Wynter C. Benda An innovative and results-oriented leader, manager, and licensed attorney with nineteen years of public sector experience at varying levels of government. Over ten years of executive-level experience with the City of Norfolk, overseeing projects and initiatives with organizational, community-wide, and regional impacts. In-depth knowledge of municipal operations, high level strategic planning, and coalition-building. SKILLS • Analysis • Communication • Strategic Planning • Decision Making • Budgeting • Policy Development • Negotiating • Rapid Implementation PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE City of Norfolk Norfolk, Virginia Chief Deputy City Manager September 2017 – present • Portfolio includes the Departments of Planning, Intergovernmental Relations, Public Utilities, Public Works, Transit, Real Estate, Resilience and Marketing and Communications. • Oversees the city’s arts partners including the Botanical Garden, Chrysler Museum, Festevents, Virginia Opera, Virginia Symphony, Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Stage Company, and Visit Norfolk. • Fulfills duties of the City Manager in the City Manager’s absence. • Represents the City Manager by serving as a liaison to various government organizations and committees, taskforces, boards, and commissions. • Oversees major ongoing economic development projects including Norfolk’s $40 million investment to refresh Chrysler Hall, the Patricia & Douglas Perry TCC Center for Visual & Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, Norfolk Gateway Office Tower, development of Third Pad, and Norfolk Arena. • Manages relationships with officials at varying levels of government to further Norfolk’s long-term goals, including the Custom House, acquisition of the downtown U.S. Postal Service site, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk Coastal Risk Management Study (3x3x3 Study). • Oversaw completion of major capital projects including the Consolidated Court Complex, the Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek, the Therapeutic Recreation Center renovations, The Main, Ocean View beach widening (in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers), and repairs to Selden Arcade. • Represented the city during meetings with President Donald Trump and Senators Kaine and Warner, championing issues such as St. Paul’s, Opportunity Zones, and veteran benefits. • Finalized agreement with the Aviation Institute of Maintenance to relocate their campus from Chesapeake to Norfolk, resulting in the school’s approximately $7 million investment to purchase and renovate the new Norfolk campus on East Little Creek Road, and expand the existing Tidewater Tech welding program currently located on Princess Anne Road. 1615 Morris Ave. I Norfolk, VA 23509 I 757-572-7185 I [email protected] Wynter C. Benda I 757-572-7185 I [email protected] • Leveraged existing partnership with Aviation Institute of Maintenance to establish Fly Norfolk Aerospace Camps as part of summer 2019 Recreation, Parks, and Open Space programming, providing free STEM education to an estimated 1,400 students. • Negotiated the sale of the Granby Municipal Building to Assembly, resulting in Assembly’s estimated $30 million investment to renovate the entire building into modern shared workspaces. • Championed the city’s bid for the 2021 CIAA tournament during the final round of the CIAA bid process, in which Norfolk was one of three finalists. • Oversaw design and implementation of recreation facilities throughout the city, for residents of all ages, including Bay Oaks Park; the relocation of the Ocean View Senior Center; multiple kayak launches; Munson Park and Monticello Park playground; Disc Golf at Poplar Hall Park; Ghent and Tidewater Park Elementary Schools; and the Meadowbrook Park dog park, playground, and basketball court. • Implemented the new Department of Transit, overseeing the city’s multimodal transportation portfolio and currently embarking on a multi-year initiative to redesign the city’s transportation network. • Expanded transportation options through the introduction of Pace bike share in 2018, which generated approximate 41,000 rides during its first year. • Implemented strategic, data- and community-driven responses to roadway safety on Hampton Boulevard and Princess Anne Road. • Negotiated thirty-year extension of existing agreement between the city and Virginia Beach (through 2060, with evergreen provision) - $20 million signing bonus for Norfolk, Norfolk to sell an additional 10 million gallons of untreated water to Virginia Beach (est. $5 million), and Norfolk continues to provide water treatment services to Virginia Beach. • Managed catalytic development opportunities in Ocean View including strategic property acquisition in Ocean View, The Tern, and Pinewell Station. • Finalized agreement with HRSD for expansion of SWIFT onto Lambert’s Point Golf Course, which resulted in land sale proceeds of $30 million ($15 million to the city in 2018 and, if the project is successful, $15 million in 2023), ensured the city retained public access to the waterfront area, and negotiated for civilian access to the golf course at Sewell's Point. • Oversaw renovations and grand re-opening of Powhatan field for use by Norfolk Public Schools and Old Dominion University. • Spearheaded partnership with Downtown Norfolk Council to establish Selden Market, the city’s first retail incubator space, in the newly renovated Selden Arcade. • Expanded city’s participation in the Vibrant Spaces program by providing space in City Hall to Selden Market startup-vendor Vessel Craft Coffee. Deputy City Manager May 2013 - September 2017 • Portfolio included the Departments of Cultural Facilities, Arts, and Entertainment; Libraries; Human Services; Community Services Board; Nauticus; Recreation, Parks, and Open Space; Virginia Zoo; and the Office to End Homelessness. • Represented the City Manager at various meetings, functions, and events and served as a liaison to various government organizations and committees, taskforces, boards, and commissions. 2 | P a g e Wynter C. Benda I 757-572-7185 I [email protected] • Finalized terms to extend the lease agreement between the city and the Norfolk Tides for use of Harbor Park - $225,000 annual rent, plus 10 percent of gross annual revenue over $6.3 million, for 15 years (through 2028). • Secured agreement with Carnival Cruises for continued cruise ship utilization of the cruise terminal. • Implemented the Norfolk Nighthawks program. • Established the Norfolk Arts Consortium, a relationship between the city’s largest arts and culture institutions to better leverage resources, encourage innovation, and attract new events. • Partnered with J&A Racing to establish the Norfolk Harbor 5k and half-marathon in downtown Norfolk (estimated 6,000 participants in 2018). • Led transition team for incoming City Manager (Douglas L. Smith). Assistant to the City Manager March 2011 - May 2013 • Managed oversight of City Council appointees including the City Clerk, City Attorney, and City Assessor; Constitutional Officers including the City Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue; and the city’s arts partners including the Botanical Garden, Chrysler Museum, Festevents, Virginia Opera, Virginia Symphony, Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Stage Company, and Visit Norfolk. • Streamlined and implemented new City Council docket process. • Led transition team for incoming City Manager (Marcus D. Jones). • Implemented 72-hour response window for City Council requests and oversaw process to enhance flow of information to City Council. • Enhanced existing Summer Earn and Learn internship program to create the Norfolk Emerging Leaders program, which provides paid internships to hundreds of Norfolk high school students as well as up to 15 college undergraduate or graduate students each year. • Restructured the relationship between the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Community Services Board. City of Hampton Hampton, Virginia Senior Assistant City Attorney January 2009 to March 2011 • Protected and promoted the City’s interests by providing direct legal counsel to its Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue, Real Estate Assessor, Finance and Budget departments, and as warranted, quality legal advice to its City Manager and City Council, Department of Economic Development, Hampton Employee Retirement System and Board of Equalization. City of Chesapeake Chesapeake, Virginia City Treasurer’s Office In-House Council July 2004 to January 2009 • Researched, analyzed, and advised Treasurer on state and local laws. • Proposed and drafted Treasurer’s state legislation and local ordinances. • Reviewed and negotiated banking and service contracts. 3 | P a g e Wynter C. Benda I 757-572-7185 I [email protected] • Marshaled and advocated Treasurer’s state legislation within and before Virginia’s General Assembly, and local ordinances within the City’s departments and before the City Council. • Organized, filed and/or litigated Treasurer’s bankruptcies before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Virginia, civil matters including judicial sales for delinquent taxes before Chesapeake’s General District Court, Circuit Courts, and labor and employment issues before the Virginia Employment Commission. Seventh Judicial Circuit Newport News, Virginia Judicial Law Clerk July 2002 to July 2004 • Researched and analyzed Virginia statutes and case law for four judges. • Reviewed civil, criminal and domestic relations case files and motions. • Outlined legal analysis and recommended rulings by written brief. • Organized and drafted orders, letter opinions, and appeals. • Observed hearings, bench, and jury trials. EDUCATION 2002 Regent University School of Law Doctorate of Jurisprudence 1999 Union Presbyterian Seminary Master of Divinity and Master of Theology 1995 Hampden-Sydney College Bachelor of Arts 4 | P a g e .