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Hello. My name is Joe Gaa and I started my duties as the Marshalltown City Administrator on Sept. 11. I have agreed to write periodic updates on city happenings, but wanted to utilize this first opportunity to introduce myself.
I was born and raised in Maryville, Mo., and earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees from Northwest Missouri State University. The first several years of my career were spent in higher education and non-profit management. While my goal as an undergraduate student in public administration was to be a city administrator, it took a while for that seed to grow.
My first public management position was the Parks Administrator in Sebastian County, Ark. After a few years of mentoring under a seasoned administrator, I began my first city administrator role in Woodbine, Iowa, population 1,459, in 2010.
That was quite a difference from Sebastian County, where the population was a little over 120,000. Initially there was a little culture shock, but it was minimal. I truly enjoyed being back in the rural Midwest and purposely wanted to start in a small town to gain some experience before moving to a bigger city. That goal became reality as I have since progressed to Chariton, Iowa; Dickinson, N.D.; and Aberdeen, S.D. before arriving here.
Outside of work, I enjoy being outside, kayaking, walking, and grilling on my wood pellet smoker. I have also been known to buy fixer-upper houses that require the completion of several projects before and after moving in. That is not the case here as I have already purchased and moved into a house, but I am still looking forward to completing some smaller projects to add my personal touch.
As I write this article, I am in my third week on the job. I am getting to know the organization, staff, and community members. The outreach and support from the community has been great. Last Saturday, I was given the honor to serve as the grand marshal in the Oktemberfest parade. There I had a front row seat to see the community out in full force.
I meet new people every day who love this community. The reason that I work in local government is to be able to serve and know the people. The job of city administrator isn't always easy or fun, but staying connected to the citizens and working to always improve our community makes it all worthwhile. I have been impressed with the resiliency and forward vision that exists here in Marshalltown. I have met many people who proudly proclaim that they have lived here for many years, perhaps even their whole lives. That sense of commitment and pride helps make Marshalltown great.
In an effort to keep this short, I want to conclude by thanking the mayor and city council for giving me the opportunity to serve the great citizens of Marshalltown. If I haven't already met you, I look forward to seeing you all around the community. Feel free to call or stop by city hall if I can be of assistance to you.
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Joe Gaa is the Marshalltown city administrator.