Odis Jones
Wave Staff Report
CULVER CITY — Mayor Dan O’Brien announced Dec. 1 that the City Council has unanimously selected Odis Jones to be the next city manager, marking a significant leadership transition for the organization. Jones has been chosen to guide the city’s executive team and help advance the council’s strategic priorities and the community’s long-term vision. His proposed employment agreement is scheduled for City Council consideration at its meeting Dec. 8.
The appointment follows the planned retirement of City Manager John Nachbar, who has served Culver City with distinction for the past 15 years and dedicated 46 years to public service. His departure represents an important inflection point for the organization, and the city’s selection of a new leader comes at a time of continued growth, change and opportunity.
To support the transition, the city partnered with an executive recruiting firm to conduct a comprehensive nationwide search. Before opening the recruitment, the city gathered extensive input through a community survey and a series of stakeholder engagement efforts, ensuring the City Council had a clear and well-rounded understanding of the leadership qualities most needed in the next city manager.
Nearly 100 applicants were considered for the role. Candidates participated in a multi-stage evaluation process, and Jones emerged as the top choice of the City Council.
Jones brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across complex local and state governments, including city manager, chief executive officer and executive director roles in Texas, Ohio, Michigan and New Jersey. His career reflects deep expertise in economic development, public finance, organizational leadership and major infrastructure and redevelopment initiatives.
He has managed budgets reaching $1.5 billion, guided communities through emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and major hurricanes, delivered nationally recognized revitalization projects, including Detroit’s streetlight and electric grid reconstruction and Cincinnati’s “The Banks” riverfront development, and attracted billions in private investment that spurred job creation and long-term economic growth. Throughout his career, he has emphasized transparency, equity, community engagement, and collaborative leadership as core principles of his management approach.
Jones will assume his new role Dec. 15.
