Who's in what job? A list of Louisville leadership changes since Greenberg became mayor

In the year since Mayor Craig Greenberg took office, a number of directors and other top government or quasi-governmental leaders have arrived.

And some have left.

The turnover ranges from police chief to the director of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), some of the biggest departments and/or agencies in Louisville.

Here's a look at some of the people who are in and out since Greenberg found out he was headed to Metro Hall.

Louisville Metro Police

Out: Erika Shields

Shortly after Greenberg won his election in the fall of 2022, Erika Shields announced she would step down from as LMPD chief. In 2021, she was hired by then-Mayor Greg Fischer and moved from Atlanta to Louisville for the role. Her hiring drew sharp criticism from some Louisville residents. They were outraged that she was hired after leaving the Atlanta Police Department following the police killing of Rayshard Brooks. Greenberg announced she was leaving after he was elected but before he took office.

In: Jacqueline Gwinn-Villaroel

Following a lengthy — and at times, secretive — selection process, Greenberg chose then-interim chief Jacqueline Gwinn-Villaroel to fill the permanent role. Gwinn-Villaroel was Shields' second in command at LMPD before she stepped down. The two worked together in Atlanta, and Gwinn-Villaroel followed her to Louisville. Since being officially sworn in as the permanent chief, Gwinn-Villaroel has come under fire for false testimony in a civil trial and for lying while with Atlanta Police. She has been in law enforcement for over two decades and is an ordained pastor.

Louisville Metro Housing Authority executive director

Out: Lisa Osanka

Lisa Osanka was appointed to her role by former Mayor Greg Fischer in 2018. She resigned in September following an "emergency meeting" by the LMHA board. It occurred in the wake of criticism over the conditions of Dosker Manor, 685 apartments managed by the quasi-governmental organization, which included complaints from residents about mold, bugs, piles of trash and the smell of urine in the building.

In: Elizabeth Strojan

Elizabeth Strojan grew up in Louisville and graduated from duPont Manual High School. After attending Centre College, she moved to New York City for graduate school. Prior to joining the Metro government, she was working as the chief of staff and vice president at the New York City Housing Development Corp. The company issues bonds for multifamily housing units and specifically focuses on low-to-middle-income housing. According to the announcement of her hiring from the Mayor's Office in November, Strojan planned to take over as director in "early 2024."

Transit Authority of River City (TARC) director

Out: Carrie Butler

Carrie Butler joined TARC in 2020, and her resignation from the role was announced by the Mayor's Office in November. Before joining TARC, Butler was the general manager of Lextran, Lexington's bus system. No reason was given for her resignation, however, TARC was at the center of a contentious Metro Council debate several months beforehand in which some council members called for new leadership.

In (temporarily): Ozzy Gibson

Ozzy Gibson, who has served in several other Louisville Metro Government roles, is the interim director of TARC while the Mayor's Office conducts a national search for a permanent replacement. Gibson is also the interim executive director of the Parks and Recreation Department and will be the permanent director of Louisville Metro Animal Services. He was a Louisville Metro Police officer and deputy chief. He retired from that role in 2016.

Louisville Fire chief

Out: Gregory Frederick

Gregory Frederick served as the head of the Louisville Fire Department from 1999 until the summer of 2023. He began volunteer firefighting when he was just 16 years old. Frederick joined the Louisville Division of Fire in 1984 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the chief at 36. Frederick was a member of the Louisville Fire Department for about four decades in total.

In: Brian O'Neill

Brian O'Neill has been with the department since 2003. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and was president of the Louisville Professional Firefighters Local #54 for a decade. Before being appointed as fire chief, he was a battalion leader. He was sworn in at the beginning of August.

Louisville Metro Animal Services director

Out: Ashley Book

Ashley Book became the assistant director of LMAS in 2017. By 2020, she became the interim director, and then in April 2023 she was promoted to permanent director. Nine months after that, Book resigned. In the statement from the Mayor's Office about her resignation, Book said she plans to continue to be involved in LMAS as a volunteer.

In (temporarily): Adam Hamilton

Adam Hamilton joined LMAS in 2005 as an animal control officer. He was promoted to animal control supervisor in 2007 and has remained in that role since. Following Book's resignation, Hamilton was named the interim LMAS director. Ozzy Gibson, who has held the post before, will eventually be the permanent director (see above).

Mayor's Office Communications director

Out: Matt Erwin

Matt Erwin was named communications director for Greenberg in January 2023. But before the year was out, he left the role. Before joining the Mayor's Office, Erwin worked in communications in the Kentucky House of Representatives and Illinois House of Representatives. He assisted in Greenberg's mayoral campaign and was the communications director for the Kentucky Democratic Party.

In: Scottie Ellis

Scottie Ellis officially took over as the communications director early this month. She joined the administration after working as Gov. Andy Beshear's deputy communications director and social media lead. Ellis has also worked in communications for the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Simon & Schuster Publishing and Kentucky Tourism.

Department of Public Works and Assets director

Out: Vanessa Burns

Vanessa Burns served as the director for over 10 years, from 2012 until 2023. She came to Louisville from Connecticut and previously worked for public works departments in Washington, D.C. and New Haven.

In: Jennifer Caummisar-Kern

Greenberg appointed Jennifer Caummisar-Kern to the director position in April 2023. She is a Louisville native and a professional engineer. She worked with Public Works from 2008-2013 as an engineering supervisor. Before becoming the director, she was a certified floodplain manager with the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District.

Department of Codes and Regulations director

Out: Robert Kirchdorfer

After more than 40 years with the Metro government, Robert Kirchdorfer retired, according to a release from the Mayor's Office. He worked in Codes and Regulations for about 30 years, and before that was with the Louisville Zoo. Months before his retirement, some Metro Council members raised concerns that inspectors from the department were turning a blind eye to dismal housing conditions.

In: Richard Price

In late December 2023, Greenberg announced that Richard Price would be the new leader of the Codes and Regulations department following a transition from Kirchdorfer. Before, Price served as the assistant director of Fleet and Facilities since 2015. He has also worked in the Office of Management and Budget, Solid Waste Management Services and Louisville Metro Animal Services.

Parks and Recreation Department director

Out: Margaret Brosko

Margaret Brosko was the interim director of the department and left at the end of 2022. She previously served as the assistant parks director and Fischer's campaign manager.

In (temporarily): Ozzy Gibson

Ozzy Gibson was one of Greenberg's earliest appointments. He was named the interim director of the department in January 2023. After an organizational shift in 2023, his role changed to "interim executive director," and another person — Jason Canuel — was named the director. Gibson also serves as the interim director of TARC and will eventually transition into the permanent role of LMAS director (again, see above).

In: Jason Canuel

Jason Canuel, an engineer, was named parks director in November 2023. Before being named the director, he was the assistant director. His duties are similar to the ones he previously held as assistant director, Deputy Mayor Nicole George previously told The Courier Journal.

The department is still searching for a permanent executive director.

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Top Louisville jobs with new leaders under Mayor Craig Greenberg