Department Director Biographies

John Hohman, City Manager 

John Hohman was appointed Spokane Valley city manager in January 2022. Hohman joined the City in July 2003, just four months after Spokane Valley’s incorporation. He has served in several roles, including five years as deputy city manager, five years as director of community and economic development and four years as the development services manager, after initially coming to the City as a senior development engineer. Hohman’s prior experience is a mix of both public and private sector, including with Spokane County and as a project manager for a Spokane area steel fabricator and designing, managing and inspecting public works construction projects for over a decade. Hohman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University and is licensed as a professional engineer in the states of Washington and California.

Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager 

Erik Lamb has served as the Spokane Valley deputy city manager since his appointment in 2022. Before becoming deputy city manager, he served as Spokane Valley’s deputy city attorney for nearly a decade. During that time, he assisted the City Council on a wide range of city projects and provided legal guidance for land use and planning, solid waste, finance and open government topics, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding distributions. Lamb’s career spans both public and private sectors as he began his public sector career as a legal intern with Spokane Valley's City Attorney's Office for two years. He then spent four years in private practice, specializing in municipal finance law, before returning to the City of Spokane Valley. Lamb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Washington and graduated from Gonzaga University Law School.   

Gloria Mantz, City Services Administrator  

Gloria Mantz has served as the City Services Administrator since August 2023. Mantz joined the City in March 2005 and has served in many different roles for the Engineering Division, including city engineer, capital improvement program engineering manager, development engineer and stormwater engineer. Mantz’ prior experience is a mix of both public and private sector, including with Spokane County and as a development consultant. Mantz holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University, a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. She is a professional engineer in Washington state.

Kelly Konkright, City Attorney 

Kelly Konkright has served as the city attorney since his appointment in late 2023. Before coming to Spokane Valley, Konkright was a partner at the Spokane office of the Lukins & Annis, P.S. law firm where he practiced law for 16 years. He also represented the State of Washington as an Assistant Attorney General with the Washington Attorney General’s Office under former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna. While in private practice, Konkright represented municipalities throughout Eastern Washington, including serving several years as the contract city attorney for the City of Othello. He has represented several businesses and individuals in litigation involving civil rights violations, employment practices, business disputes, real estate, and class action defense throughout Washington and Northern Idaho. Konkright graduated magna cum laude from the University of Idaho School of Law in 2002 and was a member and published author of the Idaho Law Review. 

Dave Ellis, Police Chief 

Dave Ellis has served as the Spokane Valley Police Chief since his appointment in 2020. Chief Ellis first joined the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in 2002, and since then, he has worked as a patrol deputy, detective, sergeant, chief criminal deputy and undersheriff, overseeing all aspects of the Office. During his career with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, he has been awarded the Life Saving Medal, Unit Merit Award and the Sheriff’s Star Award. Ellis started his law enforcement career with the Post Falls Police Department in 1998. During that time, he worked as a patrol officer, field training officer and a member of the SWAT Team. He was awarded the Officer of the Year award in 2000. Chief Ellis also serves as the Vice President for the Airborne Public Safety Association and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Robert Blegen, Public Works Director

Robert Blegen was appointed public works director in January 2025. Blegen came to the City with over 25 years of government experience in infrastructure development, having spent the majority of his career with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Most recently, Blegen served as the Eastern Region assistant regional administrator responsible for WSDOT’s Construction Program. He has extensive engineering and public infrastructure experience and has worked on hundreds of highway design and construction projects in the Eastern Region, most notably the North Spokane Corridor project. Blegen holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington, a Professional Engineer License (PE) and multiple additional engineering certifications.

Mike Basinger, Community and Economic Development Director

Mike Basinger serves as the City of Spokane Valley's community and economic development director. He has served in several leadership capacities since joining the City in 2004. Basinger has over 25 years of experience in community development and is responsible for the city's economic development efforts, including developing and implementing strategies to drive economic growth and development and supporting relationships with civic, business, governmental and other economic development stakeholders. He also oversees the city's building division, code enforcement and planning efforts, focusing on ensuring capital investments support economic development initiatives along with balancing growth and livability in the community. Basinger has a Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master's degree in Public Administration, both from Eastern Washington University and is also a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners.

John Bottelli, Parks and Recreation Director

John Bottelli was appointed parks and recreation director in February 2021. Bottelli began his career in the public sector in 1998 and worked for Spokane County Parks and Recreation for 14 years where he served as the operations manager and assistant director before joining the City. Bottelli has an extensive background in parks, recreation, and facility management, including the acquisition and development of land for public recreational purposes. He also served twelve years as a member of the Local Parks Advisory Committee for the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Bottelli is a graduate of Leadership Spokane, class of 2018, and holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree in natural resource management from Central Washington University. In his spare time, Bottelli also plays the cello in the Coeur d’Alene Symphony and served on the Symphony Board of Directors from 2016 – 2024. 

Chelsie Walls, Finance Director

Chelsie Walls began working for the City of Spokane Valley in February 2013. She was selected to serve as interim finance director in May 2015 and was subsequently appointed finance director in November 2015. Prior to working for the City of Spokane Valley, Walls worked for a public accounting firm for nearly six years, where she specialized in governmental and non-profit auditing. Walls has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Central Washington University and a Certified Public Accounting license.

John Whitehead, Human Resources (HR) Director

John Whitehead joined the City in 2008 to establish and manage the Human Resources (HR) Office, which includes risk management, labor relations, Title VI and special projects. Before his employment with the City, Whitehead worked for the State of Washington for over 16 years in multiple HR positions. Whitehead holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis on Human Resource Management from Eastern Washington University and earned senior professional certification from the Society for Human Resource Management. 

Marci Patterson, City Clerk 

Marci Patterson was appointed by the City as City Clerk in July 2023. Prior to the appointment, she worked for the city as an Executive Assistant in the City Manager's Office.