City of Nether Providence, PA
08/08/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Township Manager Dave Grady resigns after nearly decade of service
When a new job opportunity arose that better fit Nether Providence Township Manager Dave Grady's work-life balance, the married father of three chose to have more time with his family.
A quick Google search of Dave reveals a professional "Day in the Life" portrait shared by Villanova University, his alma mater. Published in March 2016, a year after Dave was hired as assistant township manager, one of the accompanying photographs shows the first-time dad feeding his newborn daughter, Norah.
Fast-forward to August 2024. Norah is 8, and her twin sisters, Jane and Claire, are 5. Their schedules are chock full of school, soccer, and gymnastics, and they like having their dad around to help, chauffeur, or cheer them on. Just ask Norah!
Dave and Kate, his high school sweetheart and wife of 11 years, had already been mulling his leaving Nether Providence for a position as Finance Director in East Whiteland Township when he asked his oldest daughter what she thought he should do. The conversation occurred three weeks ago on a Monday morning car ride as Dave dropped Norah off at gym camp.
"She told me to take the new job because I would be home more," Dave said. "It kind of sealed the deal for me."
Friday, Aug. 30, will mark Dave's last day with Nether Providence after nearly a decade of exemplary service, five years as Assistant Township Manager and four years as Township Manager. Bottom line: While family was his lone deciding factor, the decision was bittersweet. Dave's colleagues say his departure will undoubtedly leave a void, but the township, he assured, is well-prepared to continue its progress.
Dave expects to miss his many colleagues who have become friends and the challenges they faced as a team to better Nether Providence, but not the many night meetings and weekend commitments that took him away from his favorite girls. The new job also affords a shorter commute to work from his home in West Chester.
"It's been a gratifying experience," Dave said. "You never get into public service for the accolades or the thank-yous. You want to make a positive impact on the community."
Veteran workmates, it had become a challenge for Assistant Township Manager Maureen Feyes to trip Dave up when trying to find an obscure street on the map that hangs alongside his desk. Last week, Maureen poked her head in Dave's office and said, "Strawberry Lane." Without hesitation, he correctly pointed to its location and smiled, keeping his perfect record.
More than just a collection of streets, roads, drives, lanes, places, and courts, Dave feels he has come to know the township on many levels and more intimately than even some of its longstanding residents.
"I sort of feel like I do live here," he says.
Working in public service has always been Dave's passion, with his sights initially set on the non-profit sector. His path to government work was winding.
When Dave was hired in March of 2015 under Manager Gary Cummings, he brought experience in auditing mutual and hedge funds honed at Ernst and Young in Philadelphia, where he landed fresh out of Villanova. Later, when he worked as a research assistant at Villanova, a professor suggested that he consider a career in local government, and his curiosity was piqued. Already armed with a B.S. in accounting, Dave enrolled in graduate courses and eventually added a master's in public administration to his resume. He is a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania.
Dave had been interning in the finance department for New Britain Township in Upper Bucks Co. when he saw the opening for the assistant township manager's role in Nether Providence. Looking back, Dave says the opportunity to work with Gary for five years was invaluable, on-the-job training that made the transition seamless when he took over the reins as township manager in July 2020.
As township manager, Dave oversees all departments and crafts the town's annual budget. He is especially proud of his role in securing over $11 million in grants earmarked for improvement projects ranging from parks to sidewalks.
"I am so thankful to the Board members who trusted me. I'm proud of our local government work," he says. "I'm thankful for collaborating with a Police Department that is the best in the county, if not the state, and a Public Works Department whose members go above and beyond."
Dave describes his immediate staff as a fantastic group of people. "I am so thankful for my relationships with coworkers and their families," he says. "We've grown together."
He is also grateful for the support of state Rep. Leanne Krueger and state Sen. John Kane.
On Sunday, Board of Commissioners President Kaitlin McKenzie hosted a farewell soiree,' an afternoon of fun, food and friendship celebrating Dave, and all he has meant to the township.
After his departure, Dave will remain a consultant through the end of the year, overseeing some ongoing projects and shepherding the 2025 budget.
A fun fact: Dave teaches part-time at Villanova University, courses in public financial management and public budgeting, both geared toward non-profits. He also volunteers with the Starfish Foundation, a non-profit founded by his friend that focuses on scholarship, tutoring, and leadership development for youth living in extreme poverty in Ecuador.
"Working here is an experience I will always be proud of," Dave said. "Nether Providence will always be like a second home, regardless of distance."
By Rose Quinn
Nether Providence Township Police office manager/ public information officer