The City of Centralia has a new Assistant City Manager and Economic Development Director.
City Manager Lowell Crow has announced the appointment of Derek Sherman of Richview to the position.
Sherman currently works as an economic development planner at the South Central Illinois Regional Planning Commission in Salem.
“First since I’m from Centralia I was super excited to come back to my hometown and work in my career field of Public Administration. I was sort of close, but I was excited Regional Planning you have 5 counties that they are under so there are a lot of municipalities to help so you can’t focus your attention on just one single city, that wouldn’t be fair. So I was excited to be able to get the opportunity to work with a single city and help it through especially Economic Development.”
And Sherman sees a lot of potential for Centralia.
“I think Centralia can be what you make it. I think the city will move forward and there will be a lot of opportunities I think.”
After graduating from Centralia High School, Sherman attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He first earned a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s in Public Administration.
Sherman also completed a two-year internship in O’Fallon in economic development where he had the opportunity to sit in on department head meetings. He then worked in supply management at Maschoff’s in Carlyle before joining the Planning Commission in August 2019. Sherman says his career goal was
to eventually move into an Assistant City Manager position, so he is getting the opportunity early in his career.
Crow says Sherman was one of 15 applicants. Two were interviewed in person and six on the phone. Crow says Sherman stood out from the other candidates.
“He is a local. He grew up here, went to Centralia High School, understands and loves the community. His whole focus is how can he bring things back to Centralia and make it better. I had a panel of local business leaders interview him and his enthusiasm for the community came through.”
Sherman will begin his new job in Centralia on Monday, March 1st.
