Eddie Sheppard has spent a lot of the last eight years moving around a bit.
After finishing graduate school at the University of Kansas, he held a number of jobs in communities around that area. For the last three years, he was assistant public works director in Derby, Kan., and was in Derby’s Finance Department for two years before that.
Then he saw a chance to move back closer to home and put down roots — a job opening in Shawano.
“I saw this opportunity, a chance to do the things I really like to do as far as the public works and the administration side,” Sheppard said. “It was also a chance to come back closer to family and friends.”
For the past month, Sheppard has been settling in as the city’s new director of public works and assistant city administrator.
Sheppard replaces Rick Stautz, who retired in April, at the Department of Public Works. The assistant city administrator title is new, reflecting the broader duties — particularly an emphasis on assisting economic development — expected of the job.
“My role is to provide whatever kind of assistance, whatever kind of support I can,” he said. ” It’s to be available, be a resource for this community.
Sheppard said his philosophy in terms of economic development is basically, “no stone left unturned.”
After four weeks meeting people in the community, Sheppard said, it’s clear there are others who share his enthusiasm for Shawano’s potential.
“There’s an energy here,” he said. “The whole country was facing issues with the economic downturn. Now Shawano and other areas starting to see some of that rebound. The talk about economic development is encouraging to see.”
Shawano has also attended a number of committee and commission meetings with elected officials and citizen members.
“There’s a lot interest in the community,” he said. “That’s definitely a good thing to have. It’s all about how can we channel those resources and the knowledge those people have.”
Sheppard, originally from Fond du Lac, was no stranger to Shawano before taking this job.
With an aunt and uncle in Green Bay, the family spent a lot of time in the area enjoying such leisure activities and camping and rafting.
Now, Sheppard and his fiancee have a rental house on the lake. In the next week or so, they hope to close on the purchase of a house in the city.
Sheppard said he felt good about the opportunity here from his first job interview.
“When I came for the interview, I felt I was instantly bonding with people,” he said. “There’s momentum in this town to really start exploring some new things. It’s something I want to be part of. I’m glad I’m here and I’ve enjoyed it so far.”
Sheppard’s first four weeks at the Department of Public Works have mostly been about getting to know the department and its policies, with an eye toward making some improvements if need be.
“We have some really strong services if you compare some of our leaf picking operation, bulky item pickup; what we’re doing I think is pretty top level,” he said. “I’m just trying to get in and understand our operation the way it is now, and see if there aren’t some things we can tweak to make it even better.”
That means finding the most effective way to use the department’s resources, he said.
Sheppard said he has already had a chance to provide some input as the city revises its zoning code, offering some thoughts on encouraging beautification along with development.
“There’s a lot going on here in Shawano,” Sheppard said. “It’s been busy, but I’ve enjoyed it a lot.”
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