Welcome New ACMA President Ginger Spencer

Ginger Spencer, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix, was recently elected by her peers to serve as president of the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) Board of Directors. Spencer began her term as president at the organization’s annual business meeting in Sedona, Arizona on January 23 and her term will run through January 2026.  Upon completion of her term as president, Spencer will remain on the board as the past president for another year, through January 2027.  Spencer has been a member of the ACMA since 2014 and has served on the Board of Directors since 2021.

During her 27 years of service with the City of Phoenix, Spencer has served in various leadership positions including Deputy City Manager, Public Works Director, Assistant Public Works Director, Special Assistant to the City Manager, Deputy Public Works Director, Family Advocacy Center Director, and Arts and Culture Administrator.  She was named Deputy City Manager in 2021 and oversees various areas of responsibility including Water, City Clerk, Council Agenda Function, Office of Accountability, Community Assistance Program, and IDA/PCDIC.  In addition to the ACMA, Spencer serves on the board of directors for the Arizona Science Center, Trellis of Arizona, and The Recycling Partnership. A native of Phoenix, she 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, a “Traeger 100 Top Influencer” by the Engaging Local Government Leaders in 2018, and a “Top 10 Public Works Leaders in the Nation” by the American Public Works Association in 2021. In 2024, she was awarded the NextGen Mentorship Award, along with ACMA Senior Advisor Michael Letcher, by the ACMA.

As president, Spencer will lead the association to accomplish ACMA’s mission as a professional development association dedicated to serving our communities by strengthening the knowledge and expertise of Arizona’s existing and aspiring government leaders. Spencer’s legacy is the creation of the ACMA Management Academy – a 10-month extensive leadership program grooming aspiring managers including department directors, assistant directors, and assistants to the manager to become future City, County and Town Managers.

The council-manager form of local government combines the political leadership of elected officials with the professional experience of an appointed government manager. City, County and Town Managers implement the policies of elected officials and provide leadership for the day-to-day operations for running a city, county or town.