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17 Apply For Century Town Administrator Job. Here’s The List. And What Happens Next.
July 11, 2025
Seventeen candidates have applied for the position of Century’s town administrator who will work as the chief operations officer of the town and carry out the mayor and town council’s initiatives. The town administrator will report directly to the elected mayor and work in close coordination with the town council.
The diverse pool of applicants includes five applicants with immediately local area ties – Alan Fowler of Alabama, who currently works with the town as a waster and wastewater consultant, former state representative Dave Murzin, who now owns an economic development consulting firm in Pensacola; Century native Jeff Peacock who recently ran unsuccessfully for Congress; Lisa Rouse, who is operations and marketing manager for two technology firms in Pensacola; and Brian Underwood of Fairhope, who is grants director for Baldwin County (AL) Commission.
The recruitment process has drawn interest from across the country. The applicants bring a wide and diverse range of experience,including municipal management, public safety leadership, economic development expertise, and nonprofit administration.
According to the job description, the salary range for the position is $112,000 to $137,000, with the likely offering salary between the minimum of $112,000 and the midpoint of the range, or about $124,500.
An applicant will be recommended by a selection committee that includes Mayor Ben Boutwell, council members John Bass and Henry Cunningham, interim town manager Howard Brown, and key staff members. Brown has stated that he will not apply for the town administrator position. According to the town charter, the final hiring recommendation to the council must come from the mayor.
The selection committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22 for a workshop in town council chambers.
The applicants, listed in alphabetical order are:
- Charles V. Anderson (Saint Petersburg, FL): Anderson is the former city manager for Treasure Island, Florida, where he led disaster recovery efforts and managed multimillion-dollar budgets. With decades of military and local government experience, he specializes in crisis management, infrastructure planning, and personnel leadership.
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Darryl LeTroy Bell (current city unclear): Bell is a former manager with extensive experience in municipal governance, economic development, and public works. He has managed cities such as Palatka, FL, and Muskegon Heights, MI, overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets, infrastructure improvements, and community revitalization.
- Kelliyah Cherubin (Orlando area, FL): Cherubin is a former admission counselor at Everglades University with experience in case management, community outreach, and nonprofit operations. She holds a Master’s degree in public administration and specializes in stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and event coordination.
- Peter Cavalli (Tampa, FL): Cavalli is the founder of Tampa Bay Training, LLC, and a former town manager for Kenneth City, Florida. He has extensive experience in public works, emergency management, and workforce development, as well as training programs for municipalities and private sector clients.
- George Calvin Dickens III (Savannah, GA): Dickens is a fire safety maintenance inspector for Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus) and a fire engineer for the City of Savannah. He has extensive experience in fire safety, emergency management, and municipal operations, with certifications in fire inspection and hazardous materials handling.
- Timothy J. Day (Cape Coral, FL): A former district manager for multiple Community Development Districts in Florida, Day brings over 30 years of experience in city/town management, law enforcement, and public safety. He has managed utility modernization projects, FEMA disaster recovery efforts, and financial audits for municipalities. He also served as a City Council member in Cape Coral for nine years.
- Roger Allen Fowler (Camden, AL): Currently an area manager for ClearWater Solutions, overseeing water and wastewater operations in Florida and Alabama. As a ClearWater employee, he currently manages Century’s water and wastewater plants and supervises Jay’s wastewater facility. He has 16 years of experience in water/wastewater construction, operations, maintenance, and compliance.
- Nicholas Frigiola (Live Oak, FL): Frigiola is the Community Redevelopment Director for Live Oak, Florida, where he manages multimillion-dollar redevelopment projects and grant funding. He previously served as a Community Redevelopment Officer for the Saint Cloud Police Department and has expertise in public safety and community engagement.
- Derrick Harris (Hot Springs, AR area): Harris serves as Director of the Tri-Lakes Metropolitan Planning Organization, where he manages multimillion-dollar transportation projects and federal grant programs. He has extensive experience in public speaking, stakeholder engagement, and infrastructure planning.
- Vance Lipsey (Mount Calm, TX): Lipsey is the former City Administrator for Ranger, Texas, where he oversaw municipal operations, strategic planning, and urban development. He has experience managing small-town dynamics and seasonal population fluctuations, as well as implementing infrastructure and community development projects.
- David J. Murzin (Pensacola, FL): Murzin is currently the Director of First Place Partners, representing economic development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He is a former state fepresentative for Florida. He has extensive experience in legislative leadership, economic development, and disaster recovery, having worked closely with local governments across Northwest Florida.
- Jeff Peacock (Pace, FL): Peacock is a mathematics teacher at Navarre High School and a former COO for nonprofit organizations. He has a background in strategic planning, operational management, and public policy, with degrees from Harvard University and the University of Chicago. A Century native, he was recently an unsuccessful candidate for Florida’s 1st Congressional District.
- Tracy D. Roles (OK): Roles is a former city manager for Ada, Oklahoma, and assistant city manager for Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He has over 20 years of experience in municipal government and public safety, specializing in law enforcement, emergency management, and community engagement.
- Lisa Rouse (Pensacola, FL): Rouse is the director of operations and marketing for two technology firms and a public sector consultant. She specializes in financial systems, utility oversight, and personnel development. A Pensacola resident, she is deeply involved in local civic groups and community engagement.
- Jared Schumacher (Taneytown, MD): Schumacher is the grants manager for Westminster Rescue Mission and a former town manager for Boonsboro, Maryland. He has expertise in grant writing, capital improvement projects, and municipal operations, with a focus on financial compliance and public trust restoration.
- Brian Louis Underwood (Fairhope, AL): Currently serving as grants director for Baldwin County Commission, Underwood has managed multimillion-dollar grant programs for infrastructure and disaster recovery. He previously served as executive director of the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program and has extensive experience in strategic planning, environmental stewardship, and intergovernmental coordination.
- Fred Ventresco (KS): Ventresco is a seasoned municipal manager with over 17 years of experience leading several municipalities. His most recent positions were a “brief, while-needed” position as city administrator in Holecome, Kansas, and town administrator in Pinetops, North Carolina. He has expertise in budgeting, personnel management, infrastructure projects, and emergency preparedness, having served as town administrator in multiple states.
Editor’s note: Information for each applicant is a brief summary taken from more complete resumes, applications and/or cover letters submitted to the Town of Century. Applicant’s information and claims were not independently verified by our staff.
Comments
15 Responses to “17 Apply For Century Town Administrator Job. Here’s The List. And What Happens Next.”
This is ridiculous to the know facts how Century is downwards town with no feasibility of anything to show it’s progress during these years from early 2000’s on forward until now, Mayor Benny Barnes were the best Mayor Century ever had, he bought progress to Century by bringing the businesses ( Starter’s, others as well , industrial park – which is now a ghost town) sounds like a scene from western movie with no one wants to be in all quiet, no opportunities, nothing is exciting happening, because the previous mayor’s who came afterwards Benny Barnes , the town council members , have done nothing to help the residents, the town to become flourish instead made the town like a unwanted dried flower left in a vase with no water. The council members who been on the council for years -( I can name two McMurray and Gomez ) you think hopefully they would want a successful town to become the guiding light of the first town when tourists comes through to see beautiful things, nope ! It ‘s a ritual town by previous and present rituals officials who don’t want to see growth,
I hate to say this growth is needed for anything to become successful rather you like or not, Century and McDavid have do many undeveloped land which can be buy developers who can bring plenty of opportunities, especially for the black youth because the older black generation in Century didn’t show the young generation how to lead or become leaders. Now town looking for a new administrator – different ones from different places who possibly or may not have town interests, no different the ones who been on the council seats for plenty years,
Century need a new renovations of new developments in its area , the old stuck up people need to get out of the way, let the new people come take over the infrastructure of Century, give Century a new hope of life, let youngsters and younglings know don’t be like the old ways – be yourself, become the new leader to show others how to lead , until the Century is nothing but a poor dunk town
I am pulling for Jared Schumacher, who is a member of Westminster Rescue Mission. I think that Century can use a good rescue mission, like it, or not.
David J. Murzin will bring professionalism and strong leadership to the town of Century. Murzin can bring his economic development experience to a area in need of growth.
The key to Century’s future is livability.
It’s not tourism. Nor landing big manufacturing.
It’s the little things. Feeling safe (crime, natural hazards, transportation). An attractiveness to housing, neighborhoods, and commercial areas. Availability of quality food. Affordability. Ways to make a living. Forward looking and investing in the future. A healthy place to be mentally, physically, spiritually.
The potential manager (and a town council, mayor, and citizens) who sees this is the key to improving livability.
I wouldn’t mind if a great athlete or say baseball manager wanted to come back and live here, keep a houseand yard up, pay bills on time or even serve on the council but that does NOT qualify them to administer a municipality. Period.
Thinking like that has us in the position we are in today.
A superbowl champion accomplished a notable feat but that does not equate with understanding FL statutes, enterprise funds, proper uses of say the gas tax or LOST or TIF or the sunshine law, drinking water standards. The Land development code, etc.
The “give back” was used as campaign slogans and don’t be surprised if they want to hire someone because he’s a ” blackcat”
I think Ben’s smarter than that. Just because everybody knows or is related or goes to the same church should not qualify them for a position to manage a town. Nothing wrong with being aware of that.
To W (probably Jeff)
He has no experience with the day to day in and outs of running various utilities. He’s been unsuccessfully running for political seats in South AL plus NW FL. We need some one who understands management of workforce and simple things like getting Highway 29 repaving on the five year plan with FDOT, how to turn in an audit on time, test potable water, look ahead to get infrastructure in place, have a gas superintendent etc. Boots on the ground.
At least he’s a Republican, Harvard graduate. I have a bad taste regarding the ideology (insanity ) of another.
What’s wrong with Century is a lack of competence and leadership for a very long time. Here’s a chance to get it right.
I’m not on the selection committee anyway. Just commenting.
Dear Citizen,
While we all have a right to an opinion, it seems really short sided to simply dismiss a candidate because they have a fancy education. Especially given the fact that he is a CHS graduate and native. How many people from our small town/school can say that they graduated from Harvard? I view that as a great accomplishment for our area. If he was an athlete that played at the highest level, we would be celebrating his accomplishments and welcoming him back to the area to serve the city. However, since he achieved one of the highest degrees available, we simply want to eliminate him from the candidate pool. Maybe the problem in Century reaches well beyond the Mayor and council given that line of thinking. Maybe he doesn’t deserve the role for many other reasons but he certainly shouldn’t be pushed to the side due to his accomplished education. I am just surprised that a person with that accomplished background is even considering to step into that mess. Then again, a native that lives in the area and looking to give back to the community that shaped him. What a novel concept!!!
This is something not needed we needs a mayor with guts a new council that’s what we need
In my opinion
You needs a hands on, come in everyday type person with experience running a municipality with all the services. They must relocate and be on the clock and at every meeting of the council.
Management of personal is important. Most of the problems with Century has to do with employees not taking charge of their own departments and running them with competence.
Right off the bat, you don’t need a politically connected consultant from Gulfbreeze blowing hot air for consolidation efforts, nor a Harvard graduate, even if a Century native.
A worker bee, familiar with gas, water waste water, finances, FL law and accountability.
We had a good one with Prather, who immediately turned the gas department fiasco around with common sense about metering use.
He was trying to get the employees jacked up but Gomez and others bought into the whining drama.
Hope the Mayor uses discernment t and the council votes on his recommendation.
Don’t let the economic development promises skew the need to simply manage a town. That’s the priority.
Mr. Anderson specializes in crisis management…. That might come in handy.
I see a lot of these people are from central Florida. If they are not willing to relocate to within an hour or so drive of Century so they can come to the office on workdays. Then they should be removed from the list immediately, no if, ands or buts about it. The citizens of Century don’t need town to send their tax money to central Florida where not one penny will ever make its way back to Century.
With a population less than 2000 people, Century is not big enough to sustain what it takes to be an actual city. Rescind the charter and go back to county rule. But if you insist on riding the train to the next missing trestle, narrow it down to those who live nearby and narrow those down to the ones who might actually stay in the job for more than 6-12 months, who aren’t just looking to use it as a stepping stone or pad a resume.
Minimal due diligence should include using an outside party to verify background checks. It’s far too common these days that applicants embellish or outright lie on resumes because a lot of employers take the resume as fact without investigating.
17 people that are qualified to do everything under the sun, want a job in Century Florida. I’ll get a large bag of popcorn and watch the fun.