Gloucester County announced this week the hiring of a new Deputy County Administrator.
Steve Wright, who has more than 19 years of public sector experience, including a stint as a Township Administrator, began working for the county on Sept. 1.
Prior to coming to Gloucester, Wright was Administrator of the Planning, Analytics, and Customer Service Unit for the Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, Wright and his team provided a variety of consulting services (including program evaluation, performance measurement/management, strategic planning and process improvement) to more than 120 programs, which served roughly 120,000 residents and collaborated with nearly 100 contracted community partners, at any given time.
“We are delighted to bring Mr. Wright onboard as a new Deputy County Administrator for our great county,” Gloucester County Administrator Carol Steele said, in making the announcement. “Steve’s extensive experience in public administration and local government make him a stellar fit for this important position. He carries a proven record of success, and we look forward to his wide breadth of experience in strategic planning, analytics, and his results-focused approach to excellence and efficiency in government.”
In his new role, Wright will oversee the county’s community services departments, including Community Engagement and Public Information; Library Services; VA Cooperative Extension; Emergency Management; Animal Control; Probation/Pretrial Services; Social Services; and Parks, Recreation and Tourism. In addition, he will serve on relevant boards, committees and commissions, as appropriate.
The county’s other Deputy County Administrator George Bains will continue to oversee the county’s community development departments.
“I am thrilled to be part of the incredibly capable and citizen-focused team in Gloucester County,” Wright said. “I am hopeful that my varied experience, in both large and small government organizations, will bring a fresh perspective and will serve to enhance the work of the county, while allowing us to fully leverage the skills and abilities of our dedicated and exceptional staff.
“I am passionate about improving the customer experience, actively and strategically incorporating diversity and inclusion considerations into decision-making, and ultimately driving resident-focused program outcomes,” he added.
Wright is a graduate of Bowling Green State University (Ohio), with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and the University of Akron (Ohio), with a Master of Public Administration degree. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and recently completed the Certified Agile Professional training course, through the Six Sigma Global Institute. He is currently undertaking a Doctor of Public Administration degree through Valdosta State University (Georgia).
Wright lives in Gloucester with his partner, Patricia, and her two children, and enjoys kayaking, hiking, running (mostly 5Ks), acting in community and regional theater productions, visiting historical sites, and spending time with his college student daughter.
Steele became Gloucester County Administrator on June 1 after a 36-year career with the county, serving as director of the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department from 1986 to 2018, when she became Deputy County Administrator.