Item Description:
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Establish the unclassified position of Director of the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion; approve the appointment of Phil Essington, effective 12/31/2023
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners establishes the unclassified position of Director of the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion, effective December 31, 2023; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 383B.102(c)(3), the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approves the appointment of Phil Essington as the Director of the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion, effective December 31, 2023.
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Background:
Under Minn. Stat. § 383B.102(c)(3) and the County’s policy on Open and Unclassified Service Appointments, the county board approves appointments of personnel in the unclassified service.
The establishment of the Director of the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion underscores the critical role in innovating and operationalizing ways the county ensures that all residents can access and realize the transformative power of reliable broadband choices, computing devices, and digital literacy and internet-safety skills. This position will oversee the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion in the Disparity Reduction line of business and report to the Assistant County Administrator of Disparity Reduction.
Following an internal recruitment process, the County Administrator is recommending Phil Essington be appointed as the Director of the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion, effective December 31, 2023.
Mr. Essington began his Hennepin career in 2006 and has held various information technology-related positions of increasing responsibility where he has proven to be a strategic leader who builds high-performing teams while creating and driving a vision for nationally recognized public initiatives.
Mr. Essington has been leading the broadband and digital inclusion effort since August 2021 where he has built the new business unit focused on digital equity and broadband expansion for residents, enabling them to succeed in the digital world. This critical work is part of the Connectivity Disparity Reduction domain. In this role, he has managed $15.5 million in pandemic-response grant funds; led metro coalitions to shape state and federal regulations and catalyze grant funding, shared best practices, and advocated for urban, suburban and rural needs; delivered new fiber-to-the-home internet service to more than 2,500 households; and leveraged $330,000 in county funds to build $5 million in fiber infrastructure.
Mr. Essington holds a Master of Business Administration with honors from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics with honors from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
As required by the Open and Unclassified Service Appointments Policy, a list of final applicants who interviewed for this position is on file with the Clerk of the County Board.
Current Request: The County Administrator requests the board establish the unclassified position of Director of the Department of Broadband and Digital Inclusion and approve the appointment of Phil Essington, effective 12/31/2023.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval