Phillip Smith-Hanes

Phillip Smith-Hanes (MPA 1998)
2025 KUCIMAT Lifetime Achievement Award

"Phil is a trusted colleague and mentor to many. He is direct, empathetic and incredibly smart. I have relied on his professional advice for over 25 years.

Over 30 years, Phil's portfolio of individual accomplishments are too vast to all mention. Over his career, he has valiantly and successfully worked to balance the incredibly difficult competing interests of equity, effectiveness, and efficiency. And while there is no doubt that he has done this incredibly well, it is the manner with which he has driven this balance that should be celebrated."
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About Phil  —

Phil served on the Board of the Kansas Association of City/County Managers, as President of the Kansas County Administrators Association and as the Practitioner in Residence for the Edwin O. Stene City/County Leadership Program. In California, Phil served on the Governing Council for the California State Association of Counties Institute for Excellence and the Preparing for the Next Generation Task Force. Phil has served on the Board for the National Association of County Administrators and is active in the National Association of Counties. Phil is a Credential Manager with ICMA and served as the Chair of the ICMA task force to update the Handbook for first time administrators.

In Saline County, Phil was instrumental in leading the organization and Commission to a successful passing of a bond referendum in November of 2020 (during a pandemic) to construct an $89.0 million Jail and Sheriff’s Office. This is the largest investment in public safety facilities that the community has completed in the last 50 years. His attention to detail and dedication towards this project lead it to be delivered on time and on budget.

While building a new Jail and Sheriff’s Office, the State of Kansas approved the hiring of three new Judges for the 28th Judicial District, which the organization had been asking for over 15 years. This meant also undertaking a remodel of the City/County Building to construct two new court rooms to accommodate the new Judges. This construction project required the re-location of seven different departments and remodeling several offices and vacant spaces.

Internal to the organization, Phil has continually sought out ways to improve communication across the organization with his “Friday Phil” emails that goes out to all staff in the County providing information, tips and tricks, and acknowledgement of accomplishments. He has re-vamped Executive Staff meetings to incorporate increased communication between department heads and encouraged cross collaboration to solve even the smallest of issues.

Phil is a trusted colleague and mentor to many. He is direct, empathetic and incredibly smart. I have relied on his professional advice for over 25 years.

Phillip Smith-Hanes Professional Profile

Nomination of Phillip Smith-Hanes  —

Submitted by: Sarah Plinsky, Sherilyn Lombos, Michelle Ferguson, and Clint Kinney

Over 30 years, Phil's portfolio of individual accomplishments are too vast to all mention. Over his career, he as valiantly and successfully worked to balance the incredibly difficult competing interests of equity, effectiveness, and efficiency. And while there is no doubt that he has done this incredibly well, it is the manner with which has driven this balance that should be celebrated. Phil as worked in a variety of locations with a wider variety of personality and types and community character. No matter the politics of the community, Phil has brought a level of professionalism and objective progress to each community. His commitment to his role as a a high-qualty administrator is steadfast

he implements the community's goals. But the fact that he does this while building strong teams, while improving the sense of community and ensuring the community benefits from the progress. is what should be celebrated. Getting things done is important. Getting things done well in a manner that truly builds strong community spirit is worth of this award. Mr. Smith-Hanes had done just that over 30 years and deserves this prestigious recognition.