HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-27; Appointment of Cultural Arts Manager (Districts - All); Smithson, SuzanneTo t he membe rs of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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Council Memorandum
June 27, 2024
To:
From:
Via:
Re:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, C~unity Services
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
Appointment of Cultural Arts Manager (Districts -All)
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2024049
This memorandum provides information related to the appointment of Carlsb ad's new Cultural
Arts Manager in the Library & Cultural Arts Department.
Background
The former Cultural Arts Manager retired in September 2023. The city evalu ated t he position and
in early 2024, began a search to fill the position and received numerous applications.
Discussion
After a robust recruitment process, Ms. Craddock Stropes, currently the Senior Management
Analyst in Public Works for the City of Carlsbad, has been selected as the new Cult ural Arts
Manager.
Ms. Craddock Stropes has worked for the City of Carlsbad since 2006 in three positions. She
began as a Community Coordinator for Parks & Recreation, was promoted to a Management
Analyst in Environmental Management, and then promoted to her current role as Senior
Management Analyst for Public Works. In each of these progressively more complex positions,
Ms. Stropes successfully led staff, programs, and projects including administering the 15-year
Capital Improvement Program. From these roles, Ms. Stropes gained experience in complex
public engagement issues, public contract management, and staff supervision and development .
Before coming to t he City of Carlsbad, Ms. Stropes worked for nine years for numerous cultural
arts organizat ions, including the La Jolla Music Society, t he San Diego Performing Arts League and
the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. In t hese local cultural arts roles, Ms. Stropes worked
in t he areas of strategic partnerships with community organizations, developing diversified
programming, building relationships with regional performing arts groups, and developing
outreach and educational programs.
Ms. Stropes earned her bachelor's degree from CSU Fullerton in Communications and her Project
Management Professional Certificate from the University of San Diego.
Community Services Branch
Library & Cultural Arts
1775 Dove Lane I Carlsbad, CA 92011 I 442-339-2011 t
Council Memo -Appointment of Cultural Arts Manager (Districts -All)
June 27, 2024
Page 2
With Ms. Stropes passion and experience with local cultural arts organizations along with her
expertise and knowledge of working in the City of Carlsbad, the Library & Cultural Arts
Department is looking forward to this next phase of cultural arts in the city.
Next Steps
Ms. Craddock Stropes will officially transfer from Public Works to Library & Cultural Arts on
August 5, 2024.
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Christie Calderwood, Police Chief
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Judy Von Kalinowski, Human Resources Director