Collierville appoints Molly Mehner as town administrator — the first woman in the role

Collierville has appointed a new town administrator. And she's the first woman in the position.

The Collierville Board of Mayor and Alderman unanimously appointed Molly Mehner, 48, as town administrator Wednesday during a special-called meeting.

Current Town Administrator James Lewellen announced last year his retirement from the town, which began a nationwide search for his successor.

"I'm terribly excited," she said. "I'm just absolutely thrilled to have been offered the opportunity, and Collierville is a community of choice for residents and businesses alike."

Mehner currently serves as deputy city manager in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she has worked for nine years. Before Missouri she spent time in Arizona: first as a project planning manager in Glendale and then as a senior planner in Paradise Valley.

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"Molly distinguished herself during the interview process and review process with the board of mayor and aldermen," Lewellen said during the meeting. "Equally as impactful, Molly's reputation in her community and among her colleagues solidified her as our unanimous choice as the next town administrator."

She plans to begin Nov. 14 with the help of Lewellen transitioning her into the role. This role is her first lead administrator position.

"I was very selective when I was looking for places to apply and Collierville was at the top of the list," Mehner said. "What I find really appealing is the fact that the community has found a way to balance the premier residential area but also attract world-class business and industry to the area, and that's not an easy thing to do but Collierville's figured out how to do that and do it well."

Mehner applied for town administrator near the end of August, and by the end of September she became the board's top choice for the role.

"I think all communities can benefit from a fresh perspective so I think that's something that I will be able to offer," she said. "I hope I can bring that to the Town of Collierville and take it to the next level."

She said her unique leadership style also makes her a good fit as town administrator — "inclusive but decisive."

Mehner said she tries to listen to all information, opinions and perspectives, then bases her decision on what she sees fit.

She hopes to help keep the balance of the town while also sustaining intake of businesses and residents.

"The first thing I want to do is sit down with the mayor and board and understand what their goals are," she said. "I think it might be helpful if we do a little strategic planning, perhaps early next year, to really refine the board's goals for the community and make sure that we have all of the tools and things in place to help achieve those goals."

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Mehner and her husband, John Mehner, first visited Collierville in September to get a feel for the town and she was impressed.

"I immediately fell in love with the town," she said. "It's obvious that development and design is important to the community, and it shows. It's a beautiful, beautiful community."

Mehner hopes to stay in Collierville for the rest of her career and eventually retire in the town.

"Everybody, please, once you learn my face, stop me and say hello," she said. "I'd love to get to know as many people as possible."

Mehner has begun looking for a home in the town and hopes to move in prior to her start date.

"I'm eager to get down there and get to know people and make it our home as well," she said.

Dima Amro covers the suburbs for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.Amro@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @AmroDima.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Meet Collierville's new Town Administrator Molly Mehner