CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE HIRES PENNY HOLLER, MPA, TO SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 23, 2026
Jess Wildes
Partner, Innovative Public Advisors
jess@public-advisors.com
(262) 339-5658
 
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — The City of Sun Prairie is pleased to announce the hiring of Penny Holler, MPA, to serve as Assistant City Administrator. Holler brings more than 20 years of public sector leadership experience in local government, economic development, public policy, and organizational management. She will commence her service on September 8.

As Assistant City Administrator, Holler will serve as a key member of the City's executive leadership team, providing supervision of Public Works, Engineering, Wastewater, Planning, Building Inspection, Parks, Recreation, and Forestry divisions while advancing organizational priorities, capital planning, and operational excellence.

"Throughout the recruitment process, Penny distinguished herself as an experienced, intelligent, and collaborative leader," said City Administrator Aaron Oppenheimer. "Her background in municipal operations, economic development, and organizational leadership, combined with her genuine commitment to public service, make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team. We are excited to welcome Penny to Sun Prairie!"

Holler currently serves as Assistant City Manager and Economic Development Director for the City of Leavenworth, Kansas, where she functions as deputy manager for a community of 38,000 residents and oversees citywide operations, strategic initiatives, and more than $200 million in development projects. Prior, she served as a Management Analyst for the City of Lawrence, Kansas, City Management Fellow for the Town of Cary, North Carolina, and Policy Research Analyst with the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (now the Wisconsin Policy Forum). Holler previously worked in the Kentucky Governor's Office on economic development projects and served as a Senior Advisor to military families in Kansas. She obtained a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Kansas.

"I am honored to join the City of Sun Prairie and look forward to working in partnership with Aaron, the Common Council, City staff, and the community," said Penny Holler. "Sun Prairie is an exceptional organization with a strong culture, an exciting future, and a clear commitment to serving residents. I am eager to help build on that momentum and contribute to the City's continued success."

The executive recruitment process was facilitated by Innovative Public Advisors (IPA), a public-sector executive recruitment and strategy firm. For more information, please contact IPA Partner Jess Wildes at 262-339-5658 or jess@public-advisors.com.
 
About City of Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane County, just east of the
City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation
from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less
than 4,000 to an estimated 39,419 today.