ACM VICKI RIOS NAMED A 2026 WOMAN ACHIEVER Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios has been named a 2026 Woman Achiever of Arizona by the Arizona Capitol Times and State Affairs, recognizing her four decades of public service and leadership. Since joining Glendale in 2013 as Assistant Finance Director, she has helped refinance city debt to save taxpayers about $175 million and earn the city's AAA bond rating. Vicki will be honored Oct. 8 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, and we're proud to celebrate her achievement and her commitment to Glendale, which she has called home since 1985.
FLEET, POLICE AND HR TEAMS EARN HONORS FOR UPGRADES Great partnerships and innovative solutions have earned awards and recognition for our Fleet Management Division and our Police and Human Resources & Risk Management departments. Our city received the Police Fleet Innovators Award for its newly designed K-9 vehicle configurations in Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford F-150 Responder police vehicles. These units provide a more direct, consistent flow of conditioned air into the kennel and preserve the integrity of the original air-conditioning systems. Glendale also earned this award due to Fleet Management working with our Police Department to transform a routine street sweeper into a mobile crime prevention platform by integrating License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology. Our city’s work overcoming a challenge tied to the expansion of the K-9 Grappler Police Bumper technology also helped secure this honor. This system safely disables fleeing vehicles. Modern Public Fleet recently published an article praising our Fleet Operations team for working closely with our Human Resources & Risk Management Department to address staffing challenges and develop an effective recruitment and retention strategy. Our Deputy Director of Field Operations Craig Croner was interviewed for the article. Congratulations to all city employees who helped drive these projects!
EYES ON EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE DEPARTMENTS TAKE HOME TROPHIES FOR MOVE MORE CHALLENGE Three city departments likely have even more spring in their step after they scored the highest number of points in the most recent Move More Department Challenge. Field Operations earned the Golden Shoe Trophy for first place, Fire took home the Silver Sneaker for second place and Transportation received the Bronze Bootie for third place. Employees in each department compete in the challenge, keeping track of their activity or daily steps using a pedometer, fitness device or smartphone app.
EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE HIGH WELLNESS SCORES Many employees were recognized for their healthy habits recently. A Good Life Celebration event was held to honor the 319 city employees who earned at least 80,000 points in the WellStyles portal by June 30 during the 2025-26 wellness program year. They enjoyed lunch, prizes and giveaways. Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios, Field Operations Director Michelle Woytenko and Good Life Program Manager Ali Waelchli-Brooks delivered speeches.
SILKE BLAINE HELPS GLENDALE EARN EUNA ADVOCATE AWARD Our Budget & Finance Analyst Silke Blaine was instrumental in the city receiving the Euna Advocate Award at the Eunaverse 2026 annual customer conference last month in Austin, Texas.
Learn more about Euna Solutions and the 2026 Euna Impact Awards on the conference website.
Glendale was one of 10 winners of the 2026 Euna Impact Awards, named for Euna Solutions, a provider of purpose-built, cloud-based software for the public sector. Questica, our city’s web-based budget software, changed its name to Euna. Silke said the software makes it easy to monitor budgets and expenditures for operating expenses and capital projects, as well as to develop the next fiscal year’s budget. She shares her experience with the software with cities and counties around the country, after having previously worked for Goodyear. “When the City of Glendale came to see a demo of how Euna worked for Goodyear, they were so impressed that they didn’t just want the software - they stole me from Goodyear and brought me over for their own implementation,” Silke said. “This award means a great deal, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that’s always striving to improve how we serve our organizations and residents.”
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE CITY MANAGER SHARES COUNCIL’S REDEVELOPMENT GOALS Our City Manager Patrick Banger highlighted the role every employee plays in improving city operations and serving residents and visitors during his second Pop in with Patrick live Teams chat. Whether you work at City Hall or another Glendale facility, your expertise, ideas and hard work help move the city forward. He also shared how employee engagement survey feedback is shaping efforts to keep staff informed about the City Manager’s Office’s priorities and how their work supports those goals.
You may read the full presentation on the Mayor and Council’s goals and observations from our City Manager Patrick Banger at the Sept. 17 Pop in with Patrick live Teams chat by clicking the document here. Did you miss Patrick’s answers to any of the additional questions submitted by employees during the Teams chat? View the employee Q&A on this Vimeo presentation webpage. The next Pop In with Patrick will be held on Oct. 29 and Nicole Lance with Lance Strategies will be the guest co-host.
He also shared the Mayor and City Council’s five goals for fiscal year 2027: Downtown Redevelopment: Lights have been turned back on, Glendale Glitters will return to Murphy Park, a downtown Police patrol has been reestablished, and programs will be brought to the amphitheater, among other upgrades. Consultants will help lead the vision work and our Council will adopt a 10-Year Redevelopment Plan. Entertainment District: Patrick said our city is comparable to Tampa, Nashville, New Orleans, Los Angeles and other communities with sports and entertainment centers anchored by stadiums. Glendale will conduct a traffic study for the district, and our Council will adopt a Master Plan. Camelback Ranch and the Arizona Cardinals: There is a new liaison to Camelback Ranch in the City Manager’s Office and a seven-year capital plan for it will be identified by the end of next year. Our city is working on resolutions with Camelback Ranch and the Cardinals. Code Enforcement: Assistant City Manager Rick St. John is working hard with Code Enforcement to provide “smarter, faster, friendlier” service. Data will be used to understand how to be most effective and a new case system will be launched. Leadership Alignment: Our city is establishing how we conduct our work and the culture, including allowing those experts closest to a topic to steer decisions. The leadership team focuses on the whole city, not 21 silos, Patrick said.
MARKING MAJOR MILESTONES Three employees are celebrating three or more decades of service to our city. John Henny, deputy director of our Water Services Department, recently celebrated a 35-year anniversary with the city. For John, this milestone is much more than a reflection of time spent working in the community — it is a profound reminder of how truly blessed he feels to serve alongside the incredible team that helps Glendale thrive every day.
MAJOR MILESTONES
JOHN HENNY
John’s career with the Water Services Department began after working in the construction industry, when he accepted his first role as a water service representative. Over the past three and a half decades, he has served in multiple roles and positions with Glendale. Today John manages a dedicated team of about 80 to 85 employees. He is immensely proud to be part of a team of such a talented team of professionals who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty for our community. “Glendale is truly a top-notch organization of professionals who are committed to improving the lives of the people we serve,” John said. Miles Nuessle, an engineer in our Fire Department who has spent 35 years working for Glendale, is passionate about providing great internal customer service to his colleagues. A former wrestler and bodybuilder, his love of the firefighting industry was ignited when he was 18 and a friend with Phoenix Fire Department asked him to come on a ride-along.
MILES NUESSLE
He has loved seeing our fire department evolve and enhance training, while being innovative. Miles operates a utility/rehabilitation truck on the scenes of fires and other emergencies in Glendale and other cities. He uses tools to help our firefighters recuperate when they are overheated, as well as stay healthy, including refilling self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) respirators. “We have the best men and women in the Valley,” Miles said. “When I watch our paramedics in the field, I still get goosebumps.”
SHEILA REDDIC
Sheila Reddic, who has worked for Glendale for 30 years, enjoys combining her love of people with her technological skills. A Manager-Technology Services in our Innovation and Technology Department, Sheila had retired from the U.S. Air Force after 17 and a half years when a friend said she should apply for a contract IT position here. Sheila said she “fell in love with the process” of technology when fixing a broken computer in the military. She received her technical education while serving in the U.S. Air Force and she has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Grand Canyon University. “I thrive on problems,” Sheila said. “That is the greatest part of my day when I can solve a problem for someone. I work in the best place anyone could work. The people are amazing, their willingness to work together.”
COMING TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY ENJOY BALLET ARIZONA PERFORMANCE AT SAHUARO RANCH PARK Our Office of Arts and Culture invites you to bring your colleagues and loved ones to see “Ballet Under the Stars” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Sahuaro Ranch Park. Ballet Arizona will perform exciting classical and contemporary works in our charming historic park. You are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy this special night of culture and community. Starting at 5 p.m., guests may enjoy live music, outdoor games and other fun activities. Food vendors and community booths will be on site. Learn more on our Office of Arts and Culture webpage.
CITY HOSTING DEMENTIA AWARENESS EVENT Our Community Services Department, with help from our Mayor Jerry P. Weiers and other city departments, will hold a FREE event to help anyone who has dementia and those who are caring for loved ones with the disease. The 5th Annual Dementia Friendly Glendale Awareness Event, Forget Me Not: Rooted in Hope and United in Care, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 3 at the Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) System of Care Center at 7677 W. Bethany Home Road. City employees, healthcare organizations, memory care providers and non-profit organizations will offer important information, tips and resources, as well as engage participants in fun activities. Prizes will be given away. Glendale is one of Dementia Friendly America’s Dementia Friendly cities dedicated to offering community support for anyone living with dementia and their care partners so they can stay safe and keep engaging in the community. Arizona has the fastest growing rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the country, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Learn more about the ways your colleagues deliver support and resources to anyone impacted by dementia by visiting the Dementia Friendly Glendale webpage on the Employee Portal.
ENHANCING EMPLOYEES’ LIVES GAIN CUSTOMIZED ADVICE FOR RETIREMENT PLANNING Determining how to meet your retirement goals may begin with a conversation with your retirement plan advisor. Our Empower representative Abigail (Abbi) Brown will continue to provide one-on-one meetings with employees on retirement planning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Conference Room 3b in City Hall on these dates: Oct. 7 Oct. 28 Nov. 18 Dec. 16 Abbi will answer general questions about retirement savings, review your retirement strategy and explain the benefits of your plan. Click on our city’s Empower webpage to make an appointment.
OBTAIN INSIGHT ON YOUR HEALTH There is still time to gain vital insight into your current health and obtain a flu shot. The “Know Your Numbers” Health Screenings & Flu Shots will continue at the following sites: Oct. 6: 7:30 – 11 a.m., City Hall, First Floor Multipurpose Room Oct. 7: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Glendale Elementary School District (GESD) System of Care Campus, Literacy Center, 7677 W. Bethany Home Road Oct. 14: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center, Coyote Room Oct. 15: 7:15 – 11 a.m., Field Operations, Make Ready Shop Oct. 22: 7:15 – 10:30 a.m., Field Operations, Make Ready Shop Oct. 27: 7:30 – 11 a.m., City Hall, First Floor Multipurpose Room Oct. 28: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC), Room 130 Nov. 4: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Main Police Station, PD Classroom Nov. 5: 2:30 – 5:30 p.m., Field Operations, Make Ready Shop The free on-site screenings include blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, height, weight and waist circumference. Earn 10,000 wellness points toward the incentive. To register for a screening and learn more, visit the Good Life Wellness page on the Employee Portal.
HONING IN ON HEALTH LEARN HOW HORMONES IMPACT HEALTH Hormones can have a huge impact on everyone during midlife. You may learn about hormone health at the Midlife Hormones: A Clear Guide for Women and Men webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 8 over Zoom. Primary care physician and hormone health expert Dr. Arpita Surkunte will discuss how hormone health affects men and women. Some topics that will be covered include hormone therapy, andropause, perimenopause, menopause, sleep, energy and vitality. Register for this webinar through this Zoom Workplace webpage.
WEBINAR TO FOCUS ON WELL-BEING You may empower yourself with knowledge when you participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Webinar: Women’s Health from noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 28 over Zoom. Topics that will be discussed include preventive screenings, heart disease, osteoporosis, menopause and more. Learn about self-care and lifestyle strategies to help with long-term health. Register for the webinar on this Zoom webpage or through the Employee Portal calendar.
LEARN ABOUT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and our city provides many resources and opportunities to learn about risks, get screened for this disease and know what is normal for you. Also, employees are encouraged to wear pink in support of the cause on Oct. 15 or 16. Check with your department’s supervisor for guidelines. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Sharecare, an independent company, also offer these tips to anyone supporting a loved one who has breast cancer: Be present, Help with chores, Go to their appointments, Respect the doctor’s advice, Be there after treatment is over and Offer distractions. Learn more on the Blue Cross Blue Shield/Sharecare website. Also, explore the support our city offers on the Employee Portal.
COMMUNITY SERVICES’ CREATIVE OUTREACH VELMA TEAGUE LIBRARY FINDS TEMPORARY HOME Our city found a novel solution to continue serving residents and visitors despite a fire at Velma Teague Library. While our city evaluates significant building and infrastructure needs after the fire in August, the Civic Center Annex building is being converted into a temporary home for the library. Velma Teague Library programming is already being offered at the Civic Center Annex. Weekly events for people of all ages have been held at the Annex since Aug. 24, while the new temporary location will likely open by Dec. 1. After the transition is complete, the approximately 10,000-square-foot building will house books, public computers, as well as meeting and program spaces and other services.
For updates on the temporary library location, hours and programming, visit our Library Services webpage.
As an added bonus, the Annex on West Glenn Drive is served by the Glendale Urban Shuttle (GUS), allowing patrons to have the same transit access they had when visiting Velma Teague.
HELP MAKE HOLIDAYS WARMER FOR THOSE IN NEED It’s time to plan how we can help make the upcoming winter holidays bright for Glendale families. Our Adopt-a-Family Program allows individual employees, teams, divisions, or departments to donate gifts to residents for the holiday season.
Want to provide gifts for someone or a family struggling during the holiday season? Register by Oct. 30 on this Employee Portal page.
What you need to know: The minimum gift requirement to meet is one item per family member. Gifts should be wrapped and marked with the recipients’ names on them. You or your team lead need to coordinate gift pickup/delivery with the family.
Do you have questions? Contact Stephanie Fenderson-Gonzales at 623930-3582
Our Community Services Department will work with senior citizens and families to create profiles. All eligible families and isolated seniors are part of our community and served by the department.
MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TAP INTO RESOURCES TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH World Mental Health Day is on Oct. 10, and our city encourages employees to access many resources Glendale provides year-round to boost their wellbeing. The theme of this year’s annual event is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.” Check out the mental health support our city offers, including: The Stress Less page on the Employee Portal for links and resources Confidential counseling through the Employee Assistance Program via Guidance Resources: Call the toll-free, 24-hour service number at 1844-206-1098 or visit the Guidance Resources website. Visit our WellStyles portal and try a “Journey” program for mindfulness and other healthy practices. Read mental wellness tips on the Avidon Health website. Connect with a friend, family member or coworker.
EXPLORE CREATIVITY, ENJOY DRINKS AT DOWNTOWN EVENT Our Office of Arts & Culture is excited to host a unique event that will combine art, music and community downtown. It will introduce Masterpieces & Margaritas, a fresh take on the classic paint-and-sip experience, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Murphy Park and the E. Lowell Rogers Amphitheatre. Professional artists will provide FREE, guided painting instruction and participants may unwind with margaritas and beer available for purchase while soaking in live entertainment in the amphitheater. Food trucks will be set up along Glenn Drive. People of any artistic level are encouraged to attend the event. Our Arts and Culture Coordinator Holly Garner said she and the team wanted to produce an event “that makes art feel approachable, social and fun.”
‘TIS ALMOST THE SEASON HONOR VETERANS AT THE MAIN LIBRARY Join our Mayor Jerry P. Weiers and the Mayor’s Military Mission (Triple M) for a Veterans Day ceremony at 9 a.m. on Nov. 11 at our Main Library. Honors will be given to those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans and their family members, along with active-duty service members and anyone in the community, are welcome to attend this special event. Learn more about events at our libraries on our libraries’ event webpage. Discover more information about the Mayor’s Military Mission (Triple M) volunteer committee on the organization’s website.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS SHOW RETURNING TO MURPHY PARK As the weather cools off, many of our employees are working hard behind the scenes to create magic for the 33rd annual Glendale Glitters. This beloved holiday tradition will return to the newly renovated Murphy Park starting next month. The official tree lighting ceremony will spread joy downtown at 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 25. There also will be Glendale Glitters kick-off events with additional activities from 5 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 28. The lights will shine from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. Vendors are encouraged to submit applications if they would like to sell their baked goods and other creations through Oct. 9. This popular lights display attracts thousands of people to the heart of our city every winter. Local artisans, crafters and food vendors, as well as seasonal retailers, are welcome to apply to sell their items. Only approved vendors are allowed to set up a booth or sell goods at Glendale Glitters. Learn more about this fun event and review requirements for potential vendors on the Glendale Glitters website.
GRATITUDE FOR 20 GREAT YEARS CELEBRATING MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY OF REC CENTER Our Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center (FRAC) was bursting with energy during its 20th anniversary celebration on Sept. 25. Parks and Recreation Department employees and residents were all smiles, with many wearing gold and black apparel, as well as flapper-style headbands and dresses, vests, hats and other items popular in the Roaring 20s. Employees and party-goers posed in front of sparkly backdrops, including some with fun props, and danced in an upbeat Zumba class. Attendees played games and mingled over celebratory cake and snacks.
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
Xavier Barajas - Police Aaron Campos - Police Mason Christiano - Fire Skyelar Clubb - Fire Jade Dickens - Water Services Jesse Hernandez - Transportation Martin Herrera - Fire Toni Holloman - Water Services Susan Huber - Community Services Brady Lambrecht - Police Christopher Martinez - Water Services
Landyn Miller - Police Paul Morales - Water Services Peter Neshwat - Community Services Anastasia Nordyke - Police Cade Ogorchock - Police Alexi Papalossi - Human Resources & Risk Management Austin Riddle - Police Frank Rodriguez, Jr. - Community Services Stefani Ruiz - Community Services Wesley Smith - Field Operations Jeremie Swafford - Police Roxanne Teran - Parks and Recreation Jonathan Tuomey - Water Services Abraham Wences Najera - Field Operations Ashlynn Wilcox - Fire Alyssa Young - Transportation Rosalva Zimmerman - Intergovernmental Programs
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated! HAPPY 35 YEARS John Henny - Water Services Miles Nuessle - Fire HAPPY 30 YEARS Sheila Reddic - Innovation and Technology HAPPY 25 YEARS Gerald Sydnor - Police Diane Williams - Parks and Recreation HAPPY 20 YEARS Jason Asbury - Fire Raymond Ellis - Fire Steven “Lid” Lidster - Field Operations Edi Marroquin - Fire John McGee - Fire John Penic - Communications Maribel Trujillo Camacho - Budget and Finance
HAPPY 15 YEARS Irene Garcilazo - Budget and Finance Kaylie Love - Fire Adam Stanzak - Fire Paul Thomson - Fire HAPPY 10 YEARS Christopher Bonadie Police Thomas Bowman - Police Bradley Bundy - City Court Ferdinand Dela Cruz Engineering Jacob Gonzales - Police Randolph Moreno Transportation Marcus Rentrope - Police Angela Ryan - Police Theadore Venable - Police
HAPPY 5 YEARS Amanda Carlson Police Jose Hernandez Engineering Brandon James Water Services Jacob La BouffGuzman Development Services Samuel Riggs - Police Roman Rimpel - Police Scott Seeman Development Services Sydney Smyth - Police Holden Soto - Police Craig Standley Development Services Daniel Terrazas Police Alfonso Trevino Police