Romney Institute Names 2007 Administrator of the Year

PROVO, Utah — Apr 06, 2007 — Brigham Young University’s Romney Institute of Public Management honored Bountiful City Manager Thomas R. Hardy with its 2007 Administrator of the Year award at a banquet given in his honor.

“Tom has really distinguished himself as an outstanding city manager as well as a great example for the young professionals he has helped develop,” says Rex L. Facer, assistant professor of public management. “He’s known as a straight shooter who truly has the public interest at heart and always pushes for the community’s best interests.”

After receiving the award at the March 29 dinner, Hardy said he felt honored to be included on the list of award recipients. He spoke to faculty and students about the need to develop characteristics like competence, integrity and faith in order to succeed in the workplace.

“If most of you are like I was when I graduated, you have one overriding concern at this point—getting a real job,” said Hardy, who earned his MPA from BYU in 1973. “But what you do in that job, what you learn and how you perform are more important than what your job title is or where you go.”

Hardy, who has spent the last 27 years as city manager of Bountiful, Utah, also encouraged listeners to develop problem-solving and people skills. “Your ability to relate to people and to get them to relate to you, may be the difference between succeeding and failing on many of the complex issues of today,” he said.

The Romney Institute has presented the Administrator of the Year award annually since 1972. Institute faculty nominate and select an outstanding man or woman who has achieved distinction after many years in public sector management. Past recipients include: Charlie E. Johnson, former CFO of the Environmental Protection Agency; Neal A. Maxwell, former commissioner of education for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and David M. Walker, U.S. Comptroller General.

The Romney Institute of Public Management is part of Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management. The institute was named in 1998 for three-term Michigan Governor George W. Romney. The Romney Institute offers a master’s degree in public administration through both pre-service and executive programs. The institute has a long tradition of preparing young people for careers in public service and is dedicated to educating men and women of faith, character and professional ability who will become outstanding managers and leaders in public and nonprofit institutions.