – and calls it an important and meaningful experience.
Megan O’Callaghan
Director of Public Service
“Dublin residents are engaged in their community and have high expectations when it comes to city services and infrastructure. I enjoy the challenge of leading a team that meets, and exceeds, the community’s expectations on a daily basis. Dublin is regarded as a community of choice, which requires innovation and continuous improvement. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work in such an environment.”
Megan is the City of Dublin’s first Director of Public Works, having served with the City since January 2014. The Department of Public Works includes Engineering, Streets and Utilities Operations, Fleet Management and Facilities Management. Prior to joining the
Dublin team, Megan worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation as a deputy director responsible for delivering ODOT’s nearly $2 billion annual construction program. While working at ODOT, she also served as administrator, assistant administrator, project engineer and intern. She previously was employed as the deputy director for the Columbus Department of Public Service, where she managed 700 employees and oversaw the five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
Megan graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. While working full-time as an engineer, she graduated magna cum laude from Capital University Law School, where she earned her juris doctorate. Megan is a registered Professional Engineer and attorney in the state of Ohio. She is a member of the American Public Works Association and serves on the OSU College of Civil Engineering Advisory Board. In 2012, she was chosen to participate in the Wharton School of Business Transportation Executive Program.
Megan and her husband, Tim, are the parents of a 3-year-old daughter, Melanie, and are expecting their second child in February. Megan enjoys spending time with family and anything outdoors from hiking to biking to swimming to golf. She was the first female ODOT Golf League Champion in 2001.
Sandra Puskarcik
Director of Community Relations
“I am so proud to work with a team of public servants who – day in and day out – are astute at solving problems, demonstrate agility at balancing competing demands and are tirelessly committed to providing exceptional city services.”
Sandra is the City of Dublin’s first director of Community Relations, having served since the position was created in 1990. Prior to joining the City, she was the director of Public Relations for Goodwill Rehabilitation Center, where she developed and implemented special events, and wrote and designed agency publications. Previously, she worked in the Marketing Services Department of the Dispatch Printing Company.
A graduate of OSU, Sandra earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, specializing in public relations. She is an Accredited Business Communicator by the International Association of Business Communicators, where she also was recognized as the Distinguished Communicator of the Year. Sandra is a member of the Dublin City Schools’ Business Advisory Committee, Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors and MORPC’s insight2050 Communications Committee.
She and her husband, Dave McKee, have three grown children and a rescue schnauzer. Sandra volunteers on the boards of the Greater Columbus Irish Cultural Foundation and the Dublin Irish Cultural Society and with Cincinnati Schnauzer Rescue. She enjoys cooking and baking, and relaxing on weekend getaways to Port Clinton.
Jennifer Readler
Assistant Law Director
“Public service provides the opportunity to be on the forefront of solving problems in people’s daily lives and ensuring that the community in which they live is constantly listening and evolving based on their needs.”
Jennifer, an attorney with Frost Brown Todd, is a member of the firm’s Government Services Practice Group. She has represented the City of Dublin in all facets of municipal law with an emphasis on development and land-use matters. She also practices in the area of municipal finance, including negotiating economic development agreements and public-private partnerships.
A summa cum laude graduate of Marshall University, Jennifer earned her juris doctorate from OSU’s Moritz College of Law. She is a member of the Columbus Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, International Municipal Lawyers Association, American Planning Association, Ohio Planning Association and Ohio City Manager Association. She also is a member of the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio and Leadership Columbus Class of 2004.
Jennifer and her family – including husband Phil Hartmann and daughter Peyton – recently moved to Dublin and enjoy exploring the City’s numerous parks and trails, as well as visiting the shops and restaurants in Historic Dublin.
Homer C. Rogers Jr.
Director of Human Resources
“I really love the pride and sense of community in Dublin. I have always been impressed by the beauty of the neighborhoods and the standards that are upheld. This City has a unique character and personality that sets it apart from every other community in the state of Ohio.”
Homer comes to the City of Dublin from the Ohio National Guard, where he worked as the director of human resources for the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department. A retired colonel with the Guard, he directed a 38-person staff, which provided administrative s
upport to more than 3,400 federal, state and military employees who in turn supported more than 17,000 part-time soldiers and airmen. He also has served as a deputy Army military personne
l officer and a battalion commander.
A native of Dayton, Homer earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Dayton and his master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He also has completed the initial coursework to attain a master’s in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He was elected to chair the National Guard Bureau’s Human Resources Advisory Council and served as the first chairman of the National Guard Bureau Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Advisory Council.
Homer and his wife, Tammy, have two grown children, Luke and Erin. In his spare time, Homer enjoys studying genealogy and has assembled a family tree of more than 2,600 relatives. He also enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Heinz von Eckartsberg
Chief of Police
“I chose to make public service my career 33 years ago because I enjoy being part of making our community safe, and a great place to live. I think public service is one of the highest professional callings.”
Heinz has been a member of the Dublin Police Department since February 1983. He was promoted to chief of police in March 2011, and has served in many areas of the police department during his career. Most recently, prior to his promotion, he served as services bureau commander overseeing the community education unit – including DARE and school resource officers – and the investigative section, and coordinated safety for all of the City’s special events, including the Dublin Irish Festival.
Heinz is a graduate of Franklin University with a degree in organizational leadership, and is also a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, the University of Virginia’s LEAD program for senior executives and the Ohio Police Executive Leadership College. He serves as a police management consultant for the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and chairs both the Advisory Services Policy and Legislative Affairs committees for OACP.
