The City of Van is excited to announce that the position of City Manager has been filled. The City partnered with the East Texas Council of Government’s Executive Recruitment Service to collect applications, review resumes, and coordinate interviews. Fifty-four applications were received, with each candidate possessing a different set of skills and abilities. After reviewing qualifications, multiple video screenings and two rounds of in-person interviews over a period of months, the City Council voted in the regular monthly meeting on November 9th to offer the position to Johnny D. DeSha, and after consideration he notified the City on November 15th that he accepted the position.
Mr. Desha is a native Texan and comes to Van with a 30-year track record of operational and financial management and program management success. He has experience across a broad array of funding sources and work with general fund and enterprise fund revenues.
Mr. DeSha and his wife Jerry are in the process of locating housing here in the area, and he will take office on January 2, 2024. Be on the lookout for additional information on our new City Manager and his vision for the City, and we will work on a video introduction and a schedule to introduce and welcome him to our community.