As a way to remain connected to her passion for local government after retiring from city management, Jennifer Fadden joined SGR in 2018 and was named Chief Operating Officer in 2021. She spent 22 years in local government, including 10 years as a city manager and 5 years in parks and recreation leadership. She now has the privilege of not only partnering with her colleagues in the city management profession but also leading SGR's team of Servant Leaders in assisting local governments by recruiting, assessing, and developing innovative, collaborative, authentic leaders. She believes strongly in the power of mentorship and continues to dedicate time to work with young leaders in the profession, following the example Ron Holifield set for her many years ago.

A lifelong learner who believes that education is the foundation of a strong community, Jennifer has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of North Texas. She holds Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Texas, where she also serves on the Public Administration Advisory Board. UNT holds a special place in her heart and she also mentors young women leaders on campus as an alumni advisor to the Pi Beta Phi chapter. Jennifer earned the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association and has served her profession as president of the North Texas City Management Association and the Urban Management Assistants of North Texas. Jennifer was honored in 2012 by the North Central Texas Council of Governments with the Linda Keithley Award for Women in Public Management and by the University of North Texas Department of Public Administration as the Outstanding MPA Alumna for 2017.

Jennifer views mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend as her most important roles in life. She and her husband, Mark, a freelance writer, are the very proud parents of Jackson, a freshman at the University of Arkansas (Woo Pig Sooie!) and Grant, a sophomore at Colleyville Heritage High School. More than anything, they enjoy the company of family and friends at the lake for a nice weekend.