Visionary cities are ones that successfully balance growth with sustainability while navigating urban development and public administration to enhance the quality of life for their residents. The focus on integrating innovative technologies and encouraging community engagement has become central to the effective management of municipal government and development of smart cities. Maneuvering the changing face of the work environment while providing sound fiscal stewardship, city managers are increasingly adopting forward-thinking strategies to progress and maintain infrastructure needs and the demand for efficient public services.
As City Manager of Dublin, Ohio, Megan O’Callaghan has exemplified exceptional leadership in this field. Her approach to her role is marked by a commitment to collaborative leadership and a belief in the power of diverse perspectives to solve complex challenges. Her authenticity and dedication have significantly influenced how municipal management is approached, promoting the effective delivery of public services and fostering a sense of ownership and involvement among stakeholders.
As a result, the City of Dublin, Ohio, stands as a model of progressive urban management under her leadership. The City’s focus on sustainable development, technological innovation and collaboration highlights its dedication to creating a resilient and vibrant community. With initiatives such as advanced traffic management systems and comprehensive public engagement efforts, Dublin is setting a standard for how cities can integrate modern solutions to enhance both operational efficiency and quality of life for their residents.
The City of Dublin is committed to and recognized globally among its peers for strategic planning as well as exemplary fiscal health, accountability and transparency. With more than $100 million in annual revenue and the highest possible ratings from the nation’s top four credit rating organizations, Dublin’s financial position is strong, stable and sustainable. Each year, the City undertakes a collaborative public budgeting process in which Dublin City Council and department directors share priorities, ensuring diverse perspectives are included in funding for transportation, parks, facilities and other infrastructure. Public input is the cornerstone for everything that happens in Dublin with frequent surveying of residents and key stakeholders, further assuring inclusion and diversity in strategic planning. Through this collaborative process, the City makes certain that fundamental services remain robust, assets and infrastructure are well-maintained, and the City is able to continually advance significant initiatives forward in support of economic strength.
Let’s explore how Megan’s visionary leadership is driving transformative change, enhancing community life and shaping the future of this smart city:
A Public Service Connection -Megan O’Callaghan
Public service has always been an important part of Megan’s life. The daughter of a public-school superintendent in her native Sidney, Ohio, Megan and her entire family volunteered at community events. Attending public meetings was a way of life. Megan believes, “Because of my dad’s job, my brothers and I also learned the value of education at a young age.” Adept at problem-solving, she gravitated towards engineering in college and later continued on to law school. Her desire to find solutions to make things better or to build things that improve lives, drives and experiences has been a vital asset in her role as Dublin City Manager.
Vision for Sustainable and Resilient City Management
As the City Manager, Megan is the chief administrative and law enforcement officer of the City of Dublin and is responsible for implementing City Council-approved policies on a day-today basis. Megan apprises Council on the financial status and future needs of the City, reporting on the general operation of City departments, divisions, offices, boards, commissions, bureaus and agencies, as well as exercising leadership in the development of City projects. She is committed to providing excellent public service to Dublin’s residents and businesses, ensuring economic sustainability and the best environment in which everyone can thrive. It takes ongoing thoughtful and strategic planning along with regional collaboration.
Fostering Success Through Collaborative Leadership and Authenticity
Megan has always embraced collaborative leadership to inspire organizational performance, continuous improvement and innovation. She trusts the power of teamwork and cultivates an environment where every voice is heard and respected. Megan shares, “While some organizations and leaders prefer a topdown approach, I have always found that the best solutions arise from diverse perspectives. This leads to more effective problem-solving and decision-making.” Leading by example is also a core component of her leadership style. Megan approaches her role with an interest in making genuine connections and treating everyone equally. “A collaborative environment fosters a sense of ownership and commitment, driving collective success and achieving organizational goals through teamwork and a shared vision,” she says.
Comprehensive Approach to Sustainable Development
Recently, Dublin City Council adopted the Envision Dublin Community Plan update, a key policy document that guides the City’s growth in a strategic and fiscally responsible manner. The Plan integrates with the City’s Strategic Framework and addresses land use and development; mobility and transportation; utilities; parks; open space; and community facilities.
It also brings together the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Dublin Area Housing Study, Economic Development Strategic Plan, Metro Center Revitalization and Sustainability Plan. Public engagement opportunities included more than 5,300 points of connections through meetings, workshops, surveys, social media and community events. A 20-member Steering Committee met routinely for more than a year to inform and finalize the update.
Empowering Urban Transformation
“Innovation and technology are critical in modern city management to enhance public services, drive efficiency and improve the quality of life for residents, corporate residents and visitors,” Megan says. The City of Dublin embedded this in its culture. Megan encourages her team to be bold, innovate and execute. She embraces change and progress, which brings fresh perspectives and spurs creative solutions.
Dublin leverages technology to streamline processes, improve communication and ensure transparency. It uses data analytics to make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation and proactively address issues such as traffic congestion and infrastructure maintenance. The City’s intelligent traffic management systems, adaptive traffic signal timing and computer vision analytics improved safety and efficiency for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. City Council is also implementing its Fiber to Every Home initiative to address existing broadband gaps and proactively target future needs in terms of broadband connectivity, making Dublin the most fiber-connected city in the U.S. By providing up to 10-gigabit fiber to every Dublin premises, the City is enabling vital access to education, health care, remote work and assistive technologies that older adults need to age in place.
The City’s new 3D urban modeling program employs augmented reality technology for planning and financial analysis. Multiple artificial intelligence tools are implemented to enhance productivity and improve the customer experience, including various AI-assisted security features, predictive asset maintenance, AI-assisted video translation and smart mobility technologies, such as dynamic routing for service vehicle deployment.
In addition, Dublin has embraced digital platforms, including online portals and mobile applications, to facilitate citizen engagement and participation making it easier for residents to access services, provide feedback and stay informed on City initiatives. This not only improves service delivery but also nurtures a sense of community involvement and trust.
Cultivating Strong Partnerships for Community Success
Dublin is known for building positive relationships among City Staff, residents, neighborhoods, Dublin-based businesses, academic partners and civic organizations. They all play a vital role in the community’s success. Megan has served on many boards and commissions at the local, regional, state and national levels. “Maintaining relationships and knowing who to call is a unique strength among Central Ohio leaders which has benefited the region tremendously,” Megan believes.
She is a board member of the Northwest 33 Council of Governments, which founded and leads The Beta District, a regional partnership focused on leveraging investments in the 33 Smart Mobility Corridor. The cities of Dublin and Marysville, Union County and the Marysville-Union County Port Authority work together with other public and private partners to bring innovative disruptors to the region to test new technologies in a supportive environment. Collaborations such as this ensure that Dublin remains a vibrant, forward-thinking city, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Dublin also maintains strong relationships with its non-profit community. It prioritizes partnerships that enrich its community in a number of ways. Dublin is a very connected community where all are welcome, safe, valued, engaged and included. “It doesn’t happen by accident; it happens through shared commitment,” Megan says.
Staying Ahead of Emerging Trends
Dublin invests in talent development, including involvement in industry associations and encourages conference and workshop attendance to stay informed on the latest trends and technologies. Megan is a member of the International City/County Management Association, which is a professional and educational association for local government employees, and she serves on The Ohio State University Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering Department Advisory Board, which keeps her informed on current demands and initiatives on a professional level.
Making a Significant Impact on Public Service
In her former role as Public Service Director, Megan oversaw the construction of the now-iconic Dublin Link pedestrian bridge, the longest single-tower, S-shaped suspension bridge in the world. “I can’t imagine a better career than one in public service,” she says. “Each day, you witness how projects you have worked on are making a difference in the lives of residents and visitors.”
Megan emphasizes that “education and engagement are crucial for individuals aspiring to work in public service.” She underscores the importance of understanding the structure of government, its partnerships and community stakeholders. “Build relationships with residents to understand their needs and concerns,” she advises. “Listening to diverse perspectives helps in making informed decisions that benefit the community. Seek out mentors and follow and trust your passion for public service.”
Embracing Progress and Development
Guided by Megan ’s leadership, the Envision Dublin Community Plan update, will steer future planning for the next 10 years or so. Key to the Plan are many transformative projects, including Riverview Villag e, the new national headquarters for COhatch, which will create a first-of-its-kind co working, flexible work and entrepreneurial village in the heart of the City’s historic district. In line with the update, City Council recently completed the acquisition of 243 acres in the West Innovation District, which will be leveraged for strategic opportunities related to economic development; transportation and connectivity; and recreational expansions serving Dublin residents and attracting visitors and businesses from around the world. When combined with previously acquired land, and forward thinking technical design planning, the purchase provides the city with a prime location for a premier sports complex and the potential development of a passenger rail station as part of Central Ohio’s regional planning for upcoming rail expansion. The acquisition further illustrates Dublin ’s commitment to being the most resilient, sustainable and connected global city of choice.
