Gordon Ryan Local Government Consultant

Consultant to local government
and community associations

Gordon Ryan is an experienced City Manager, HOA Chief Executive Officer, and international consultant, who believes in consulting
...YOUR way!

First appointed as a City Manager in 1977, after thirty years of local government, public utility, and large scale homeowner association management in America and New Zealand including six appointments as City Manager or Chief Executive, Gordon Ryan Consulting has developed a wide range of experience. Serving under multiple elected Councils and/or Boards of Directors has also provided an understanding of the unique aspects of each and every community. While municipal governments and HOA's share many traditions in common, they also differ in many ways. Recognizing that difference is what makes our consultation approach unique as we have provided our experience to clients throughout New Zealand and America.

Perhaps the focal point of consultant offerings is the one day Board or Council seminar to involve senior staff executives. This interchange broadens the understanding between the elected officials and the appointed staff to demonstrate what each expects of the other. The view from each side is not always clearly understood by either side, and especially by the residents of the community who expect the newly elected member to "manage" this place more efficiently and to reduce costs. Focusing on the difference between the establishment of policy and the implementation of that policy is the basis of the one day seminar.

Raising the Bar

During his tenure with the Christchurch City Council executive team, (as a consultant and permanent staff member) Gordon Ryan wrote Transparency in Governance, an ethics based document that was submitted to the LGA 2002 committee for consideration with regard to the requirements for a Code of Conduct and possible sanctions. With this background of ethics oriented management, and giving particular attention to the needs of your community, specific areas of consulting expertise include:

    ·   Ethical Leadership (elected & staff)
    ·   Ethics and Performance Management
    ·   Conflict Resolution & Investigations
    ·   Council / Board / Staff Relationship Training
    ·   Governance (Policy) and Management (Implementation)
    ·   Community association operations and evaluation
    ·   Dynamics of Change

Our Board/Council and Executive Staff Workshop

Focusing on local municipalities and homeowner associations, in addition to the operational review and policy advice management review, Gordon Ryan Consulting offers a policy and implementation workshop geared toward the challenges that face the Board/Council and their senior appointed staff. The workshop is flexible, from one half day to two days, with elected members and executive staff in attendance. Visit the Workshop page to learn more details.

Writing Credentials

As a professional writer and author with eight novels published in the United States, Gordon Ryan Consulting was retained by Local Government New Zealand to write the 2004 version of the Elected Members' Handbook, a national publication prepared to train newly elected officials. This revision of the 1998 edition contained significant changes to reflect myriad legislation enacted over the intervening years.

Ryan is also a contributing author for Common Ground, CAI's (Community Association Institute) professional periodical, Upward Directions, a quarterly HOA publication, and previous articles for LG New Zealand Local Government Magazine, authoring opinion pieces on relevant local government topics.