SALINA, KS — The Salina City Commission has announced the three finalists for the position of City Manager, following a nationwide search led by Government Professional Solutions. The finalists are:
- Darrin Tangeman – Orleans, Massachusetts
- Michael Tremblay – Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
- Jacob Wood – Salina, Kansas
A public meet-and-greet with the finalists will be held Monday, August 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Watson Room of the Stiefel Theatre, located at 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue in Salina.
Earlier that same day, the Salina City Commission will hold its regular public meeting at 4:00 PM in Room 107 of the City/County Building, 300 W. Ash Street. This meeting is open to all members of the public and will include discussion of the proposed 2026 City of Salina budget. Citizens are encouraged to attend and provide comment. Since the meet-and-greet is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM, there may be overlap between the two events.
Finalist Biographies (Provided by Government Professional Solutions):
- Darrin Tangeman has more than 11 years of executive experience in local government, having served as Chief Administrative Officer, City Manager, and Town Manager in Massachusetts and Colorado. Prior to that, he was a U.S. Army Special Forces Officer (Green Berets) for 11 years. Tangeman holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado, and an MBA from the University of Kansas. He also completed the Senior Executive program at Harvard University. He is an ICMA-Credentialed Manager and was the founding Chair of the ICMA Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship.
- Michael Tremblay has served in the U.S. Army since 1995. His leadership roles include CEO of Talent Management for the 1st Brigade, Chief of Staff at Fort Benning, and Garrison Commander in South Korea — a role comparable to a city manager. Tremblay holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College and a Master of Science in Administration/Organizational Leadership from Central Michigan University.
- Jacob Wood brings over 13 years of experience in Kansas municipal government, having worked as an Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Administrator, and Interim City Manager. He has served 19 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Logistics Officer. Wood holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration from Kansas State University. He is also an ICMA-Credentialed Manager and an active member of the Kansas Association of City/County Managers.
Residents are encouraged to attend both the City Commission meeting at 4:00 PM and the City Manager finalist meet-and-greet at 5:30 PM to engage in the future direction of Salina’s leadership and city planning.