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Meet Josh Wright, Arizona City/County Management Association President
Josh Wright
President, ACMA
City Manager, Wickenburg
Josh Wright is the current president of the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA). ACMA is an association dedicated to increasing the knowledge and
ability of city, town and county managers, as well as other local government administrators. With more than 250 members, ACMA works to strengthen the quality of
local government in Arizona through professional management, education, training and mutual exchange of information.
To learn more about ACMA, visit their website.
Please tell us a little about your background.
I am an Arizona native, born and raised in Tempe. Like all good Tempe natives, I attended The University of Arizona in Tucson and got my first taste of public
service working at the university. My first experience in local government was with the Town of Marana, starting in their management internship program and
ending five and a half years later as a department head. My family was eager to return to the Phoenix area and we were fortunate to receive that opportunity
when I was hired in Wickenburg. I've been here about three and a half years now and really enjoy the challenge of serving a small community on the urban fringe.
What prompted you to go into the city management profession?
My parents both worked in medicine because they loved serving others, and I knew from an early age that I needed a career that came with a sense of social
responsibility. Like many in my generation, I initially thought the only way to do that was working at a nonprofit. I was fortunate to find local government
through a college mentor, although I didn't know what a city manager was until I was already interning for one. I enjoy city management because not everyone
can do it; you have to love serving others and solving complex problems while remaining disciplined and humble.
Please tell us about your history and involvement with ACMA.
I've been involved with ACMA since my first conference in 2006. I served on the board previously and was chair of the 2010 winter conference. I was honored
to be welcomed back to the board two years ago and surprised to get the call asking me to serve as president. ACMA has been a defining aspect of my
career - it's a fantastic organization made up of some of the most dedicated public servants you'll ever meet.
What do you hope to accomplish in your year as President of ACMA?
The city/county manager role is constantly evolving, and ACMA needs to continue to adapt to those changes. We have more and more members coming
from "non-traditional" backgrounds before becoming the manager, including city attorneys, parks and recreation directors, and engineers. We also
have an entire new generation of eager public servants advancing in the workforce, but not always finding out about city management. My primary
focus this year will be boosting membership throughout the state and delivering outstanding value to our members and the communities they serve.
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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