Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson received the Manager of the Year Award from the Iowa City/County Management Association (IaCMA) in ceremonies at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference and Exhibit in Des Moines on Sept. 18, the association announced Monday.
Peterson’s nomination noted that he “has been a calm, consistent presence for our community. He has worked tirelessly to ensure resources were available to families and businesses in difficult times. His ability to balance empathy with action has made a profound difference in Perry’s recovery and future direction.”
In presenting the award, Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanaugh, outgoing president of the Iowa League of Cities, said Peterson has provided steadfast leadership to the Perry community during an especially challenging period. Over the past year, he has helped guide the city through the aftermath of the tragic school shooting and the closure of the Tyson plant, one of Perry’s largest employers.
“These events created significant uncertainty and hardship for the community, yet under Sven’s leadership the city responded with compassion, organization and resilience,” Cavanaugh said.
Beyond crisis management, Sven has continued to advance community projects and long-term planning efforts that strengthen Perry’s infrastructure, economic base and quality of life, he said. His focus on partnerships, grant funding and open communication has helped the city chart a course toward stability and growth despite obstacles.
Peterson, a 2009 graduate of Perry High school, earned a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University. He has been Perry’s city administrator since 2015.
