WORCESTER – Worcester’s Acting City Manager Eric Batista has appointed city staffers Hung Nguyen and Stephen Rolle to cabinet positions.
Batista named Nguyen interim assistant city manager, temporarily filling the role previously held by Batista. He’s the first Asian American to serve among city administration leadership.
As interim assistant city manager, Nguyen will work with Human Resources, Technical Services, Economic Development, and other departments. He will also assist Batista with budgeting and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“It’s critical that our workforce represent the community and serve the interests of a diverse and emerging midsize city. I am thrilled to have Hung and Steve step into these vital cabinet roles,” Batista said. “Hung brings extensive experience and a unique perspective that is essential to municipal operations in a city like Worcester.”
Most recently, Nguyen has served as assistant chief development officer. He joined the Executive Office of Economic Development as a federal grants project monitor in 2013 and served as a project manager for former City Manager Edward Augustus, Jr.
Nguyen managed the WWII Memorial project on the Worcester Common, helped develop the Worcester Housing Now program, and launched the City’s first Outdoor Dining grant program.
Batista has appointed Rolle to the position of commissioner for the newly established Department of Transportation and Mobility. The Department of Transportation and Mobility will lead the planning, prioritization, and design of improvements to Worcester’s streets and transportation network, and will manage parking operations.
“With a renewed focus on safe and effective traditional and alternative modes of transportation, Steve’s background and significant accomplishments make him the ideal candidate to serve as the City’s first Commissioner for this newly ordained department,” Batista said.
Rolle joined the City of Worcester in 2014 as director of the Planning and Regulatory Services, helping lead the administration of the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and License Commission.
Rolle was a key participant in the development of Polar Park, Rockland Trust Plaza, the redesign of Kelley Square, and reconstruction of Carroll Plaza. Rolle and his team also developed the city’s Complete Streets policy, implemented expanded outdoor dining in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and launched the ongoing Worcester Now|Next citywide plan.
Lead image: View of City Hall from corner of Franklin Street and Portland Street in Worcester/Patrick Sargent for ThisWeekinWorcester.com
