Wayne A. Cauthen

Wayne A. Cauthen (born September 5, 1955 in Lancaster, South Carolina is the first appointed African-American City Manager in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to his appointment, Cauthen served as the Chief of Staff for Denver, Colorado Mayor Wellington Webb. Wayne Cauthen grew up in Englewood, New Jersey and graduated Cum Laude from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and attended graduate school at the University of Colorado.

On November 19, Cauthen was suddenly suspended as city manager by the Kansas City city council with a vote of 7-6.^[1]

http://www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/Depts/CityManagersOffice/WayneA.Cauthen/index.htm (The following bio of Wayne A. Cauthen appeared on City of Kansas City, Missouri website.)

Wayne A. Cauthen was appointed city manager of the City of Kansas City, Missouri., in April 2003. Cauthen is currently focusing his efforts on downtown infrastructure and development issues, expanding international economic development, implementing a Citywide recycling program, and improving basic services to citizens.

Cauthen brings to the office more than 25 years of professional experience in both the public and private sector. A native of Englewood, N.J., Cauthen came to Kansas City from Denver, where he was chief of staff to Mayor Wellington E. Webb from March 1997 to March 2003. Cauthen also served as Webb's deputy chief of staff from March 1997 through January 2000, and director of the Mayor's Office of Contract Compliance from January 1993 through February 1997.

The Denver Mayor's Office of Contract Compliance received numerous awards during Cauthen's tenure. Black Enterprise magazine named Denver as a top city to do business for African-American entrepreneurs; Hispanic Business magazine gave a similar award; and Minority Enterprises Inc., named the office Corporation of the Year.

While with the City and County of Denver, Cauthen also held positions as interim director of the Finance Office, and interim director of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade. While serving in that role, Cauthen helped design plans to open the London and China trade offices. The London Trade Office was opened in March 2000 and the Shanghai Trade Office was opened in April 2001.

As chief of staff in Denver, Cauthen managed nine cabinet-level departments, including Aviation, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation; and 11 agencies such as the Clerk and Recorder, the Budget and Management Office, and Planning and Community Development.

Cauthen served on the Denver Housing Authority Board of Directors, the Stapleton Redevelopment Board, Stapleton Foundation Board, Denver International Airport Business Partnership Board and the Denver Employees Retirement Board.

In 2000, Cauthen was ranked eighth on 5280 magazine's "25 Most Powerful People in Denver." Cauthen is a 1997 John McCloy Fellow of Urban Affairs. He was named Advocate of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Purchasing Council in 1997. Cauthen received an award from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1995 for the planning and development of the Denver International Airport.

Prior to working for the City and County of Denver, Cauthen was an administrator for the Space Launch Systems programs at Martin Marietta, which is now Lockheed Martin located in Littleton, Colo. In that position, he was responsible for the Small Business Development program for the Space Launch Systems Division. This division was responsible for the Titan missile project.

Cauthen also worked for the State of Colorado Capital Complex Divisions and the Colorado Minority Business Development Agency. He began his career in public service with intern positions for the Ohio General Assembly and for the city manager of Xenia, Ohio, where he was first introduced to the principle that a career in public service requires untiring commitment and relentless effort.

Cauthen received his bachelor's degree in political science from Central State University in Ohio, and completed graduate studies in political science at the University of Colorado.

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