Centerville City Manager Wayne Davis to Retire in September 2026
When Wayne Davis arrived in Centerville in 2017, he brought a clear expectation: that a high-performing organization, grounded in accountability and strategic thinking, could accomplish big things for its community. Nearly nine years later, as he prepares to retire in September 2026, residents can see the results of that vision across the City.
Davis has served as Centerville’s chief administrative officer since his first day on the job in August 2017, overseeing the City’s more than $75 million annual budget and leading all municipal operations, including the Police Department, Public Works, Development, Finance, Benham’s Grove and The Golf Club at Yankee Trace.
During Davis’ almost nine years as City Manager, Centerville has experienced significant transformation and momentum as the City revitalized Uptown Centerville, developed Cornerstone Park, constructed the new event center at Benham’s Grove and completed major improvements at Stubbs Park. These projects have strengthened Centerville’s economy, expanded recreational opportunities and enhanced quality of life for residents.
Forming a strong basis for City Council’s selection of Davis was his commitment to developing strong partnerships and collaboration with local, state and federal leaders, bringing exceptional customer service to the City, building strong relationships with the business community and reinforcing Centerville’s reputation as a responsible and business-friendly City, all of which he has accomplished.
During his tenure, Davis led a total transformation of the City’s organizational culture. He championed high-performance work practices, performance measurements and LEAN process improvement, helping build a collaborative, accountable and service-focused workforce. He also guided the City through its first five-year strategic plan, which City Council approved in 2018. He is currently leading the implementation of the second strategic plan, ensuring Centerville remains proactive, fiscally responsible and strategically positioned for the future.
“City Council was confident when Wayne was hired that he would be goal-focused, not seek the spotlight for himself, and would, in fact, develop a team that would work successfully together and with Council to make the advancements our community needed and the vision for the future we all shared. Wayne’s leadership is evident in every major advancement our community has made since 2017,” Mayor Brooks Compton said. “I know that City Council will all miss him, not only in his role as City Manager, but as a friend, knowing and thankful that nine years ago we made the right selection.”
Before joining Centerville, Davis served six years as City Manager in Montgomery, Ohio, where he also held the roles of assistant city manager and finance director. Davis is a past president of the Ohio City/County Management Association and a member of the International City/County Management Association and Centerville Rotary Club.
“Serving the Centerville community has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life,” Davis said. “I am incredibly proud of the work our team has accomplished together and grateful to City Council, our staff and residents for their trust and support.”
City Council will soon begin a nationwide search for Centerville’s next city manager. Additional details about the recruitment process will be announced soon to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.