City of Antioch announces new leadership – no foolin’
Permanent Public Works Director/City Engineer position filled
New Public Information Officer hired
Still leaves Acting Assistant City Manager, Acting Parks & Rec Director, Interim Community & Economic Development Director; searches on for each plus, Police Chief
The City of Antioch announced today, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the appointments of individuals to various leadership positions – and it ain’t no April Fool’s joke!
Exciting Leadership Updates in the City of Antioch!
The City of Antioch is making key leadership transitions to continue delivering strong and effective services to our community. Here’s what’s new:
Assistant City Manager Update: Kwame Reed has resigned, and Brad Helfenberger, Parks & Recreation Director, will serve as Acting Assistant City Manager while an internal hiring process is underway.
Parks & Recreation: Shahad Wright steps up as Acting Parks & Recreation Director to continue enhancing community programs.
Public Works Leadership: Congratulations to Scott Buenting, officially named Public Works Director/City Engineer after serving in an acting role for 2.5 years.
Public Information Officer (PIO): Welcome, Jaden Baird, who will lead our communications and public engagement efforts!
Community & Economic Development: David Storer has been appointed as Interim Director for both departments.
To ensure strong leadership across all departments, the City has also partnered with Bob Hall & Associates to recruit for key director positions.
We appreciate the dedication of our incredible staff and leadership team as we continue building a better Antioch! Stay tuned for more updates.
SCOTT BUENTING
Scott Buenting has been appointed Director of Public Works/City Engineer, after a nearly 25-year journey through the Public Works and Engineering departments. According to his LinkedIn profile, Buenting has worked for Antioch Public Works Department since 2000.
Scott is a proud Antioch native. He attended Sutter Elementary, Park Jr. High, and Antioch High School. Scott received a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly. He was hired as an assistant engineer in 2000, designing capital improvement projects, construction contracts, performing inspections, and utility alignment assessments. In 2004, he earned his Professional Engineering Certification. In 2005, he was promoted to Associate Civil Engineer, then managing capital improvement budgets, supervising inspectors, overseeing site visits, field surveys, and environmental clearance documents.
In 2017, Scott was promoted to Project Manager. Since 2022, he’s held the responsibilities of Acting Director of Public Works/City Engineer, working to secure state and federal grant funding, managing contracts, and capital improvement projects. His focus on protecting the City’s pre-1914 water rights and water/wastewater rate structures also encompasses his work toward supervising construction of the $100M Brackish Water Desalination Project. Scott plans to continue developing and administering Public Works and capital improvement budgets and overseeing the Public Works operations of the City he grew up in and cares for deeply.
JADEN BAIRD
Jaden Baird has assumed the role of Public Information Officer for the City of Antioch. Jaden is a dynamic communications leader with a proven track record of strengthening public engagement, crisis communications, and strategic messaging. He brings years of experience in public relations, media strategy, and community outreach.
Prior to joining the City of Antioch, Jaden served as the Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District since 2021, where he led comprehensive communication initiatives, expanded digital engagement, and managed crisis response efforts that reinforced trust between the district and the community.
He also served as the President of the Fairfield-Suisun Education Foundation.
According to a report by The Daily Republic, Baird previously worked for “the Long Island City Department of Education, where he served as a special education teacher. Additionally, during his tenure with Lincoln University, Baird served as the Assistant Director of their premier Opera Program.
Baird holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Lincoln University, and a Master’s of Science in Special Education.”
His expertise in social media strategy, multimedia storytelling, and press relations will play a vital role in enhancing Antioch’s public outreach efforts. His vision for the City of Antioch’s communications strategy is one of transparency, innovation, and inclusivity, ensuring that every resident stays informed and connected to City government.
BRAD HELFENBERGER
Brad returns to his role as Assistant City Manager after previously serving in this role for 15 months until October 2024. With his extensive experience in municipal leadership, parks and recreation, and community engagement, he is ready to continue advancing key initiatives and strengthening city operations. Brad was originally hired with the City of Antioch as the Parks and Recreation Director in February 2021.
Brad has more 25 years of experience in municipal government and holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from San Jose State University. Prior to joining the City of Antioch, Brad held leadership roles in the City of Emeryville, the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District, and the City of Milpitas. His expertise in budget management, policy development, and interdepartmental collaboration has made a lasting impact in every community he has served. As the City’s Parks and Recreation Director, he has been instrumental in enhancing public spaces, expanding recreational programming, and fostering community engagement.
As Acting Assistant City Manager, Brad will focus on supporting citywide initiatives that promote economic development, public safety, and efficient municipal services. His leadership will be key in ensuring that Antioch continues to provide high-quality services to its residents while addressing the city’s evolving needs.
DAVID A. STORER
With more than three decades of experience in city planning, land use policy, and public administration, David brings a wealth of expertise to our community. His distinguished career includes leadership roles as Planning Director for the cities of Sonoma and Folsom, Assistant City Manager for Elk Grove, and extensive consulting experience providing strategic planning services to municipalities across Northern California.
As a lifetime member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), David holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Brigham Young University. His deep understanding of community development and public sector operations will be instrumental in advancing the city’s vision for sustainable growth and quality of life.
SHAHAD WRIGHT
As the Acting Parks and Recreation Director, Shahad will assume responsibility for all programs, activities, and operations of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Shahad was hired in April 2022 as a recreation supervisor and was promoted to Recreation Services Manager the following year. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation with an emphasis in non-profits from San Francisco State University.
He became an employee of the YMCA in 2003, leading local and national programming for more than 15 years. While working for the YMCA he also traveled across the country for NIKE as an event planner, hosting events for NBA All-Star weekends and USA Olympics.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
the attachments to this post:
SBuenting Antioch logo & JBaird
