Experience - Chris Truitt

“The only source of knowledge is experience.”
— Albert Einstein

With almost a decade of experience at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Town of Burke, coupled with a background in retail bank management, I have acquired substantial expertise in government management, facility management, program and project management, IT support, lease management, infrastructure management, legislative analysis, government relations, lobbyist relations, and various other domains.

City of Mexico Beach | Mexico Beach, FL
City Administrator | October 2024 – Present

Successfully manage daily operations of the city, overseeing departments and ensuring effective delivery of services to residents.
Ensure Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Finance, Water and Sewer, Fire Rescue, and the contracted Sheriff’s Office are providing the services our residents need.
Foster strong relationships between the staff, the elected City Council, residents, and local organizations, promoting open communication and collaborative initiatives for a vibrant community.
Lead the execution of various projects, including many FEMA-involved recovery projects on time and within budget.
Ensure adherence to all relevant local and state regulations, maintaining a high standard of safety and quality of life.
Build and lead high-performing teams through effective coaching, mentoring, and professional development, resulting in improved staff morale and productivity.
Successfully resolve disputes among residents, business owners, and elected officials to maintain positive working relationships.
Collaborate with nearby local government officials, county officials, state officials, civic organizations, and private partners to create synergistic partnerships that contributed to the overall growth and well-being of the village.
Serve as the face of the City, promoting good will on behalf of the City Council.

Village of Biscayne Park | Biscayne Park, FL
Village Manager | August 2023 – October 2024

Successfully manage daily operations of the village, overseeing departments and ensuring effective delivery of services to residents.
Develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans, leading to improved infrastructure, community engagement, and sustainable growth.
Adeptly manage budgeting, resource allocation, and financial reporting, resulting in consistent cost savings and optimized resource utilization.
Foster strong relationships between the village staff, elected Commissioners, residents, and local organizations, promoting open communication and collaborative initiatives for a vibrant community.
Lead the execution of various projects, including park enhancements, public facilities improvements, and environmental initiatives, on time and within budget.
Ensure adherence to all relevant local and state regulations, maintaining a high standard of safety, zoning, and land use management.
Build and lead high-performing teams through effective coaching, mentoring, and professional development, resulting in improved staff morale and productivity.
Successfully resolve disputes among residents, Commissioners, stakeholders, and staff, demonstrating strong interpersonal and mediation skills to maintain harmonious relationships.
Develop and implement comprehensive emergency response plans, ensuring the village’s readiness to handle crises and natural disasters effectively.
Collaborate with local government officials, civic organizations, and private partners to create synergistic partnerships that contributed to the overall growth and well-being of the village.
Create, maintain, and operate a public information plan including media outlets, internal communications, and social media strategies.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation | Madison, WI
Facility Manager | September 2021 – August 2023

Direct operations and maintenance for 30+ facilities, ensuring facilities comply with regulations, policies, and safety standards.
Develop and manage comprehensive project budgets, taking into account factors such as resource availability, time constraints, and business impact.
Ensure successful construction and remodeling project completion by monitoring progress, managing resources, and adjusting plans as needed to stay on track and within budget.
Evaluate, negotiate, and select contractor bids while balancing quality with cost savings.
Prioritize projects based on fund availability, urgency, and impact to business operations.
Administrate property management and maintenance systems, providing technical support to users and streamlining the maintenance request process.
Collaborating with contractors, project managers, architects, engineers, private businesses, and regulatory agencies to foster positive relationships and prevent project delays.
Prepare and submit detailed financial records, summarizing key performance metrics and financial results.
Create and present reports on project progress and financial performance to stakeholders.
Provide strategic guidance to senior leaders on navigating regularly, financial, and intergovernmental risks.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation | Madison, WI
Leasing Program Specialist | December 2020 – September 2021

Coordinated leasing programs totaling $14 million for 98 DMV offices and DOT radio communication towers.
Administered SaaS property management and maintenance system, providing technical support to users via phone and email.
Configured the property management system for new locations and provided onboarding services. Also created and configured reports from within the system.
Managed building maintenance and tenant/lessor relations, analyzed contracts, and solicited, awarded, and executed bids and proposals for operations and maintenance.
Worked with PeopleSoft to create requisitions, manage purchase orders, and pay invoices. Led a project to design, test, and implement an online property management system for leased properties.
Served as a Customer Success Manager for a cloud-based property management system, acting as a liaison between regulators, property owners, and government agencies.
Sourced, designed, opened, furnished, and closed temporary offices.
Developed policies and procedures to improve efficiency in the maintenance request process and managed the maintenance request ticket system.
Provided performance analysis, documentation, visualizations, presentations, and communications for high-level management, including senior management and director offices using Excel, Access, and Tableau.
Managed complex continuous process improvement initiatives and resource planning, overseeing the implementation of new enterprise-wide technology to improve service.
Analyzed and interpreted local, state, and federal legislation to determine organizational impact, analyzed programs and provided recommendations to improve service and efficiency, and analyzed legal contracts and provided recommendations for future changes.
Developed policy and program positions and guidelines.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation | Madison, WI
Program and Policy Analyst Advanced | August 2018 – December 2020

Implemented data analytics models to measure ROI and performance metrics, driving informed decision-making and improving outcomes.
Leveraged cutting-edge technology to enhance operational performance, streamline processes, and reduce costs.
Served as an internal customer success manager for electronic document and workflow management systems, ensuring smooth implementation and providing ongoing support.
Provided comprehensive performance analysis, documentation, visualizations, presentations, and communications to high-level management, including senior management and directors, facilitating data-driven decision-making and effective communication.
Utilized Excel, Access, and Tableau to collect and present data for reports and presentations given to C-suite management teams, ensuring accuracy and clarity in reporting.
Managed complex process improvement initiatives and resource planning, led cross-functional teams and drove success through collaboration.
Oversaw the implementation of new enterprise-wide technology to enhance service and reduce costs through innovative approaches, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and processes.
Analyzed local, state, and federal legislation to determine organizational impact and recommended changes through issue papers and position papers, ensuring compliance with regulations and policies.
Analyzed programs and recommended service and efficiency improvements while working with industry groups and lobbyists to determine the feasibility of policy and procedure changes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Analyzed legal contracts and recommended future modifications, protecting the interests of the organization and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
Developed policies, program positions, and guidelines to improve overall organizational performance, promoting efficiency, effectiveness, and best practices.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation | Madison, WI
DOT Program Supervisor | March 2014 – August 2018

Managed a team of 22 employees responsible for frontline customer service, data processing, and call center operations.
Created and managed reporting systems to track SLAs and KPIs, reducing work item backlog from 3 months to 5 days through decentralized processing.
Oversaw a unit generating over $500M in annual income while serving 3.1M customers and supporting 6.4M transactions.
Co-led system modernization projects, including the largest electronic document management initiative in agency history.
Designed and delivered over a dozen training programs for new processing systems, serving as the main point of contact for end-user support.
Piloted a successful employee work-from-home program and provided basic IT support.
Served as the subject matter expert for state statutes governing the program, providing legislative and program analysis to local, state, and federal officials, as well as lobbyists and trade groups.
Provided technical and subject matter expertise to answer questions and address issues presented by the public, administration, state agencies, local governments, and legislators, among other stakeholders.
Facilitated team testing for multiple concurrent projects and provided support to testers.
Advised C-suite level managers on the effects of proposed and recently passed local, state, and federal legislation and regulations.
Used data gathering and analysis methodologies to recommend organizational changes.

BMO Harris Bank | Fitchburg, WI
Bank Manager | March 2013 – March 2014

Manage day-to-day operations of a busy bank branch with $91M in deposits, ensuring smooth functioning of all departments and compliance with bank policies and regulations.
Oversee the sales and service activities of a team of 10 tellers and five bankers, driving performance and meeting sales goals.
Develop and implement strategies to acquire new customers and retain existing ones.
Pilot new banking technology solutions.
Foster a culture of excellent customer service, providing training and coaching to team members to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Monitor and manage branch profitability, including controlling expenses, increasing revenue and managing cash flow.
Analyze financial data to identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost savings.
Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory and internal policies and procedures.
Conduct audits and prepare reports for senior management and regulators.
Collaborate with other bank managers and departments to achieve bank-wide objectives.
Participate in community events to build the bank’s brand and reputation.

Associated Bank | Sun Prairie, WI
Bank Manager | August 2008 – March 2013

Managed a community bank with $11M in deposits and five staff members, ensuring efficient and effective operations.
Oversaw daily operations, including customer service, lending, compliance, and risk management, to ensure a high level of service for customers and minimize risk.
Built and maintained strong relationships with customers, business partners, and the community to increase business and promote positive brand awareness.
Created and implemented strategic plans to achieve business objectives, such as increasing deposits and loans, improving customer satisfaction, and managing costs.
Managed the budget and financial performance of the bank, optimizing revenue and expenses while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Developed and implemented policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and bank policies.
Trained and supervised staff members, providing coaching and support to improve their performance and ensure compliance with bank policies and regulations.
Conducted regular audits and reviews of bank operations, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing solutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Responded to customer inquiries and resolved issues in a timely and professional manner, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and retention.
Collaborated with other departments and business partners to promote the bank’s products and services, and identify cross-selling opportunities to increase revenue.

The Home Depot | Sun Prairie, WI
Department Supervisor | October 2006 – August 2008

Successfully managed the $7,000,000.00 Kitchen & Bath department within the Home Depot.
Responsible for overseeing the merchandising (hard lines) and services (soft lines) aspects of the department.
Effectively managed a team of 11 employees, providing training, setting performance goals, managing performance, coaching, and developing team members.
Efficiently managed all inventory within the department, including sales forecasting, ordering, and merchandising.
Served as a Key Carrier, responsible for overall store operations, managing other department heads, meeting store goals, assisting customers, and resolving disputes with customers, associates, and management.

New York Life | Madison, WI
Agent | January 2005 – October 2006

Successfully sold life insurance policies to individual and corporate clients, meeting or exceeding sales targets.
Developed and maintained a strong network of leads, prospecting potential clients and establishing new business relationships.
Educated clients on the benefits of life insurance policies, explaining policy features, terms, and conditions in clear and simple terms.
Conducted thorough client needs assessments to recommend appropriate insurance products, tailored to their specific requirements and budget.
Negotiated with underwriters to secure competitive rates and favorable terms for clients.
Managed client relationships, following up on policy renewals, and addressing any questions or concerns.
Maintained accurate records of client interactions, policies sold, and commission earned.
Stayed up-to-date with industry trends and changes in legislation, continuously improving product knowledge and sales skills.
Collaborated with other team members and management to achieve overall sales goals and targets.

RTI Donor Services | Madison, WI
Procurement Technician and Donation Advocate | October 2000 – January 2005

Conducted tissue recovery procedures for transplant, research, and education purposes in accordance with established protocols and guidelines.
Ensured that all donated tissues are procured, preserved, and transported in a safe and efficient manner.
Performed physical assessments and medical screenings of potential tissue donors to determine eligibility for donation.
Maintained accurate records of tissue recovery activities, donor information, and tissue tracking.
Coordinated with medical personnel, transplant coordinators, and funeral directors to schedule tissue recovery procedures.
Maintained a clean and organized work environment, including the proper storage of recovered tissue and equipment.
Followed infection control procedures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases during tissue recovery procedures.
Participated in quality assurance activities to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and standards of practice.
Demonstrated sensitivity and compassion to donor families during the tissue recovery process.
Assisted with training and mentoring new tissue procurement technicians to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Madison Country Day School | Waunakee, WI
Facility Manager | June 1998 – June 2003

Directed the daily operations and maintenance of a private school facility, overseeing building systems, grounds, and equipment.
Created and executed comprehensive preventive maintenance plans for all facility systems, encompassing HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and security systems.
Conducted routine facility inspections to proactively identify and resolve maintenance issues and safety hazards.
Maintained meticulous records of maintenance activities, equipment inventory, and repair history to facilitate informed decision-making.
Oversaw the school’s energy usage and costs, implementing effective conservation measures and recommending system improvements.
Managed the facility budget, closely monitoring expenses, forecasting costs, and ensuring adherence to budgetary constraints.
Established strong relationships with vendors, skillfully negotiating contracts and ensuring the provision of high-quality services.
Collaborated closely with school administrators, faculty, and staff to ensure that the facility met the evolving needs of students, staff, and visitors.
Provided user support for the school’s IT systems, promptly resolving issues to minimize downtime.
Managed the school’s telecom system, ensuring reliable and efficient communications for all stakeholders.
Developed and executed the school’s security plan, safeguarding the facility and its occupants from potential threats.