"Seth Hoffman has led the City of Lone Tree with the kind of steady hand and inventive spirit that would make any Jayhawk proud. Since becoming City Manager in 2013, he has built a culture rooted in the mission he introduced: “We will do things the best way, not just the expected way.” That simple phrase has become the north star for his team, and it shows. Under Seth’s leadership, Lone Tree landed major economic development wins, built one of the country’s first citywide micro-transit systems, and brought a $223 million light-rail extension into reality. Not bad for a city of 15,000.

Of course, it has not all been smooth sailing. When a $12 million annual budget gap loomed, Seth did not panic, and he did not hide behind spreadsheets. Instead, he went straight to the people with Lone Tree’s biggest public engagement campaign ever. Residents said they trusted the City and would support a small sales tax increase if it kept services strong. The measure passed, and the City protected public safety, parks, and infrastructure, all without a property tax. That outcome says as much about Seth’s leadership as it does about his Kansas roots: straightforward, transparent, and grounded in trust.

So why recognize Seth now? 2026 has been a landmark year in which much of Seth's longterm work has come to fruition. Seth stuck the landing on some of Lone Tree’s biggest milestones, including its largest-ever capital program. In September, Lone Tree opened a new Justice Center and a new Public Works Operations Facility. This past summer, Seth also concluded his term as President of the Colorado Municipal League, where he provided leadership for cities across the state, including defense of Home Rule governance. His approach is rooted in collaboration. He is the kind of manager who sees partnerships as opportunities to lift everyone, whether it is another city, a business, or the neighborhood down the street.

What really sets Seth apart, though, is his investment in people. He hires with patience, mentors his team, and sees potential in employees before they see it in themselves. He's even hired 3 KU MPA students into full time roles and previously started up Lone Tree's own Fellowship program. The result is a high-performing, resilient staff who live out Lone Tree’s mission every day. Add it all up and you get a City Manager who is visionary, practical, and deeply committed to service. Seth is the kind of leader KU hoped to send out into the world, and he has carried those Jayhawk values with him every step of the way. "