Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields has appointed Cindy Mester as the Acting General Manager of Development Services, effective Friday, Aug. 13. Mester’s time will be split between the management duties of the Department Development Services and her current responsibilities as Assistant City Manager. As Acting General Manager, Mester will oversee the Planning, Zoning and Building Safety divisions. This will be a temporary assignment as the City recruits to fill the permanent position following the Aug. 12 departure of Suzanne Cotellessa.

“Cindy’s extensive experience in community service and her commitment to excellence has served the City of Falls Church well over the past five years. She will provide stability for the vitally important work of this department while we conduct a nationwide recruitment to fill the General Manager position on a permanent basis,” stated Shields.

Mester has been the Assistant City Manager since September 2006, and was the General Manager of the Community Services Department from 2005-2006. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Longwood College and a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Development in Community Agencies from George Mason University.