McKinney City Manager Frank Ragan moved to McKinney in March 2008 to lead one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. He leads a professional staff of 900 in administering the policies and priorities as set forth by the seven-member City Council.

Ragan believes citizen engagement is critical to successful local government. To encourage participation and city government transparency, he implemented extended citizen comment periods during City Council meetings and began broadcasting City Council work sessions and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings through the city’s TV station, McKinneyVision, and streamed online at www.mckinneytexas.org for on-demand access.

Working with multiple funding agencies such as the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and the McKinney Community Development Corporation, Ragan has worked on many quality of life and economic development initiatives in McKinney, including playing an instrumental role in bringing the Dr Pepper StarCenter to McKinney and a planned McKinney Aquatics Center in partnership with McKinney ISD.

Using a long-term sustainability outlook in the midst of a national economic downturn in 2008-2009, Ragan was able to cut expenses mid-year to balance the budget, avoiding staff layoffs and reductions in the most critical services to citizens.

Prior to becoming City Manager in McKinney, Ragan was a Deputy City Manager in Aurora, Colorado. During his sixteen-year tenure at Aurora, Ragan served several roles. As Deputy City Manager for Operations, he managed the development of the city’s first comprehensive facilities master plan. He also oversaw the Police, Fire, Neighborhood Services, Recreation and Cultural Services and Libraries departments.

Ragan’s 30-year career in local government started in Henderson, N.C., in Parks and Recreation. The next step was a move to Bloomington, Ind., where he held the Parks and Recreation Administrator position. In Bloomington, he also taught at Indiana University. After ten years, Ragan moved once again to Aurora.

Ragan is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. He and his wife Jackie, have one son, Bryce.

Rick Chaffin was named Deputy City Manager in December 2006. He oversees the Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces and Development Services departments. Chaffin currently leads the McKinney Green initiative, a city-wide program incorporating the future of McKinney’s conservation efforts and sustainable practices.

Immediately prior to his move to McKinney, Rick served as City Manager in Roswell, Georgia, a large northern Atlanta suburb. His diverse background also includes positions in local government as a budget analyst, parks and recreation coordinator and assistant city manager.

Rick is originally from Virginia. He served four years in the U.S. Army and as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from The University of Texas/Tyler and a Masters in Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech. Rick is married to Lisa and they have two young daughters, Taylor and Lauren.

Jim Parrish began his tenure as the Deputy City Manager in McKinney on March 12, 2009.

Jim was formerly the Director of Human Resources in Amarillo, Texas. He leads the Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Library and City Secretary departments in McKinney.

During his 22-year tenure in Amarillo, Jim has served in both Director and Assistant Director roles for HR, as well as several positions in the Finance Department. He has supervised multiple departments, including Information Technology, Risk Management, Finance and Accounting. Jim had many successes throughout his time in Amarillo, including designing and implementing a benefit program that included the opening of a city clinic to provide primary care for city employees.

Jim earned an MBA from West Texas A&M University and has been active on the state and national level on issues affecting Texas cities throughout his career.