The Borough of Kennett Square announced on Aug. 4 that Kyle Coleman has been selected as the new borough manager. He is expected to begin the duties as Kennett Square Borough’s top administrator on Sept. 16.

“We are so pleased to have Kyle Coleman with us in Kennett Square,” said Kennett Square Borough Council president Dr. Brenda Mercomes in a statement. “As borough manager, he brings the educational and professional background that can make a positive difference in our town.”

The appointment comes following an extensive search that started shortly after longtime Kennett Square Borough employee Joseph Scalise announced that he was stepping down as borough manager in October of 2020. Scalise departed at the end of November last year.

The borough enlisted Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to facilitate the search for a new borough manager. SGR is an executive recruitment firm specializing in recruiting, assessing, and developing, innovative, collaborative, and authentic leaders. The search resulted in a candidate pool of 30 applicants from 12 states.

The interview with Coleman took place on June 25 and 26, and included a tour of the community, a session with the borough’s senior staff, and personal interviews with borough council members.

Kennett Square officials learned about Coleman’s professional background during these interviews. 

He currently serves as the deputy village manager for the Village of Estero, Florida, where he previously worked as the assistant to the city manager from 2016 until he was promoted to his current position in 2020. He has more than seven years of local government and non-profit experience, and he previously served as executive director for the Greater Syracuse Project in New York, and as the founder and CEO of The SAT Academy of Southwest Florida.

Coleman is a graduate of Syracuse University and holds masters degrees in public administration and business administration, a bachelor of science degree in accounting, finance, information management and technology, and a bachelor of arts degree in economics. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Health Services Management and Policy. He is a member of the International City and County Manager Association (ICMA), Florida City and County Manager Association (FCCMA), and the Estero Chamber of Commerce.

Like Mercomes, borough council vice president Rosa Moore expressed enthusiasm that Coleman would be joining Kennett Square’s administrative team.

“We are excited to welcome Kyle to the Borough,” Moore said. “He brings a strong work ethic and a concrete foundation in municipal governance.  I am glad he is joining our community.”

Kennett Square mayor Matthew Fetick added, “The borough has several opportunities and challenges coming up in the near future. It will take skilled leadership to navigate these opportunities. I’m looking forward to having Kyle on board and his leadership as the borough continues to grow and evolve.”