George W. Devanney
Partner
George Devanney joined Keywood Strategies in 2012 after 27 years of experience in the public sector, effectively piloting New Jersey’s governmental and political landscape. Mr. Devanney was Union County’s longest serving County Manager after nearly a decade as the executive officer. Federal, State, County or Municipal issues, George can quickly navigate the mechanics of government to maximize its impact on private and non-profit entities. George’s vast successes are the result of his ability to build coalitions and tap a wide network of statewide and federal contacts cultivated over nearly three decades of service by bringing decision makers around the table to create consensus.
Mr. Devanney’s governmental record includes landmark achievements in economic development, the implementation of far-reaching quality of life improvements and the maintenance of fiscal stability through the nation’s worst economic downturn.
Specifically, Mr. Devanney spearheaded the fiscal turnaround of County golf operations by consolidating its courses, entering into a public/private partnership for operations and maintenance, courting the NJSGA as a tenant in the Galloping Hill Golf Club House, building a new two tiered driving range and sheparding the TaylorMade/Adidas Learning Center. Mr. Devanney crafted what has become a statewide public/private model for other local and county governments to increase revenues, improve management operations and decrease the burden of public salaries associated with these types of facilities.
Included among the many administrative accomplishments, County Manager Devanney maintained the highest attainable bond rating as well as having one of the best debt to assessed value ratios in the state with one of the highest percentage of County revenues in the state obtained through grant funding. His fiscal prudence included the establishment of linking merit increases to performance indicators and implementing personnel policies that have saved millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. Mr. Devanney also initiated the creation of a Countywide Shared Services initiative, which has saved municipalities millions in tax dollars.
Prior to joining Union County, Mr. Devanney helped launch the Jersey Gardens Mall, while he served as the chief economic development advisor as the Director of Policy and Planning for Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. The mall, the largest outlet shopping center in the state, which employs thousands of local residents, opened in 1999. This economic engine, built on former landfill, required assistance from all levels of government including Federal permitting, special financing State legislation, County infrastructure commitments and local planning board approvals. In addition to the mall, Mr. Devanney managed and coordinated all economic development including the Urban Enterprise Zone, business attraction and retention programs, Elizabeth Development Company, grants and special projects.
Mr. Devanney was appointed County Manager in 2002, following a four-year tenure as Deputy County Manager/Director of Economic Development. Mr. Devanney previously served as a member of the Elizabeth Development Company Board of Trustees, Executive Director of the NJ Democratic State Committee (NJDSC), under powerful State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, who served as the Chairman of the NJDSC, worked in Trenton as a Special Assistant under two NJ Senate Presidents, and Chief Legislative Aide for the 20th Legislative District Office. As Executive Director of the NJDSC, George helped deliver a democratic plurality in New Jersey for President Bill Clinton and then oversaw logistics for the NJ Political Delegation in Boston at the National Convention in 1996.
Mr. Devanney has also served on the Board of the Union County Alliance, a bi-partisan public/private economic development partnership as well as the Runnells Specialized Hospital Foundation Board and the Union County Performing Arts Center. He is an international Board member of the Love, Hope Strength Foundation, trekking to Base Camp Everest, Machu Picchu and Mt. Fuji to provide cancer infrastructure resources to save lives today for under-served populations throughout the world and working to get people registered on the list for bone marrow transfers here in the United States.
George and Angie Devanney reside in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey with their son, Ryan, age 19 and their daughter, Abbey, age 13.