New Economic Vitality director
Amanda Ohlensehlen joined the City of Springfield as director of Economic Vitality March 28. Ohlensehlen most recently served as the community and economic development manager for the City of New Bern, North Carolina.
Prior to serving in New Bern, she was the economic development coordinator and director of the tourist and event center in the City of Havelock, North Carolina.
“We are excited about Amanda and the opportunity she brings to the table for the City of Springfield. The new department is a great chance for the city to advance a lot of the goals set forth in the comprehensive plan and the City Council priorities,” said Deputy City Manager Maurice Jones.
The Department of Economic Vitality was created in July 2021 to focus on vibrancy and taking a proactive approach to helping businesses and entrepreneurs, to positively impact the region’s economic ecosystem. The department’s primary services are entrepreneurial development and support, business retention/tourism support and business expansion and attraction.
The creation of the department formally separated the City’s economic development function from the Department of Planning & Development. The purpose in doing so was to eliminate any confusion regarding the facilitative and recruitment role of economic development from the Planning & Development Department’s regulatory role applied through local zoning laws.
Primary objectives of the department are to encourage reinvestment and quality economic growth, coordinate significant development projects that impact the community’s tax base, retain and facilitate expansion of existing businesses, promote entrepreneurship, and attract new businesses by fostering a positive business environment.
The new department works closely with the City’s quality of place initiatives and regional economic development partners to leverage resources and enable the City to be attractive to quality business investment.
“I was extremely excited to come home to Missouri and join the team in Springfield. This is a wonderful community and I appreciate the commitment to placemaking. I look forward to helping guide the vision of the department and build on past successes,” Ohlensehlen said. “Springfield is such a special place with so much to offer and everyone has been so helpful. I am ready to jump in to ensure a vibrant future for Springfield and the region.”
New Planning & Development director
Susan Istenes joined the City as Planning & Development director Feb. 15. Istenes previously served as the City of Clayton, Missouri’s director of Planning & Development since 2010
Istenes has a master of science in urban and regional planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia and decades of experience leading planning and development functions at various cities. She started her formal career in Florida before moving to Missouri.
In her previous role in Clayton, she oversaw staff responsible for all aspects of the comprehensive planning, zoning administration, the review and issuance of building/construction permits and related code enforcement. She coordinated and conducted the site plan review and rezoning processes for major development proposals, ensuring proposals complied with local and state statutes and regulations. She also administered zoning laws and prepared planning studies and long-range plans.
“The time I have spent in Springfield has been positive and enjoyable; people are friendly and helpful,” Istenes said. “The area is beautiful, the city offers large city amenities and services but retains a small-town feel. I appreciate the city’s commitment to historical preservation, its downtown area, and proximity to rural areas and open spaces. I’ve always gotten a good vibe when visiting the area and a sense of pride in the community about Springfield.”
Istenes supervises a team of 25 employees and serves as principal advisor to the city manager as well as other community stakeholders and will direct the preparation and maintenance for the City’s Master Plan, Forward SGF, a project Istenes says she looks forward to completing.
“Susan brings to our organization the perfect blend of technical knowledge and leadership experience. We are very excited to have her lead our Planning & Development Department,” said City Manager Jason Gage.