City Manager Charlie Duggan said there's no place like Auburn.
Duggan first worked as a part-time employee for Auburn's parks and recreation department in 1989.
Now, more than 20 years later, Duggan holds his 13th job title with the city.
Duggan's 20 years of service to the city began when he was promoted to a full-time position in Auburn's parks and recreation department in 1991. After his work with youth sports, he transferred to the city's information technology department.
"There, I was able to work with all the other departments in the city and get a better idea of what they did, and city management seemed like it would be a good way to go," Duggan said.
Duggan served as assistant city manager before becoming the city manager in 2006.
Some of Duggan's responsibilities include overseeing the presentation of the city budget, hiring and firing employees and ensuring that the goals of all city departments are aligned with the expectations of the City Council.
"If you think of it as the CEO of a corporation, that's what my role is," Duggan said.
"The board of directors is the City Council, and I'm the guy they hire to manage all the day to day operations."
Duggan answers a lot of questions from citizens and said he hears a lot of comments about Auburn's strength during the country's economic uncertainties.
"I think the truth is that we're all focused on trying to efficiently run the government so we don't face all those problems that other cities face," Duggan said.
Duggan said while other cities have faced overwhelming layoffs, he's proud to have been a part of Auburn's economic development projects.
Auburn industrial parks are full of international and American companies like GE, which recently announced it will build a plant in Auburn.
Duggan also said he's proud to have been involved with the various road projects completed in the last few years.
"Samford Avenue extension is one that I think people really appreciate," Duggan said. "And as we add more traffic in town, that road is going to be vitally important to the city."
Duggan has two young teenagers and said Auburn public schools and the high quality of life are what keep his family here.
"I don't know how much people really understand how special Auburn is," Duggan said. "Those of us that live here and have lived here for a long time have a great appreciation for it."
Duggan said working with the public is challenging, but that it's the people who make Auburn great.
"I think Auburn is a special place," Duggan said. "The spirit of cooperation is really there, and I really enjoy being a part of that."
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