Tomball assistant city manager leaving, accepts position in Fort Worth

Tomball Assistant City Manager Jessica Rogers will leave the city of Tomball to serve as the next director of economic development in Fort Worth, Texas, effective Sept. 15.

What this means

Rogers joined the city of Tomball in 2021 from her previous position as the economic development director for the city of Denton, as reported.

She said as an assistant city manager, she has a portfolio of departments, overseeing community development, finance, public works, project management and marketing and tourism.

“My role is ... helping departments really see the big picture, like building strategies, building plans, working together, helping them make sure that they have the right resources that they need, helping them collaborate and really ... a more holistic picture, instead of being focused in [on] a particular operation,” Rogers said.

In her new role, Rogers will work on redevelopment projects, business recruitment and retention efforts, as well as traditional economic development tasks, she said.

“As a director, I'll get to be more focused on economic development, specifically,” Rogers said.

Rogers succeeds Robert Sturns, who held the position for more than nine years, according to the Fort Worth Report.

What they are saying

• “I loved my time in Tomball, and I'm very sad to leave,” Rogers said. “It's definitely bittersweet, and I'm very excited about this opportunity. But you know, I'm gonna, I'm gonna miss Tomball, and I'm gonna miss the people in particular.”
• “God was listening, and he sent me somebody that filled almost every single one of those holes that I needed, and for this to be my first position [to hire], I couldn't have asked for somebody better to be standing next to me for these four and a half years, we've done quite a lot of work and when I say we, I really mean Jessica,” City Manager David Esquivel said. “We've had our share of challenges in the city, but just like when we always talk about it, we always come through in the Tomball way. We come out stronger and better, and you were there every step of the way.”