Robert Ranc

During the Celina City Council meeting on November 14, Robert Ranc was voted on by the council to take the helm at City Hall as Celina’s City Manager, beginning January 8th.

Ranc was selected from a strong field of candidates presented to the council and to the community. Having most recently served as the Deputy City Manager in Dublin, Ohio, after previous public service roles in cities in Texas and Utah, Ranc is enthusiastic about returning to Texas and settling his family in Celina as he takes the reins of the day-to-day operations of the city.

For Ranc, public service is not a career; it is a calling. That calling traces back to his elementary school years in the Cleveland, Ohio, suburb of Rocky River when he first recalls engaging diplomatically with civic leadership.

“Since I was a boy, I have been interested in public service. A few years ago, my mother sent me a paper she found from when I was in fourth grade. It was a letter I had written to the Mayor of Rocky River explaining the improvements necessary at the city’s outdoor pool and what should be done to develop a vacant lot in the city. So, from a young age I have been interested in local government.” That passion to engage in public service continued through his middle school years, when Ranc was deeply impacted by a trip to the nation’s capital that forever sealed his fate, “I also vividly remember a trip my eighth-grade class took to Washington, D.C. and the profound impact the Capitol Building and other landmarks had on me. I never considered a career other than public service.”

Ranc demonstrated his commitment to serve before the sun would set on his teenage years. Prior to embarking on a career in public service, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Shortly after enlisting, the United States would go to war with Iraq, and the six years that followed etched deeply in his heart a drive to live and lead sacrificially.

He recalls, “I enlisted in the Air Force just after graduating from high school. I spent six years active duty as a Persian-Farsi linguist. I was stationed in Texas, California, and Georgia. The Air Force was a formative experience for me. The United States invaded Iraq while I was in basic training in 2003, and serving during war time underscored my appreciation for those who have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy. I also met my wife and started my family during my time in the Air Force.”

Along with that reverence for the sacrifice of those who have served and continue to do so, Ranc experienced the often-described inexplicable pride following his service to the United States. As a veteran, he still appreciates and reflects upon lessons he learned while wearing the uniform—lessons on serving others and the understanding of that service for a greater cause and the greater good.

“It is hard to truly understand the sacrifice made by people who join the military. You sacrifice many personal freedoms to guard those very freedoms for the rest of the nation,” Ranc reflected. “The military taught me a commitment to service I could not have gained any other way. I was still a teenager when I enlisted, and the discipline and commitment to something greater than myself set the course for the rest of my career.”

After completing his service to his country and the United States Air Force, Ranc settled into his season of preparation for the next chapter of public service that would follow his formal education. He made his way to the mountains of Provo, Utah and enrolled in undergraduate studies and then post-graduate studies at Brigham Young University.

He vividly recalls the continuation of the formation of his call to service while there, “I completed a bachelor of arts in political science and a master of public administration, both at Brigham Young University. BYU’s motto is, ‘Enter to Learn; Go Forth to Serve’ and the responsibility to use my education to serve the community was consistently reinforced during my time at BYU. I also met many city managers while completing my MPA, which reinforced my desire to enter city management.”

While there, he also continued to shape his leadership style and patterns that he still exhibits today. Words like commitment and excellence mark his leadership, but he has learned to also find levity in every course of action.

“Those who know me would agree that I have high expectations in terms of quality of work and commitment to service, but I also like to find humor in situations as much as possible. I am always committed to finding the right answer or course of action, and I work to foster an atmosphere where everyone is free to express their opinions in that pursuit,” Ranc explained.

Ranc arrives in Celina amidst unprecedented opportunity and growth. As the fastest-growing community in North Texas, and one of the most attractive cities in the country, such leadership has never been more critical. The variety of projects and the pace at which development continues throughout the North Texas region attracted him back to a place he loved serving, and it attracted the Celina City Council to him as the leader for this exciting era.

Ranc believes in the Life Connected. motto of the city and expects it to be modeled first and foremost at City Hall.

“With the speed of Celina’s growth, it is vitally important to create an atmosphere in which challenges can be solved and information shared at the speed of the decisions that face the City,” he said. “City staff must work closely with the community to provide the information and feedback necessary for the City Council to make the best possible decisions for Celina’s future.”

Being a visionary committed to the opportunities ahead, as City Manager, Ranc equally values the history and traditions of Celina’s past. He has already begun familiarizing himself with that heritage and sees an inextricable link between growing forward and guarding the shoulders upon which the community stands today.

“As Celina grows and welcomes new residents, it is important to provide opportunities for everyone to embrace and celebrate Celina’s heritage,” Ranc stated. “Whether it’s through events, historical observances, or arts and cultural opportunities, City staff will work closely with the community and City Council to continue the preservation of Celina’s storied tradition and heritage.” Rather than seeing the city’s rich heritage as something for longtime residents, he shared that it is a critical element throughout the city’s future.

He continued, “It is important to honor Celina’s historical values. Celina’s historical values are not only important to long-time residents, but they can provide a touchstone for all residents as Celina moves into the future.”

One of the most notable attributes that he experienced in his earliest trips to Celina is the historic Downtown Square. As he prepares to lead the city through its next chapter, Ranc sees the Square as an integral part of maintaining the hometown culture that Celina enjoys today.

“The City has done a great job using the Downtown Square as a center point for events, commerce, and informal gatherings,” said Ranc. “It will be important to build on what has been accomplished to provide a place where all Celina residents can gather as a close-knit community.”

With respect to the culture and the community shared, he is equally excited about the future and leading Celina toward the bold opportunities yet to be touched.

He explained that opportunity, “It is a rare opportunity to be a part of a community that can define and realize its future the way that it’s possible for Celina. The opportunity to grow and build Celina into one of the premier communities in the Metroplex is incredibly exciting.”

Yet, Ranc realizes that with that opportunity comes great challenges as this developing area seeks to stay ahead of the growth in every possible way.

“Preparing for and keeping up with Celina’s growth presents both a great opportunity and a significant challenge,” Ranc explained. “It is important to both maintain and execute up-to-date plans incorporating population projections, future land use decisions, and community input to ensure Celina provides the infrastructure, amenities, and staff necessary to create the built environment and provide the services Celina residents expect.”

Nevertheless, the excitement to be back fulfilling his call to public service in North Texas energizes Celina’s new leader to take on every challenge ahead, “North Texas is one of the most dynamic, fastest-growing regions in the country. It is exciting to be back in North Texas and specifically to be part of a growing community like Celina.”

Perhaps Ranc’s greatest challenge will be finding time to spend doing the things he enjoys away from the workplace. Early in his life, he developed a love for reading, among other hobbies.

About his hobbies he shared, “I have always been an avid reader, particularly non-fiction. Building a personal library is the hobby I most enjoy. I also enjoy football, golf, hiking, and camping.”

But one opportunity, in particularly, really excites the new

City Manager, as his beloved alma mater recently joined the Big 12 Conference, a collegiate athletics conference of schools that will afford BYU athletes to be in Texas as the visiting teams for countless contests each year.

Despite a slow inaugural start in the Cougars’ first football season in the conference, Ranc knows there will be some opportunities for he and his family to make great memories watching games, “BYU announced its entry into the Big 12 right after I moved away from Texas in 2021, and I was disappointed that I would not have the opportunity to attend several BYU games. The opportunity to attend BYU games in Texas and surrounding states is a nice fringe benefit to returning to Texas.” But perhaps nothing is more important than his biggest fan base that has faithfully followed his public service career through the years.

Ranc is a family man, and getting his family grafted into this community is as high of a priority for him as anything he may face at City Hall.

“My wife Rachelle and I have been married for 19 years, and we have three children: Addie (17), Carter (15), and Everett (8). Addie is a senior in high school, and she is looking forward to starting college next year. Carter is a sophomore in high school and competes on the swim team. Everett is in third grade, and he likes just about anything he tries. My family is looking forward to moving back to Texas and becoming part of the Celina community,” Ranc shared.