New City chief of staff still learning about his role

Ron Shultis moved his family to Jackson in 2022 for a couple of reasons – because his wife accepted a job in Hardeman County and he was ready to get out of the congested metropolis that is Nashville.

Over the course of the two years since moving to the Hub City, Shultis and his family have fallen in love with Jackson.

That’s why he was more than happy to accept the offer to join the City of Jackson’s leadership team last week in Mayor Scott Conger’s office as chief of staff.

“My family and I love it here in Jackson because it’s big enough that we have everything we need close by,” Shultis said. “But it’s still small enough that it has that small town feel to it.”

Shultis’ hiring fills the void left by the resignation of former chief of staff, Alex Reed, in July.

"As we continue to move Jackson forward, I am thrilled to welcome Ron Shultis as our new Chief of Staff. Ron brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of policy that will be invaluable in helping us achieve our goals for the city. His work as Policy Director at the Beacon Center of Tennessee has equipped him with the expertise and vision needed to navigate the complex challenges of municipal governance,” Conger said in a press release last week announcing Shultis’ hiring. “I am confident that Ron’s leadership will be instrumental in driving our initiatives and ensuring that we serve the people of Jackson with transparency, efficiency, and innovation."

Shultis and Conger got to know each other in 2021 when they worked in a group that looked at what growing cities need to continue growing across the country.

Shultis said his friendship with Conger that developed from them both being part of that group had nothing to do with his family moving here.

“I was aware of things Mayor Conger was doing in Jackson, what he wanted to do and the direction he was trying to push the city,” Shultis said. “But I assume I would’ve lived here at least temporarily if I hadn’t gotten to know him the previous year.”

Shultis described the Beacon Center as a bunch of nerds looking at different issues and different possible solutions to problems and his role as the director was to be the “head nerd.”

“Jackson was a city that we looked at often because a lot of the issues we’re dealing with here are being dealt with across the country. And Mayor Conger has been known already in five years of being mayor that he is willing to do what must be done for the good for as many people as possible.”

A week into the job, Shultis said he’s still getting to know others in City leadership, County leadership, and others in the area.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news