Beloit City Council Approves City Manager Selection

Update: The employment agreement was approved unanimously on Monday, May 4, by the Beloit City Council. City Manager Ortiz Hernandez will start on Monday, June 22.

 

Original: The Beloit City Council has reached a tentative employment agreement with Daniel Ortiz Hernandez to become the next city manager. The City Council will take formal action on an employment contract during its meeting at 6pm Monday, May 4.

Ortiz Hernandez will start June 22, pending Council approval.

“Beloit is a city that values hard work, strong neighborhoods, and looking out for one another, and Daniel exemplified those values throughout the interview process,” said Council President Kevin Day. “As we continue to build Beloit’s momentum and shape a bright future for our residents, our future city manager will need to work side-by-side with the Beloit City Council and community. As council president, I look forward to supporting Daniel through the next steps.”

Ortiz Hernandez brings 13 years of municipal management experience to Beloit. He currently serves as assistant city manager in Ennis, Texas, where he helps lead more than 240 employees across 12 departments with a combined budget of $74 million. He has previously served as city administrator in Kimball, Nebraska, and city manager in Wasco, California, and Webster City, Iowa.

In Texas, Ortiz Hernandez supports staff and elected officials in addressing changing priorities to ensure the delivery of essential services, including a re-organization of the Public Works Department to optimize operations and managed infrastructure and economic development investments, as well as other key projects. In other communities, he developed succession planning, enhanced employee engagement, improved organizational effectiveness, and led efforts to increase housing and manage infrastructure. In all his positions, he has focused on building trust and relationships in the community during times of change.

“My family and I are truly excited for the opportunity to become part of the Beloit community,” Ortiz Hernandez said. “Throughout this process, we saw our own personal values reflected in the community’s strong sense of connection, pride, and authenticity. I look forward to working collaboratively with the City Council, staff, and community to build on Beloit’s strengths and continue moving the organization and community forward.”

His interest in community service was first sparked by a part-time role in his community’s recreation department, which he shared during the community forum at the Beloit Public Library. Early in his public service journey, he worked as a management analyst, Section 8 advisor, and teaching assistant, and volunteered with Justice Corps/AmeriCorps before advancing into municipal executive leadership.

Ortiz Hernandez admires the Beloit community’s values and culture, which made him interested in moving his family across the country. With a history of working in the Midwest, he’s looking forward to a cooler climate and adopting Beloit and Wisconsin as his home. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University and a Master of Public Administration with an Urban Management concentration from Arizona State University. He is an ICMA Credentialed Manager and a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard Kennedy School, as well as the Senior Executive Institute (SEI) at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.