Three Finalists Selected for Medford City Manager
Published on August 25, 2026
The Medford Mayor and City Council have selected three finalists for the City’s next City Manager following a nationwide recruitment that attracted nearly 40 applicants.
Community members are invited to meet the finalists on Tuesday, September 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Prescott Room inside Medford Police Department headquarters, 219 S. Ivy Street.
The informal meet and greet will provide an opportunity for community members to get to know the candidates and learn more about their backgrounds and experience.
Meet the Finalists
Martha Bennett: Martha J. Bennett most recently served as the City Manager for the City of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Prior to that, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Metro in Portland, Oregon. Before Metro, Martha served as the City Administrator for the City of Ashland, Oregon, and as Executive Director of the Columbia River Gorge Commission. Earlier in her career, she held roles such as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Milwaukie, Oregon, and Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Albany, Oregon. She also worked as a Legislative Fellow in the Office of Senator Hatfield in the U.S. Senate. Martha has a Master of Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Willamette University.
DawnMarie Buckland: DawnMarie Buckland currently serves as the Executive Director and Chief Deputy Assessor for the Maricopa County Assessor's Office in Arizona. Before that, she served as Assistant Town Manager for the Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona, having previously held the role of Director of Administration and Government Affairs for the same organization. Before her time with Paradise Valley, DawnMarie served as Management and Budget Director for the Town of Gilbert, Arizona, and as Budget Manager for the City of Chandler, Arizona. Earlier in her career, she advanced through analyst and executive support roles with the City of Peoria and served as a Wartime Readiness Manager and Command Post Controller in the United States Air Force. DawnMarie has a Master of Administration from Northern Arizona University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business and Information Technology from the University of Phoenix. She is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager and holds Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Public Manager credentials. She also completed the Harvard Business Analytics Program at Harvard University.
Geir Kalhagen: Geir Kalhagen currently serves as the Director of the Maritime Division at the Texas Department of Transportation. Over the years, he has continued to serve as Principal of Blackfin International, a consulting firm focused on port and terminal strategic planning. Prior to his time in Texas, Geir served as Director of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest for Metro Ports and as Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Longview in Washington State. Earlier in his career, he served as General Manager of Tidal Transport and Trading, Manager of Operations for Star Shipping, and Operations Manager for SSA Marine. Geir has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of South Alabama, and an Associate of Arts in Business Management and Marketing from Norwalk Community College. He also holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master Mariner Limited license.
About the Recruitment
The City launched a nationwide search for its next City Manager earlier this summer. Following a review of nearly 40 applicants, the City Council Selection Committee conducted virtual interviews with semifinalists before identifying the three finalists.
The City Manager reports directly to the Mayor and City Council and serves as the City’s Chief Executive Officer, overseeing municipal operations and implementation of Council priorities.
The recruitment follows the resignation of former City Manager Rob Field in November 2025. John Vial has served as Interim City Manager during the transition and will return to retirement when a City Manager is hired or at the conclusion of his contract in November. The finalists’ visit is the next step in the process of selecting Medford’s next City Manager.