Department Director Biographies

John Hohman, City Manager

John Hohman was appointed City Manager in January 2022 after spending five years as Deputy City Manager (appointed in January 2017). Before that appointment Hohman spent five years as the Director of Community and Economic Development and four years as the Development Services Manager.  Hohman joined the City as the Senior Development Engineer in July 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University and is licensed in the states of Washington and California as a Professional Engineer. His prior experience is a mix of both public and private that includes working for Spokane County as a Development Services Engineer, acting as project manager for a Spokane area steel fabricator, and designing, managing and inspecting public works construction projects for over a decade.

Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager 

Erik Lamb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Washington and is a graduate of the Gonzaga University Law School. Lamb spent two years as a legal intern with Spokane Valley's City Attorney's Office, then four years in private practice specializing in municipal finance law before joining the city as Deputy City Attorney in 2012. As Deputy City Attorney for nearly a decade, Lamb has assisted City Council on a wide range of city projects along with providing legal guidance for land use and planning, solid waste, finance and open government topics, and recently with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding distributions.   

Marci Patterson, City Clerk 

Marci Patterson was appointed by the City as City Clerk in July 20233. Prior to the appointment she worked for the city as an Executive Assistant in the City Manager's Office.

Dave Ellis,Police Chief 

Dave Ellis began his Law Enforcement career in 1998 with the Post Falls Police Department and was recognized as “Officer of the Year” in 2000. He joined the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 and has experience as a patrol deputy, field training officer, detective, as well as a tactical flight officer of the air support unit. Before becoming Police Chief, Ellis oversaw the Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Investigative, and Intelligence Divisions and the Emergency Operations (dive/swift water rescue) Team. Ellis is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Bill Helbig, Public Works Director

Bill Helbig was appointed the Community & Public Works (CPW) Department Director in February 2022 after serving as the City Engineer for the City of Spokane Valley since November 2017. Mr. Helbig is a licensed Professional Engineer and has over 30 years of Public Works experience. His experience includes overseeing planning and engineering activities of consolidated port agencies and planning and implementing capital improvement programs for municipal agencies.  As the CPW Director, he oversees all city activities associated with the Building, Planning, Engineering, and Street Maintenance Divisions.

Mike Basinger, Economic Development Director

Mike Basinger was appointed Economic Development Director in February 2022 after working in several leadership capacities since joining the city in 2004. Mr. Basinger has over 20 years experience in economic 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 manages the city's long-range planning efforts ensuring capital investments support economic development initiatives. Mr. Basinger has a Bachelor's degree in Urban & 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, Recreation and Facilities Director

John Bottelli was appointed Director in February 2021, John Bottelli has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont and a Master's degree in Natural Resource Management from Central Washington University. Mr. Bottelli has over 22 years experience as a public employee, including 14 years with the Spokane County Parks and Recreation Department, and an extensive background in managing parks, recreation and facility management programs, including involvement in the acquisition and development of land for recreational purposes.  

Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director

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

John Whitehead, Human Resources (HR) Director

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