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Committee Narrows List Of Applicants For Century Town Administrator
July 24, 2025
A selection committee has narrowed a list of 17 applicants down to 10 to be considered as Century’s next town administrator.
The committee — consisting of Mayor Ben Boutwell and council members John Bass and Henry Cunningham sitting with interim town manager Howard Brown — met this week.
“I think you’ve got a good group,” Brown told the committee. “We have not done background checks, reference checks. We have not vetted anyone yet; we are just discussing applicants.”
Bass said the town’s immediate need is an administrator that can meet immediate financial needs, grants, infrastructure and leadership. Cunningham added that “leadership is the most important part”, along with someone with financial procedural knowledge and that will be in Century full time.
The 10 applicants selected by the committee, in alphabetical order, are:
- Charles V. Anderson
- Darryl LeTroy Bell
- Peter Cavalli
- Timothy J. Day
- David J. Murzin
- Jeff Peacock
- Lisa Rouse
- Jared Schumacher
- Brian Louis Underwood
- Fred Ventresco
More information on each applicant is at bottom.
The town will now conduct background checks and vet candidates, and the council will decide how to move forward with selection. The committee council members are expected to conduct one-on-one phone interviews using a standardized set of questions before holding public interviews either in person or virtually with a subset of finalists.
According to the town charter, the final employment recommendation must come from the mayor and be approved by the council.
In this week’s selection committee meeting, Boutwell recommended:
- Charles V. Anderson
- Peter Cavalli
- Timothy J. Day
- David J. Murzin
- Lisa Rouse
- Jared Schumacher
- Brian Louis Underwood
Cunningham recommended:
- Charles V. Anderson
- Peter Cavalli
- David J. Murzin
- Brian Louis Underwood
- Fred Ventresco
Bass recommended:
- Charles V. Anderson
- Darryl LeTroy Bell
- Peter Cavalli
- Timothy J. Day
- David J. Murzin
- Jeff Peacock
- Jared Schumacher
Here is more information about each applicant selected by the committee in alphabetical order:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 representative 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.
- 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.
For a previous story that lists all 17 applicants, click to enlarge.
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.
Pictured top: (L-R) Henry Cunningham, Howard Brow and John Bass. Pictured inset: Ben Boutwell. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Committee Narrows List Of Applicants For Century Town Administrator”
It is wonderful to see Century working to make improvements to their community. Options to fill or the necessity of the position should be left to those tasked with the responsibility, as they were hired or elected to do. Why not support those working to make improvements instead of Monday morning quarterbacking their actions?
Treasure Island has nothing in common with Century. Is Mr. Anderson moving to Century? Are any of the candidates relocating to Century?
At this point, if you don’t live in Century, you shouldn’t be able to receive a paycheck for managing the town.
One more comment or two:
One question I would have for any of the town administrator candidates is this:
Are you willing to move to and live in the Town of Century if hired?
The second quest I would express would be this one to the mayor and town council:
Are you willing to take the risk of hiring a town administrator/manager who may leave after 6 months, or a year or two, and losing the experience gained during that person’s tenure and having to start again from scratch? Wouldn’t it be easier and better for the town to establish with a qualified consulting firm for a very long time?
With a population of only 1,500 (below the statutory threshold for even forming a new municipality in Florida), why is Century doing this?
Hiring contracted consultants on an as needed basis would seem more economical than placing an executive on a payroll.
The Emerald Coast Regional Council (formerly the West Florida Regional Planning Council) can be hired for grant writing and management without even going through a bidding process.
And then there is the option of dissolving the town as a municipality and turning over all governance to Escambia County.
It is difficult to see how hiring an executive with salary (and hidden costs expenses of social security, Medicare, medical insurance, paid leave, mileage/vehicle expenses) is more economical than hiring consultants to meet the administrative needs.
I say pick Jeff Peacock, the best man for the job.
“I think we need Jeff Peacock because he is from this area and I feel he would do the best job.”
Or Dave Murzin. He lives in Cantonment (and Jeff has moved off and teaches math in Navarre.). Dave won election and now actively works in economic development. Jeff tried.
I think we need Jeff Peacock because he is from this area and I feel he would do the best job.