Strategic Partnerships, Inc. salutes you, public sector officials: The Profiles in Power section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across America’s public sector landscape. This Profile in Power is of Troy Lestina, Deputy City Manager/Chief Financial Officer for the City of Mansfield, Texas.
My public career highlights and education
I currently serve as the City of Mansfield’s Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer. I was previously the Assistant Director of Finance from 2007 to 2019. I served as Director of Finance for the City of Cleburne from 2019 to 2020 before returning to the City of Mansfield as Director of Finance. Prior to 2007, I worked as an accountant in the private sector for Trinity Industries and Trammell Crow Co. I am a proud Bobcat with a BBA from Texas State University. I am also a Certified Public Manager, Athenian 2025 and a Texas Municipal League Leadership Fellow.
What I like best about public service
What I enjoy the most about public service is getting a chance to assist in shaping the city’s future. By working closely with the city council and staff, the team is changing Mansfield’s landscape for the better. Five years ago, no one could have imagined Mansfield would have a world-class stadium, which is home to a professional soccer team and was a practice facility for a national team competing in the World Cup. Back then, no one could envision the Mansfield Innovation Corridor, which is home to industry leading businesses, higher education research and game-changing entrepreneurs.
A current project or initiative that I am working on
The best advice I have ever received is “Leaders are lifetime learners.” I can acknowledge that I do not have all of the answers and know I need to continue learning to lead the organization. Technology is constantly changing. Best practices and regulations enter the industry regularly. New people join our organization daily. This learning must also account for managing multiple generations of employees as each generation has its own ideal of how work should be managed and performed.
One thing outside of government service people may not know about me
One thing I wish the community would understand is the actual timeline from when city council approves a project to when that development opens for business. When a developer presents a project for approval to the City Council, the plans are mostly conceptual. If the city council approves the project, the developer will have the construction documents prepared. Preparing construction documents can take up to 12 months and once construction begins, completing the project can take additional considerable time. The city council and staff work hard to bring the amenities, businesses and employment opportunities the community wants, but it takes a lot of cooperation, development and time.
A current project or initiative that I am working on
A current project the team is working on is the completion of a new city hall. The current city hall, built in 2002, is bursting at the seams as our organization grows alongside our expanding city and populace. Mansfield is a rapidly growing community, with a population to top 100,000 by 2029. The new city hall will support our future development. It has been designed to accommodate future staff throughout the organization and built to become a true community third space with a 9,200-square-foot great lawn. It is scheduled to open in April.
One thing outside of government service people may not know about me
The one thing people outside of the organization may not know about me is that I am a foodie. I love to try new restaurants, regardless of the cuisine. I’ll try any place from the lowliest dives to white-tablecloth establishments. Each type has its own uniqueness. Each place is a labor of love for its owners and chef. I maintain a list of restaurants in my phone’s notes. The list mostly contains restaurants in Texas, but I also have some for areas I may travel to in the future. Friends know I maintain this list so they often ask me for recommendations.
