John F. Shirey
Executive Director, California Redevelopment Association

John Shirey has over 30 years of experience from a variety of government positions. He has proven expertise in all areas of general management, including human resources, finance, budgeting, organizational development, policy-setting, program implementation, and government relations. Throughout his career he has set high standards of integrity and professionalism.

Mr. Shirey is currently the Executive Director of the California Redevelopment Association (CRA). Based in Sacramento, CRA serves over 340 redevelopment agencies and over 260 private and non-profit organizations engaged in redevelopment activities. Mr. Shirey is responsible for overseeing legislative advocacy, professional training and development, and public information services provided by CRA to its members.

Mr. Shirey has also served in senior executive positions as City Manager of Cincinnati, Assistant City Manager of Long Beach, California, and Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Los Angeles County. He has been responsible for annual budgets over $1 billion and workforces of 5,000 to 75,000 people. His positions have required supervision of several department heads and interaction with neighborhood groups, community representatives, business groups, electronic and print press, and elected and appointed officials in other governments.

He served as Legislative Counsel for the National League of Cities in Washington, DC, representing the nation’s cities before the Administration and Congress. In other positions he built working relationships with state legislators and represented his employer’s interests in state capitals.

Particular areas of expertise include intergovernmental relations, assessing strengths and weaknesses of organizations, improving and measuring performance, formulating processes for responding to customer needs, producing quality communications, and strategizing neighborhood improvements.

Accomplishments have included taking the lead for the City of Cincinnati in developing the Central Riverfront Master Plan that has led to the siting of two new sports stadiums, a major museum, a seventy-acre downtown park, and a major mixed use development. Mr. Shirey also oversaw the award-winning $300 million reconstruction of a segment of interstate highway in downtown Cincinnati that resulted in a safer highway, significant beautification of the area, a multi-modal transit center, and the reuse of fifteen acres of land.

Mr. Shirey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University. His graduate work was done at the University of Southern California where he earned a Master’s degree in public administration.

Mr. Shirey is actively involved in professional associations such as the American Society for Public Administration, California Association for Local Economic Development, the International City/County Management Association, the Urban Land Institute and International Council of Shopping Centers. He is a master official with USA Track & Field and officiated at the 1996 Olympic Games and four Olympic Trials.