Executive Team

Jeff Barton was named City Manager in October 2021, after serving as Assistant City Manager since February 2021. Prior to that he served as Deputy City Manager since March 2020 and served as the director of the city’s Budget and Research Department since July 2015.

He has a proven track record at the city as a leader who understands the city’s finances and operations, and the important balance between the city and the community and innovative solutions.

Barton’s 21 year career with the City of Phoenix started in 1999 as in internal auditor in the City Auditor Department. In the years that followed, he held a variety of roles that focused on the city’s sound financial stewardship, including multiple auditing positions, management assistant, and deputy Budget and Research Director.

He holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Morehouse College and a master of public administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Lori Bays was named Assistant City Manager in October 2021, after serving as Phoenix’s Chief Human Resources Officer for four years.

Bays' background includes nearly 25 years of both public and private sectors work, including executive leadership roles at city, county, and state levels. Prior to her role with the city of Phoenix, Bays oversaw all county operations and a $1.3 billion operating budget as the Chief Administrative Officer for Salt Lake County. She has also held Health and Human Services leadership roles with San Diego County and the State of Utah.  

Bays holds a master's degree in Clinical Psychology and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. 

Inger Erickson is temporarily serving as the organization's second Assistant City Manager through December 2025. Inger has dedicated nearly 40 years of public service to the City of Phoenix. She began her career at the City in 1986 as a lifeguard at Coronado Pool and progressed through the ranks of the organization, serving as Deputy City Manager since 2020.

Her resume is highlighted by partnerships developed with non-profits, academic institutions and professional sports teams that improved city programs and facilities for the community, while saving taxpayer funds.

Erickson’s 30-plus year career with the City of Phoenix started in 1986 as a lifeguard at Coronado Pool. In the years that followed, she held a variety of positions in the Parks and Recreation Department, including aquatics supervisor, maintenance supervisor, and deputy and assistant director.

She holds a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Grand Canyon University and a master of arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

John Chan started his role as Deputy City Manager on September 18, 2023 continuing from Interim Deputy City Manager role overseeing the Phoenix Convention Center, Community and Economic Development, Innovation, the Court and Public Defender liaison, and City major events. John joined the City Manager’s office in an interim capacity in February 2023. 

During his 30 plus year career with the City of Phoenix, he has held executive management positions in the Downtown Development Office, Community and Economic Development Department, Phoenix Convention Center Department, and City Manager’s Office. Prior to his current assignment, John was the Director of the Phoenix Convention Center where he managed of one of the top convention center venues in North America. Under his leadership, Phoenix has hosted several of the largest conventions and trade shows in the City’s history. He is also responsible for the planning, coordination, and hosting of major events including the NFL’s Super Bowl, NCAA’s Final Four, College Football’s National Championship, and the MLB, NBA, and WNBA All-Star Games. 

Before his management of the convention center, John was responsible for leading the City’s economic development initiatives and programs including business attraction, retention and expansion, and workforce development. His many accomplishments include working directly with major employers such as USAA, Charles Schwab, and American Express to locate, expand and create high-quality jobs in Phoenix. John has also been responsible for overseeing the City’s downtown redevelopment efforts which included the planning and development of the ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus, Phoenix Biomedical Campus, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown hotel, and mixed-use development projects such as Collier Center and CityScape. 

John is a native of Phoenix and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University.

Gina Montes is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Phoenix currently overseeing the Office of Homeless Solutions and the Housing and Human Services Departments. Gina has served in local government for 27 years and prior to re-joining Phoenix served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Avondale, Arizona, overseeing a diverse range​ of city services including police, fire, public works and finance.  She began her local government career at the City of Phoenix as an internal auditor and was promoted to a variety of positions including deputy city auditor and deputy director of the Human Services Department before being named founding director of Avondale’s Neighborhood and Family Services Department. She is active statewide having served as president of the Arizona City/County Management Association.  Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Christian University and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, the University of Texas at Austin. ​

Mario Paniagua began his career with the City of Phoenix in 1998 and serves as a Deputy City Manager over the Aviation, Public Works, and Public Transit/Light Rail Departments and over the Office of Sustainibility. He also oversees the City's multi-departmental implementation of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and directs the implementation of Transportation 2050, the 35-year, voter-adopted $31.5 Billion plan to improve Phoenix's multi-modal transportation infrastructure and services. He works with the Mayor and City Council, City Management and Community on a variety of initiatives and issues. 

Prior to serving as Deputy City Manager, Mario was the Budget and Research Director for nearly five years, achieving annual balanced budgets and ensuring continued delivery of City services despite severe financial constraints. 

Before serving as Budget and Research Director, Mario was the Phoenix City Clerk for five years, where he managed City elections, Council meeting support, regulatory licenses, and official records.  He also previously worked in the City Council Office providing management support to all Council members in coordination with the City Manager's Office. Prior to that, Mario worked as a Management Assistant in the Family Advocacy Center, and served as a Human Resources Analyst in the Human Resources and Aviation Departments.

Mario has a Bachelor's degree in Global Business, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University and served in the US Air Force for seven years prior to joining the City of Phoenix.​​​

Ginger Spencer was named Deputy City Manager for the city of Phoenix in May 2021.  Prior to that she served as director of the city's Public Works Department since 2017.

During her 23 years of service with the City of Phoenix, Ginger has served in various leadership positions including Assistant Public Works Director, Deputy Public Works Director, Family Advocacy Center Director, Arts and Culture Administrator, and Special Assistant to the City Manager. She serves on the board of directors for Phoenix Community Development & Investment Corporation, Arizona Science Center and the Arizona City/County Management Association. A native of Phoenix, Ginger holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

In 2013, she was named by The Phoenix Business Journal as one of the “40 under 40" Top Business Leaders in Phoenix and was also named by the Engaging Local Government Leaders in 2018 as a Traeger 100 Top Influencer in Government. In 2021, Ginger was recognized by the American Public Works Association as one of the Top 10 Public Works Leaders in the nation.

Alan Stephenson has been with the City for 21 years and has served as the Planning and Development Director from 2013 until January 2022. During his time with the City, Alan has held various positions within the department having first started as an intern at the public zoning counter. Alan is very respected within the planning and development community and has held several board positions including North-Central Section Director, Vice-President of Legislative Affairs and President with the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association. Alan has also been involved helping to craft multiple pieces of legislation at the Arizona State Legislature on bills dealing with impact fees, short-term rental impacts, citizen participation, development process improvement legislation and multiple planning/growing smarter types of legislation over the years.

During his Career he has been fortunate enough to work on and lead several significant projects for the City, such as Edge Treatment Design Guidelines around the Sonoran Preserve, Reinvent Phoenix Transit Oriented Development Plans, Walkable Urban Code and the adoption of the City's General Plan by the City Council and approved by 76% of the voters in 2015. During the last 5 years while Director, the department has overseen almost $25 billion in private investment that continues to make Phoenix a great city. 

Prior to joining the City, Alan worked for a local non-profit on children's issues. Alan is a native of Phoenix and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Valley Partnership. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Environmental Planning from Arizona State University.​