Lansing's new strategic financial officer quits after 10 months

The Schor administration’s chief strategic officer and acting finance director — who was hired to help lead the city through significant budget challenges — is quitting after less than one year.

The city confirmed today that Shelbi Frayer will leave in July. She was named to the newly created post of chief strategic officer in August 2019 and as interim finance director a month later.

Mayor Andy Schor said she was quitting to “spend more time with her family and branch out on her own.” The city’s deputy finance director, Jake Brower, will serve as interim finance director, a city spokeswoman said.

Frayer was the city’s first chief strategic officer, a position recommended by the Financial Health Team, an advisory group to the mayor.

Frayer’s job was “to review our current City processes and make data-driven recommendations that will improve our financial stability in both the short-term and long-term, as well as help identify efficiencies,” Schor said when he announced her appointment. She began work Aug.26.

Schor named her as acting finance director a month later to replace Angie Bennett, who resigned.

Schor said in her brief time that Frayer identified “over $10 million in savings to the City and was able to balance our budget with a $12.5 million deficit appear in in 3 months due to COVID-19.”

The city’s statement said that Schor and the Human Resources Department are looking for a new chief strategic officer.