By: Leif Bromme
Locals gathered on Jan. 20, 2026, at City Hall to welcome Jon Holmes, Collegedale’s new city manager. Attendees of the meet-and-greet were able to speak directly with Holmes in the West Room, where city commissioners and the new manager’s wife, Sarah, were also present.
According to a post on the city’s Facebook page, Holmes began his work on Jan. 5, marking the next phase in his career of high-level municipal leadership.
Now nearing the end of his first month, Holmes described the transition as hectic.
“The amount of information just floating about the organization and community, just meeting people—it’s like drinking from a fire hydrant,” Holmes said.
He said government officials and community leaders have been helpful during his transition, aiding him as he takes notes and researches his new role.
“They’ve been patient with me,” he explained, “especially when I ask the same questions a couple of times.”
Though Collegedale is not a large city, the role of city manager still bears significant responsibilities. According to the Collegedale Charter, city managers are responsible for budget management and the application of policies set forth by the city council. As manager, Holmes must be familiar with every government department’s function, needs and abilities. As a high-level administrator, he will also play a large role in communicating with the public.
As outlined in the City of Collegedale post, Holmes previously served as the city administrator of Odessa, Missouri, and David City, Nebraska, as the county administrator of Franklin County, Kansas,as the city manager of Aurora, Missouri. Though his career has led him to many communities across the nation, he said the core of his responsibilities remains the same.
“This is a little bigger organization than what I came from in some ways,” he said, “but in a lot of ways it’s about the same — same amount of employees, same budget size. That’s some of the easier parts.
“I would say the first year or so is all about getting to know the organization and the community,” he continued, “building relationships with the commissioners and staff—taking ownership of the responsibilities that the city manager has.”
Holmes met several Collegedale residents at the event, including Chad and Beth Pickering. After a conversation with the new manager, they both came away with a positive impression.
“He seems cordial,” Chad said. “And [he] seems interested in helping the city and keeping in communication with the neighborhoods—keeping people informed.”
Beth emphasized the need for stronger interaction with city officials.
“[Communication] wasn’t working very good,” she remarked. “It’s a big priority to us.”
Beyond the logistics of the role, Holmes also shared how he’s adjusting to the Collegedale area.
“I’m just starting to explore,” he said. “I double-majored in history and political science, so some of the history stuff is [interesting]. I want to go up to some of the Civil War battle sites.”
He also expressed interest in embracing the new landscapes of Tennessee after a career in the Midwest.
“Once it gets a little warmer, I’ll just kind of explore the area and everything,” he said.
